Legal Status & Copywright Question
Talk INFOCOM (& beyond...)
This group has been archived. Find out more.
Join LibraryThing to post.
1abductee
Does anyone know the "legal" status of the Infocom games - as in whom owns the rights?
Do electronic text games have the same copywright laws as physical, written material?
(Excuse my ignorance.)
Do electronic text games have the same copywright laws as physical, written material?
(Excuse my ignorance.)
2andyl
Yes - games are copyrighted just like books. Activision owns the rights.
However Activision has made the first three Zork games freely available (and they can be found at http://www.infocom-if.org/index2.html.
Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy can be played on the BBC Hitchhikers page http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hitchhikers/game.shtml but they have added graphics and a fancy interface however it is essentially the same game.
However Activision has made the first three Zork games freely available (and they can be found at http://www.infocom-if.org/index2.html.
Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy can be played on the BBC Hitchhikers page http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hitchhikers/game.shtml but they have added graphics and a fancy interface however it is essentially the same game.
3JPB
That's why I am glad I purchased "The Lost Treasures of Infocom 1 & 2" years and years ago. That way I get two things: first, the hint books, second, the actual games in a legal format.
You can usually find these things on eBay if you are patient. In fact, as I type this, there is an active auction for the first set.
You can usually find these things on eBay if you are patient. In fact, as I type this, there is an active auction for the first set.
