Learning from other scripts?

[CriticalRPG]

A thought just popped into my head: If I see examples of code from other scripts, and modify the examples to my own use, is that plagiarism?

EXAMPLE: Script A and Script B both need a way to tell how much of an item is in the player's inventory. However, Script A and Script B use this value for different purposes.

SCRIPT A:

blah blah blah

  def stone_amount

    $game_party.item_number($data_items[23])  (Let's say item 23 in Script A is a stone)

  end

SCRIPT B:

blah blah blah

  def copper_amount

    $game_party.item_number($data_items[16])  (Let's say item 16 in Script B is a chunk of copper ore)

  end

 

[Andar]

It depends on the terms of service of the scripter whether you can do that or not - some scripters allow you to modify their scripts, others do not.


And in the case of programs, the problem isn't plagiarism as there are limited ways how things can be done - it's whether you violate the terms-of-service and if you're allowed to do so whether or not you give credits for the original.


Credit theft is an offense that usually gets you banned here.

 

[CriticalRPG]

It depends on the terms of service of the scripter whether you can do that or not - some scripters allow you to modify their scripts, others do not.

And in the case of programs, the problem isn't plagiarism as there are limited ways how things can be done - it's whether you violate the terms-of-service and if you're allowed to do so whether or not you give credits for the original.

Credit theft is an offense that usually gets you banned here.

Okay, so I just have to give credit to the person, and see if I violated the terms of service?

I see. Thanks!

 

[Shaz]

That's a pretty basic script you have there, and it would not be unexpected that several people would come up with something very similar without even seeing the original script - that is just how you determine how much of a certain item you have. If I wrote the original script you posted, and you copied it off me and changed the name and the item number, I would not want you to credit me. Your credits list will be HUGE if you're going to do that, and you're enough of a beginner scripter that you have to look up a lot of examples.


Concern about plagiarism would apply to larger scripts, or more specific scripts (stuff that wasn't just a couple of lines grabbing some data from the different classes).

 

[Rikifive]

Yeah, some things are just common lines, that are the basic functions of scripting and stuff.

Editing for example Battle systems and other specific scripts as Shaz have mentioned could be considered as stealing ~ and you should give credit, of course if it's OK with the terms of that script.

Some things cannot be done in the other way, so you don't have to credit people - where you took for example IDK '$game_switches[8]' only, because it's just a basic thing, that you can even find in the base scripts.

 

[CriticalRPG]

Okay, so let's say Script B had very similar functionality to Script A (similar window appearances, some copied sections of code, etc.). However, the author of Script B wants it to be an unofficial add-on to Script A. Would that be considered plagiarism?

And yes, Script B's author read the terms of service and contacted Script A's author (or at least an author he credited).

Even though Script A's terms of service say that anything goes, I still worry that if I copy a few elements, it could be considered plagiarism, and I'd get banned.

 

[CriticalRPG]

Okay, I think I figured it out. If the terms of service say anything goes, I could copy as much as I want. However, I don't want to copy the whole script and pass it off as my own. I'm just not that kind of guy. I hope you understand.

 

[Shaz]

CriticalRPG, please avoid double posting, as it is against the forum rules. You can review our forum rules here. Thank you.


If you want to add something, just edit your last post.


This thread is being closed, due to being solved. If for some reason you would like this thread re-opened, please report this post and leave a message why. Thank you.