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Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

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Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#61

Post by gottam »

jakebasile wrote: post #44

It looks like someone found a copy of Blizzard's copyrighted source code, returned it to Blizzard, and got a reward. Why are people upset about this? It seems like the right thing to do to my mind. If someone found a copy of my own source laying in the street I'd be very happy if they returned it instead of releasing it on the net.

We could of had enthusiastic fans see the inner workings of such a beloved game and tons of articles around the technical details, but instead we protected the intellectual property rights of a billion dollar corporation. Strictly by law, it was "the right thing to do", but it was a real missed historic opportunity.

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#63

Post by ricardobeat »

dmead wrote: post #33
Vekz wrote: post #16

Heart breaking relevant reddit threads: https://www.reddit.com/r/gamecollecting/comments/640iem/foun... https://www.reddit.com/r/gamecollecting/comments/68xzxt/star...

what a complete idiot. i hope he copied it and it resurfaces sometime.

You do realize that hundreds of people have had access to that source code over the years? The disc being "found" doesn't make it less illegal.

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#64

Post by madeofpalk »

jpgvm wrote: post #49
jakebasile wrote: post #44

It looks like someone found a copy of Blizzard's copyrighted source code, returned it to Blizzard, and got a reward. Why are people upset about this? It seems like the right thing to do to my mind. If someone found a copy of my own source laying in the street I'd be very happy if they returned it instead of releasing it on the net.

It's not normal source code. It's not like you found the source to the latest Halo game or something. This is like finding the source to the original Halo game, of little to no commercial value but of immense cultural value. Where possible these artefacts are archived so they will be around long after the companies have folded. Unfortunately it's just not possible most of the time as companies end up taking their sof…

> It's not normal source code.

...its not?

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#65

Post by [deleted] »

takeda wrote: post #35
sparaker wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who is to say this guy didn't do the same :)

At that point that would be really stupid of him, since now they know who he is. Instead creating posts and teasing other people (for karma?) he should just leak it. People are saying that it would be wrong etc. For goodness sake this thing is older than half of people on HN. Everything there is outdated and piracy-wise is not much worth. Instead, preserving it to study and learn things about game development at that…

[deleted]

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#66

Post by scrollaway »

jpgvm wrote: post #60
scrollaway wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't make you a legal guarantee of that, but Blizzard will not destroy the copy. It seems unlikely they'll release it any time soon given SC Remastered, but they're not idiots.

Removing from circulation permanently is basically the same as destruction for the purposes of archival.

I highly doubt it's going to be removed from circulation forever. My guess is it'll be archived internally, the disc itself will end up in their campus museum, and at some point legal will sign off on releasing it to the public.

SC1 is coming up on its 20th anniversary next year, who knows what they'll do for the occasion.

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#68

Post by jakebasile »

scrollaway wrote: post #58
jakebasile wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But it's still owned by Blizzard. It doesn't matter how important it was, they still own it. I am 100% sure the guy did the right thing in returning it, not only legally but morally as well. If Blizzard were to MIT license it that'd be amazing but they're the only ones with the power to do so, no matter who finds a copy in a box.

It's unclear whether it's a legal obligation given that the disc was found, it's even less clear whether it's a moral obligation. If you didn't know anything about Blizzard, what would you speculate? Someone elsewhere in the thread for example is speculating Blizzard would destroy the copy -- if I thought that'd be a possibility, I would personally never send it their way and you could in no world convince me it's mo…

It probably isn't strictly a legal obligation to return the physical disc barring stolen property stuff, but it would definitely be illegal to redistribute copyrighted code without a license to do so. Maybe you could claim some type of fair use but it wouldn't be transformative so I can't see how.

As for morality, I apply the golden rule: if someone found the code I wrote for a groundbreaking piece of software, and I didn't want to open source it, I'd really like for them to respect my wishes and return it.

Edit: I'm unable to reply further, but to clarify I was referring to the maxim of reciprocity or "do unto others". If the positions were reversed I'd want my property returned. If I find someone's wallet I'd return it if possible, as I'd want someone to return mine.

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" is my favorite Star Trek quote, but I don't think it applies in this situation as it was intended as a motivation for a personal decision to sacrifice, not to force someone else to sacrifice. That line of thought can get pretty dark pretty fast.

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#69

Post by unicornporn »

jakebasile wrote: post #52
jpgvm wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not normal source code. It's not like you found the source to the latest Halo game or something. This is like finding the source to the original Halo game, of little to no commercial value but of immense cultural value. Where possible these artefacts are archived so they will be around long after the companies have folded. Unfortunately it's just not possible most of the time as companies end up taking their sof…

But in this case, that's Blizzard's right. They own it whether you like it or not. Just because something is important doesn't mean they should lose property rights to it. Abandonware is a thing and I remember there being some legal headway made recently in that respect, but Starcraft isn't abandoned. They just released a compatibility patch and made it free to download.

It's their right now, but in "life + 70 years" it could have been an incredibly valuable cultural heritage in the hands of the public. Now the game will die when Blizzard chooses to stop adapting the game to new platforms.

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#70

Post by spike021 »

gottam wrote: post #61
jakebasile wrote: post #44

It looks like someone found a copy of Blizzard's copyrighted source code, returned it to Blizzard, and got a reward. Why are people upset about this? It seems like the right thing to do to my mind. If someone found a copy of my own source laying in the street I'd be very happy if they returned it instead of releasing it on the net.

We could of had enthusiastic fans see the inner workings of such a beloved game and tons of articles around the technical details, but instead we protected the intellectual property rights of a billion dollar corporation. Strictly by law, it was "the right thing to do", but it was a real missed historic opportunity.

It's still their property. IMO non-Blizzard individuals have no right to post it.
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