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submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by Hubi@lemmy.world to c/games@lemmy.world
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[-] SzethFriendOfNimi@lemmy.world 140 points 2 years ago

Because even the possibility that you implemented somebody else’s proprietary code from memory or inspiration opens up a lot of legal issues.

And while you may win there’s no winners when you or your employer has to pay your side of legal fees. It’s best to just avoid it to make that process easier.

[-] AlexWIWA@lemmy.ml 43 points 2 years ago

If they can prove it. There's only so many way to do something in code

[-] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 14 points 2 years ago

They don’t have to prove anything to take you to court

[-] AlexWIWA@lemmy.ml 55 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Yes they do. And they'd need to look at your source code to prove you copied theirs. It'd be basically impossible to prove unless you were stupid enough to have the GTA V source code on your work machine.

Peep the code on a website, and they'll have no evidence and the case will get dismissed for being frivolous. Do you think Rockstar is omniscient? People look at the source code, then leave the company for a competitor every week.

Code can't even be patented, so unless you copy some propriety process for computing physics or something, that they have a patent on, then they really have no legal standing.

This meme of "don't look at it" is very ignorant to the reality of professional software development. Our memories aren't wiped when we switch jobs and they'd have to prove you didn't pick that idea up from another job, a forum, a colleague, or even a dream.

[-] ayaya@lemdro.id 26 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Do you think Rockstar is omniscient?

Seriously. There is actually zero way Rockstar would ever know even if you outright stole some of the code unless you were to admit it. And definitely not if you got some inspiration from it.

The derivative code will get compiled. What are they going to do, pick apart the machine code from every game released from now on to see if it somehow matches a chunk from GTA? And then somehow track down and prove that one of the probably dozens of employees who worked on the game looked at this leaked source code? Good luck with that.

[-] AlexWIWA@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Yeah there's no chance anyone would even know unless you straight up copied enough code that the same bugs and weird physics behaviors show up in your game.

You can get in trouble for having it on your hard drive because it's copyright infringement, but not for looking at it on a website.

[-] Ansis@iusearchlinux.fyi 3 points 2 years ago

Not sure about Rockstar, but this seems like something Nintendo would do lol.

[-] AlexWIWA@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

Nintendo would replicate that FTC Family Guy episode if they could.

[-] sukhmel@programming.dev 4 points 2 years ago

Our memories aren't wiped when we switch jobs

Now that's the real problem here /s

Also, this already been a trope in a movie

[-] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 years ago

Companies do get sued for that as well

[-] sukhmel@programming.dev 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

~~For wiping memory of ex-workers? Or for illegal non competitive contract items? You lost me somewhat~~

Ah, nevermind, I got your point. Yes it happens and it doesn't always happen fairly

[-] SomethingBurger@jlai.lu 6 points 2 years ago

The proof is they have more money and lawyers.

[-] LanternEverywhere@kbin.social 30 points 2 years ago

Depends on which country you're in. I would bet if you do it in Russia there will be zero consequences.

[-] doingthestuff@lemmy.world 81 points 2 years ago

The consequence of living in Russia is you will die in occupied Ukraine.

[-] Korne127@lemmy.world 12 points 2 years ago

when you or your employer has to pay your side of legal fees

Where I live, the losing side must pay for all legal fees

[-] sukhmel@programming.dev 15 points 2 years ago

That is if you will have enough to keep going until you win. Having to pay a hundred grands for years may be a price to just prove you're innocent, after that you'll be refunded (sometime)

[-] Console_Modder@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 years ago

Ok, that's what I thought you meant by the original comment but I wanted to make sure.

Thanks

[-] Nilz@sopuli.xyz 4 points 2 years ago

Also to add to this, you are disqualified from contributing code to the WINE project if you've seen parts of the Windows source code for this exact same reason.

[-] reddithalation@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 years ago

oh interesting. kinda impossible to ensure all the contributors have never seen it though.

this post was submitted on 25 Dec 2023
662 points (100.0% liked)

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