Plagiarism
Not sure if this is the right forum, but I'm wondering, what if I borrow code, for example the code for the Camera Class from a NeHe tutorial, and a function that tests for triangle-to-triangle intersection for use in physics from another tutorial, because I don't understand the math/physics involved? Should I focus on getting the game done and after that worry about where I got the code from? But I don't want to be stealing other peoples work, and I will eventually read up on this to understand how its done and redo it myself. Thoughts?
I don't think this would violate any laws unless the code is patented or something. If it's from a tutorial, then it's probably there for public use, and free to copy.
Oooh... I see... then I don't have to worry about anything. I was wondering, but maybe it'll be easier once I take the right math and physics courses at uni. Once I understand like the vector math (dot product, cross product, vector normal, whatever else...), and the calculus involved in the triangle-to-triangle intersection test...
Someone correct me if I'm wrong - but it's only plagiarism if you claim to be the author of the "stolen" code.
If you take some (freely available) code and use it (even though you don't understand it), then it's ok as long as you credit the original author.
E.g. in your read-me file add a "thanks to NeHe for the camera code" etc...
If you take some (freely available) code and use it (even though you don't understand it), then it's ok as long as you credit the original author.
E.g. in your read-me file add a "thanks to NeHe for the camera code" etc...
This will fall under copyright law. I'd be REALLY sure to put the url or similar identifying info in the code when you borrow it, lest you forget. Just because it is freely available doesn't mean it's free to use. "Free for educational purposes" or "free for non-commercial use" are the common phrases that you'll see for stuff that might be available, but not for re-use.
Generally though, if there's no disclaimer in the source or site and the tutorial is there, you're pretty free to do as you like.
Generally though, if there's no disclaimer in the source or site and the tutorial is there, you're pretty free to do as you like.
For your own personal use? As long as no one ever sees the code or the final product I don't think you need to worry about anything. You should still document where you got the code in case you need to refer back to your source.
In a school setting, it depends on your university's academic dishonesty policy. For example, my university said that you had to reference anything that you used to solve the problem. So if you looked at psuedocode and did not document it, you'd be plagarising that psuedocode. Using actual code without referring to the author is even worse.
As for commercial uses, I have yet to find a programming job so I couldn't tell you what employers think.
In a school setting, it depends on your university's academic dishonesty policy. For example, my university said that you had to reference anything that you used to solve the problem. So if you looked at psuedocode and did not document it, you'd be plagarising that psuedocode. Using actual code without referring to the author is even worse.
As for commercial uses, I have yet to find a programming job so I couldn't tell you what employers think.
To be technical about it, you would be committing copyright infringement. As soon as a person creates a work, they automatically own the copyright to it, whether they hold government documentation or not. While it probably isn't a big deal to use the code from the freely available tutorials, you should still ask permission. The author is allowing you to see the code but isn't denying his ownership, much like images on the internet are accessible but still copyrighted.
To quote the license from Camera Class readme (inside downloadable source):
So say "Thank you" to the author and use the code.
Quote:
Disclaimer:
This program may crash your system or run poorly depending on your
hardware. The program and code contained in this archive was scanned
for virii and has passed all test before it was put online. If you
use this code in project of your own, send a shout out to the author!
==========================================================================
NeHe Productions 1997-2004
==========================================================================
So say "Thank you" to the author and use the code.
I see... I'll just redo the code then when I figure it out.
By the way, it actually wasn't NeHe that I took the code for the camera from but www.gametutorials.com (I just looked at the comment/reminder I left in my source code). That code isn't even free anymore, because the site is now charging money for the tutorials. I got the source code several years ago when it was still free and used the source code for the camera ever since.
Mmmm... that's the right to do generally... If I finish the game and make it public, I'll do that. But right now, I don't know... should I send an email to the people at www.gametutorials.com saying "Hey, you guys don't know me, and I'm just some guy who used your code but anyway I just thought you'd like to know."? Or to the person from whom I borrowed the code for the triangle-to-triangle intersection function from http://www.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/showthread.php?t=126340?
Yep, good thing I did that.
Nope, it's not for school, just for fun. I was talking about taking the courses to be able to understand the math/physics in the tutorials so I could make those things myself instead of using their code.
By the way, it actually wasn't NeHe that I took the code for the camera from but www.gametutorials.com (I just looked at the comment/reminder I left in my source code). That code isn't even free anymore, because the site is now charging money for the tutorials. I got the source code several years ago when it was still free and used the source code for the camera ever since.
Quote:So say "Thank you" to the author and use the code.
Mmmm... that's the right to do generally... If I finish the game and make it public, I'll do that. But right now, I don't know... should I send an email to the people at www.gametutorials.com saying "Hey, you guys don't know me, and I'm just some guy who used your code but anyway I just thought you'd like to know."? Or to the person from whom I borrowed the code for the triangle-to-triangle intersection function from http://www.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/showthread.php?t=126340?
Quote:This will fall under copyright law. I'd be REALLY sure to put the url or similar identifying info in the code when you borrow it, lest you forget. Just because it is freely available doesn't mean it's free to use. "Free for educational purposes" or "free for non-commercial use" are the common phrases that you'll see for stuff that might be available, but not for re-use.
Yep, good thing I did that.
Quote:In a school setting, it depends on your university's academic dishonesty policy. For example, my university said that you had to reference anything that you used to solve the problem. So if you looked at psuedocode and did not document it, you'd be plagarising that psuedocode. Using actual code without referring to the author is even worse.
As for commercial uses, I have yet to find a programming job so I couldn't tell you what employers think.
Nope, it's not for school, just for fun. I was talking about taking the courses to be able to understand the math/physics in the tutorials so I could make those things myself instead of using their code.
Quote:Original post by Telastyn
Generally though, if there's no disclaimer in the source or site and the tutorial is there, you're pretty free to do as you like.
False. Just because it's available doesn't mean it's free for any use you feel like. If theres no statement then by default it's copyright of the author and you can't use it. You can only use it if it's declared at "public domain" or "free for comercial/noncommercial/whatever use" or similar.
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