humanmesh reuse and license confusion

[joepal]

Some things to add to the FAQ:

• What exactly is an "output model"
• Through how many transformations does it remain under what the MH team claims copyright of?

Examples:

I make a model in MH and export it to an MHX file. Is the MHX file an "output model" covered by the license?

Then I open blender, import the MHX file into an otherwise empty scene, and save the scene as a .blend file. Is the blend file now an "output model" covered by the license?

In blender I pose the model a bit, cut off the arms, change the texture to something looking like marble in order to make a believable statue. Then I save the .blend again. Is the contents of the blend file still covered by the MH license? Or is it now "significantly changed"?

Since I now have made a (blender) model I think is really cool I put my blend file up on the net and write a license demanding free sex and lots of money from anyone using it. Am I allowed to do that? .. Ok, maybe not use these exact words in the FAQ, but am I allowed to do whatever I want with a blend file containing a mesh imported from makehuman via MHX or do I have to follow some license terms for that too?

[jcapco]

What exactly is an "output model"
Through how many transformations does it remain under what the MH team claims copyright of?

I think GPLv3 covers all these issues. I personally dont feel like we should start writing a book of constitution. My impression is always that no matter how many transformation you make from the original, save, trim, cut, copy, modify .. etc. you are bound by GPLv3. But I will leave to someone else to define what an "output model" is, because for me this is irrelevant as long as we know that the entire software including the models are under GPLv3 license. This is the same with any source code that is bounded by GPLv3. It doesnt matter how you "count" the transformation you do to a source-code, as long as you already used the original you are about to bind yourself with the license terms.

As long as you leave your source open when you used makehuman for whatever purpose you are using it (including commercial purposes), you are in no trouble.

[joepal]

I think GPLv3 covers all these issues.

I thought we just said that the output model isn't covered by GPL, and instead is covered by the specific license written in http://sites.google.com/site/makehumand ... Human-Mesh ? Thus the FAQ to explain this specific license.

Quote from the FAQ:

Q7: Why you don't you use the GPL for the output models too?

A7: When our output was GPLed, a lot of artists complained about the obligation to release a public GPLed version of their works. Most of our users need to include their creations in commercials works, for example games, movies, etc. They shouldn't be forced to release their personal creations under the GPL (you know, the GPL is an auto-propagating license). So, with our solution, decided after a very long discussion, our users are free to do all they want, except to use the MH output in an MH differently licensed clone.

[demi]

I guess from my point of view I would just as soon make some arrangement to share royalties but the gnu is in conflict with the game engine. I think it is MIT, so it makes it tough to determine weather both parties would end up in legal court if I incorporate any of it.

I rather just move on as to get involved in a dispute over this.

Sorry,

[sonerd]

I still don't understand the license, because I was going to say that it's a bad decision to disallow creating closed-source games with the MH mesh, but then I read FAQ #11 and it says it's possible to do closed-source games. As I said, I still don't understand how it works legally

[demi]

I still don't understand the license, because I was going to say that it's a bad decision to disallow creating closed-source games with the MH mesh, but then I read FAQ #11 and it says it's possible to do closed-source games. As I said, I still don't understand how it works legally

I am trying to get this resolved myself but no one is answering mail. I really was looking forward to using MH and putting it in the game. I am so confused on what to do now.

[mflerackers]

Do you want to create models in makehuman, export them, and use these in your game? OK
Do you want to create a model editor inside your game, and is your game GPLv3? OK
Do you want to create a model editor inside your game using makehuman, and is your game not GPLv3? No, you cannot do that.

[demi]

Do you want to create a model editor inside your game using makehuman, and is your game not GPLv3? No, you cannot do that.

MH team needs to look at other licensing methods like other teams have that allow income streams form other commercial products.

[Sorlaize]

Code: Select all

The specific data files used to define and deform the mesh, distributed with the MakeHuman application are covered by the terms of the GNU General Public License 3.0 and you are granted permission to use and redistribute those files in original or modified form under those terms. These data files can also be manipulated using the Blender MakeTarget script, but they, and derivative works remain under the terms of the GNU GPL.

So, is it possible to apply the morph targets (that come with makehuman) in my own application with my own base mesh and commercially use that?

[stoper]

Hi,
I have another legal question. Of what I understand I can use model created in mh and exported to blender (from which to my own formats) in my closed source (and probably) commercial game . But what about the texture? Can I use (and well, distribute with game) the "data\textures\texture.tif" file, or do I have to create my own texture from scratch?
I assume that I have to create my own skin shader, cause those in "data\shaders\glsl" are part of makehuman software. But this is not as hard as creating texture for me, so its not a problem.