I posted something like this a month or two ago but it''s been taken of this board before I had time to reference it, so any responses would be greatly appreciated. If I were to implement a Model Format into my 3d engine such as MD2/3/4 which I am fairly certain is the property of id software, am I right?? Anyway, if I was to use this model format, would I find myself in any legal danger if I was to sell this 3d engine as part of a game? Would I owe id soft. anything for the use of there model format? I remember being told something about the exporter for the modelling software, using one written by them is illegal without permission, so I would have to write one of my own! How much of this is truth? What should I be looking into to ensure I don''t break any laws or get on a developers enemies list ? Thanks for the help, Adam

if the model format was released as part of the GPL releases of Quake, Quake II and Quake III, then use of the model format and exporters are governed by the GPL.

I know that MS tried to patent some file format or other and I know that in the US if you sit still to long you might find yourself patented. Still I think the general state of play is that if the data in a file is arranged in a particular format the format (as oppsed to the data) is not owned/protected. However ids tools used to create such files certainly would be protected under copyright and an EULA.

Dan Marchant
Obscure Productions (www.obscure.co.uk)
Game Development & Design consultant

So to commerically sell a product using the MD3 file format, I either have to have some form of license or write my own exporter plugin???

Thanks for the help!
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