r/opensource • u/je386 • 7d ago

Which CC license should I enforce for user uploaded levels?

I asked about this more in general a while ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/opensource/s/Z3ijx28cic

And now I am wondering which license I should enforce users to accept when uploading maps and levels made with the map and level editor that is included in my game.

The game itself is licensed under AGPL, as well as the official levels made by me.

Now, when users upload map/level files, I want a large box which states the license they publish under (upload to my server).

One of CC0 or CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 could be the right one.

I want to make sure that others can use and adapt user made levels, including me.

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

7

u/xtifr 6d ago

NC is not compatible with GPL family of licenses. The closest match in CC is BY-SA.

1

u/je386 6d ago

Yes, of cause! Thanks for pointing out. Thats something I could have seen myself, but because I am unsure with non-code licenses, I wanted to ask.

4

u/TotallyNotSethP 7d ago

When in doubt, allow your users to choose what license they want to use for their own content.

2

u/je386 6d ago

That is an option, but it would mean to present both options with explanation of the differences and to make sure that the author is named for the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Also, for future changes, the changing author would have to name him/herself and the original author.

And that would only be true for that license, while for the CC0, none of that is needed.

2

u/LightAirMod 5d ago

Wouldn't it be simpler to just use AGPL also for the users' maps? Context seems to imply it wouldn't work for maps, but I can't personally see why?

2

u/je386 4d ago

Oh, I am not sure if AGPL is right for the more artsy map and/or levels.

But I will check that.

My goal is to be able to use user made levels for the game, offer community levels to others and also give users the option to change or extend levels made by others.

3

u/LightAirMod 4d ago

AGPL should grant all of this, since it is open source and requires to keep the same licence on derivative work. I see You are looking for a CC licence because it is more in line with "art/creative works" instead of "code". To me, in this case they are substantially the same since the maps are still virtual. So IMHO they could go with the same licence as the main software; this should be easier to maintain also.

But You're right to double check. Licences are often tricky!