Agreements are per author and per game aid/software. Each person who wants to participate will have to form a separate agreement with us. Also, this agreement is not a blanket acceptance of all potential game aids. The SDS will decide if they want to agree to allow a particular game aid. Without our agreement and Marvin's signature, a particular game aid is not authorized by the SDS.
And on a related note, we are now also ready to discuss specifics with the couple of players who want to do something outside this agreement. If you want to discuss something like this, please email me.
Here is the text of the agreement:
Part 1. Parties to this agreement: This agreement is entered into by and between the Starfire Design Studio (hereafter as “SDS”) and _________________ (hereafter as “Author”), on ________ day of ___________________, 20____ in the County of Clinton, State of Michigan.
Part 2. Intent: The SDS and the Author enter an agreement where the Author can develop and distribute “game aid” software for the Starfire Gaming System as long as it adheres to a defined set of rules and restrictions. This license applies to an individual Game Aid, ______________________________________, and does not confer, apply, or be transferrable to other Game Aids.
Part 3. Definitions:
“Author” – The individual who wrote and distributed the game aid. If the Author is part of a group developing and distributing the game aid, each member must sign the agreement.
“Game Aid” – Software application, as per provision 4d, that is used to assist players of specific Starfire System game products to play the game(s).
Part 4. Details:
4a. Changes to this agreement: The SDS can make changes to this agreement by publishing a public notice on the appropriate area of the SDS forums. The Author can choose to terminate the agreement as per provision 6 within 30 days of any change to the agreement.
4b. Standard Rules: The game aid must implement the standard (i.e. non-optional) rules for the product they support according to the latest version of the targeted edition. It may, at the Authors option, allow deliberate selection of optional rules from said rules. Non-standard and house rules may not be the default selection, and must be deliberately activated via a menu or equivalent selection. These optional or house rules must be clearly marked as such. In the event of a dispute over the correct implementation of a rule, the Author agrees to abide by any rulings or errata given by the SDS.
The SDS can demand that any non-standard and house rules be removed from the application, at any time. Failure to comply can be cause for Termination.
4c. Rule Text: The game aid will not provide to the user any rules or tables except as necessary for the function of the game aid. Rules tables can be used in the source code or in supporting files, but must be pre-approved by the SDS. Any data files released by the SDS, which contains this information, is pre-approved. The exceptions are Excel and Access where the data must be on a hidden spreadsheet or locked in a password protected code-behind.
4d. Platform: The game aid may run on any or all of the Windows, Linux, and Macintosh platforms. Any further platforms, including but not limited to iOS, Android and other Phone/Tablet operating systems, server-client applications of any kind, or web server-based applications must receive specific written permission. Alternatively, the game aid may be written in Java and the executable code distributed as a .JAR file.
4e. Notices and Disclaimers: The software must include the following disclaimer – this must either be displayed on a Splash Screen at the start-up of the game aid, or within view on a 720p (1280x720) screen when the application is started. It must also be displayed on any “About” screen for the program.
The disclaimer is as follows;
STARFIRE is a registered trademark of the SDS, and its rules are copyrighted by the SDS. This game aid is the work of <name/groups name> and is released for free distribution, not for resale, with permission from the SDS.
Information about the STARFIRE gaming system can be found at http:// http://www.starfiredesign.com/starfire.com
This Game Aid is the work of <name/groups name> and the SDS is not liable for this software or any defects or vulnerabilities.
4f. Commercial Distribution and Associated Prohibited: The Author may not sell, impose a fee, or distribute any Game Aid for any commercial purpose, or in connection with any commercial enterprise, without the SDS’s prior express consent in writing. The Game Aid may not solicit donations nor be used to advertise goods and services.
4g. License to Distribute:
1. The Author grants the SDS a non-exclusive, royalty-free, otherwise unlimited right to distribute the Game Aid.
2. The SDS grants the Author permission to distribute the Game Aid as per provision 4f. The SDS must publicly attribute the Author.
4h. Maintaining Contact Details: The Author will provide on the Game Aid Agreement form, and will inform the SDS in a timely manner (by writing, or to the email address marvin@starfiredesign.com) of any changes, include his/her:
1. Legal Name
2. Physical address, not a PO Box
3. Working Phone Number
4. Email address
The Author will provide this Email address in either the documentation with the Game Aid, or in the “about” screen of the Game Aid. The SDS shall not distribute the Address or Phone number without prior permission from the Author.
4i. Transferability: This license may not be transferred or assigned by the Author. The license can be re-assigned if approved by the SDS, under a new agreement with the new Author.
4j. Privacy: Your Game Aid must comply with all applicable privacy laws. Your Game Aid may not collect or store any personal information of end users without first obtaining express consent to do so from the user. Any transmission of user data to the internet must be specifically disclosed and agreed to in writing.
4k. Other Principles: The Game Aid and Authors actions in relation to the Game Aid must not:
• Break any applicable laws
• Bring the SDS into disrepute
• Include any third-party bundled applications
• Cause any third-party applications, plug-ins, or other such to be installed on the user’s computer/usage device without the user’s express permission.
• Infringe, or cause the SDS to infringe, on any third-party intellectual property rights
Part 5. Liability: To the fullest extent held possible at law, the Author agrees to release, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the SDS and all associated persons from any liability – including but not limited to notices, demands, actions, losses, damages, expenses (including legal fees) - however arising and whether based in contract, tort or statute, regardless of the parties involved that arises from or in relation to the Author’s Game Aid.
Part 6. Termination: The Author may terminate this agreement with 30 days of written notice. The SDS may terminate this agreement immediately for a breach of the agreement, for any reason or without cause with 30 days of written notice, said termination or notice of termination to be delivered to the e-mail address provided in 4h.
6a. Provisions 4g(1) and 5 of this agreement survive through termination.
6b. If a provision of this agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, it will not effect:
6b1. The validity or enforceability, in any jurisdiction, of any other provision of this agreement; or
6b2. The validity or enforceability, in any other jurisdictions, of that provision of this agreement.
6c. In the case of (6b), the SDS reserves the right to terminate this agreement unless a replacement agreement acceptable to the SDS can be made between the SDS and the Author.
Part 7. Other Agreements: This agreement may be modified by other agreements which the Author may enter into with the SDS.
Part 8. Signatures:
