Scratch

I noticed that, it doesn't seem like much of a problem, other than that [removed] is lame. 

Last edited by Harakou (2012-06-14 00:18:41)

Thanks a lot for bringing up this topic jamie! 

We want to learn from you, [removed] and everybody else in this community about what things should be allowed and what things should not be allowed. Your opinions are really important so I have a couple of questions for you:

What do you think [removed] should have done so you were not annoyed?

Do you think people should not be allowed to copy other people's projects?

Do you think everybody should give credit to the people who created the images and sounds used in a Scratch project?

If you see a project that you like and you create your own version of it without looking at the code of the other person's game: do you think you should give credit to the other person for getting inspired by her or his idea?

Thanks!

Last edited by Paddle2See (2011-08-06 05:14:31)

Is it okay to copy code? Should we all share our Scratch code with each other? All over the world right now copyrights and patents are a big debate - should someone be allowed to download an mp3 without paying? Can a DJ or an artist remix someone else's work and post it on YouTube? There is a lot of history to this. In fact, we had to think about this issue a lot when we made Scratch. Scratch itself was originally someone else's project called Squeak, but we borrowed the code and changed it to make Scratch. Because we shared code from the Squeak people, we always make sure to give credit to the people who made Squeak because we are so thankful to have it, and the people who made Squeak are also glad that we used it to make Scratch.

We made it easy to copy code in Scratch on purpose because we like when people copy each other (only we call it "sharing") and then learn from each other and make changes. But I also think it would be nice to see who people got a project from. What if we could all link to people's projects that we borrowed from or to Scratchers who have inspired us? I would like to be able to do that.

I think this is an ongoing conversation with no easy answer. Thanks for being a pioneer in Scratch, and please keep thinking about these very important issues.

(P.S., some of my friends in the lab helped me think about how to answer this good question, so I'd like to give them credit for their help by mentioning it right here. Thanks Natalie , Andres , and to the person who emailed me and got me thinking about this in the first place.)

andresmh wrote:

Thanks a lot for bringing up this topic jamie! 

We want to learn from you, [removed] and everybody else in this community about what things should be allowed and what things should not be allowed. Your opinions are really important so I have a couple of questions for you:

What do you think mina should have done so you were not annoyed?

Do you think people should not be allowed to copy other people's projects?

Do you think everybody should give credit to the people who created the images and sounds used in a Scratch project?

If you see a project that you like and you create your own version of it without looking at the code of the other person's game: do you think you should give credit to the other person for getting inspired by her or his idea?

Thanks!

What do you think [removed] should have done so you were not annoyed? Given me credit

Do you think people should not be allowed to copy other people's projects? If it is a minor change, give the original creator credit, if it is a huge change, it isn't as important, saying as you did most of the work.

Do you think everybody should give credit to the people who created the images and sounds used in a Scratch project? If it is a minor change, give the original creator credit, if it is a huge change, it isn't as important, saying as you did most of the work.

If you see a project that you like and you create your own version of it without looking at the code of the other person's game: do you think you should give credit to the other person for getting inspired by her or his idea? No, becuase YOU created the code.

These are just suggestions. Maybe you have better ideas?

Last edited by Paddle2See (2011-08-06 05:15:17)

What about games that use a pen?

If I make an awesome drawing game and someone draws a really cool sprite with it, it is OK, but if they rework I would like at least SOME credit for the original version.

Good ideas.  One personal issue:  I copyed a game, added music, and put it back up.  Zippzom, the creator, was given credit in the Project Notes.  Basicly, I agree.

Ive had the same problem. One of my projects has been copied:

Macca: Space Shooter [v1.00]
alex21alex: Space Shooter [v1[1].00]

His version is exactly the same as mine is. I don't mind him learning from my project, and if he changed it at all it would have been fine... But its EXACTLY the same.

My ideas to fix this:
  - Make it so you can only download a veiw of how your game/story/animation works. Sort of a Scratch Card with all the details on what you put on each sprite and pictures. Also have the name at the bottom. Then people can print these out and learn from them...
  - Or make it so downloadable Scratch files have red only protection. Some sort of boolean ticked "editable: yes/no".
  - Mabye downloaded Scratch files, after being uploaded, are marked with the creators name at the bottom, and then any DIFFERENT people who edit it after are put on the list. (i said DIFFERENT because it wouldnt show the same name over and over if you have version history.)

Yeah I know alex21alex and he told me that he changed the code a bit for space shooter. he told me he didnt completely copy it. he said he changed the code.

I don't have this problem, but you may want to look at jimtheking96. I'm pretty sure all he does is take other people's work and plagiarize.

gosox5555 wrote:

Good ideas.  One personal issue:  I copyed a game, added music, and put it back up.  Zippzom, the creator, was given credit in the Project Notes.  Basicly, I agree.

i did that too u guys maybe these people needd new ideas i changed amonboxing extremely and made it punch m,j :cool

The open source debate... the "Terms" section of the website tells you you can help by giving credit, but the license which governs all the projects doesn't require you to do so.  Eventually the community would get fed up with perpetual copycats, but there's not much you can do about it.  Unless a different or custom license is chosen that prohibits copying or mandates all attribution, the copycats are "playing by the rules."

Just don't tag theirs as favorites and keep enjoying Scratch for yourself.   

As far as I can see (and as a newcomer to Scratch) one of the HUGE positives about this program and website is the ease with which you can download and 'reverse engineer' the code that others have used. I am doing this as a way of finding out how to achieve particular effects and I regularly add comments saying that particular games or programs would make excellent exemplars from which others can learn.

BUT - and I'll repeat that -  BUT, I also think that there is neither benefit nor credit in simply grabbing someone else's code, making a few changes and then re-submitting it as your work. What's the point?  It doesn't make you look better or even clever. By all means make those changes for your personal use as you learn, but there's nothing to be gained by posting them unless you've made significant improvements or developments - and then, surely, you MUST credit the download(s) that gace you your starting point(s)?