I believe the idea has always been to protect the contributors from
exploitation. If you were to use a ready made scene and simply add a few
things to it, as you seem to be saying, I would expect that image to be
owned in part by the original author(s); not owned by the POV-Team per se,
since most, if not all, scene and include files are acquired with the
permission of said author(s) for use as examples.
Changing every aspect of the original pov scene file, ie. textures,
transformations and objects used of course is probably not what they had
in mind when saying "derivitive". But a scene containing the same content
and then used as a wrapper on a box of goods (software, hardware, or any
other commercial product) is definately going to be a sort of copyright
infringement I would think.
I'm sure what counts most is that if someone thought enough to put their
name into a scene file they intend to hear about any such uses. Making a
picture and putting it on a personal web page is not my idea of
"exploiting", however to hear a POV-Team members ideas on this might be a
good thing. I'm sure much of the legal statements of the POV-Ray
Document/License Agreement are not always understandable by all.
Presumably most because of the "free" nature of this program and all that
goes with it.


Tiina Komi wrote:
> 
> Some time ago I posted a modified version of a desk file that was found
> in the
> POV ray manual. Thank you for your comments.
> I changed the lights, texture and other minor things and I put it on my
> homepage.
> Perhaps many things may be improved or changed, but another thing should
> be clearified:
> 
> Who has the copyright of the picture?
> 
> The file in the manual was modified by Dan Farmer,
> I added to the scene a pen made by Francesco Munoz
> I incorporated comments made by Ken Tyler.
> The program is freeware with a copyright from the POV-Ray team.
> 
> You may say that I added some colors to the picture so that it has got a
> new
> perspective and therefore I can do this.
> You may say that the legal text with the program says:
> 
> "Such
> permission does not extend to files in the SCENES directory or its
> sub-directories.  The SCENES files are for your enjoyment and
> education but may not be the basis of any derivative works"
> 
> and therefore I may not use modify or change any of these files.
> The same text says also that it has the purpose of making POVray
> available to
> as many users as possible.
> 
> I donot want to own this picture (the copyright may be at the POVRay
> team) and I will give credit to all the people who made the files I
> used, but is it allowed to change the examples from the manual in this
> way?
> 
> http://www.kolumbus.fi/tiina.komi

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