Posted - 2008.04.12 20:42:00 - [1]

 

Question for CCP: is reading the files the log server writes to my hard drive allowed by the EULA/TOS?


Now, for the reason for my question:
My corporation has been working on a tool for public release (currently targeted for whenever bug fixing is done -- should be inside of 30 days) that utilizes the data that the logserver writes to the hard drive, analyzes it, compares it to a user-supplied list of standings, and plays a series of customizable audio alerts when someone of a specific standing enters or leaves a system.

Based on our reading of the EULA, and another thread here on the forums http://myeve.eve-online.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=734561, reading any files the client writes to the local hard drive is allowed, so long as we understand that CCP may change the format/style/existance of them at any time. What is not allowed is directly interfacing with the client, sniffing network traffic, or any attempt to "derive code" from the client (10C of the EULA). What is also not allowed is doing anything to grant the user an unfair advantage in the game (7A). Ie. if the data we were reading contained the location of cloaked ships, reading and using that data would not be allowed, as it violates 7A2 of the EULA, even if the data was acquired in a manner consistant with the EULA/TOS.

In order to stay within the bounds of the EULA/TOS, we explicitly do not attempt to figure out any code within the client (including any of the logserver's code), nor do we attempt to directly communicate with the client or logserver -- our tool only reads the data the logserver writes to the hard drive. In addition, we don't attempt to get any data the user does not have immediately available to them on-screen.

However, when we released the tool to our alliance for final testing prior to our public release (which we're intending to use an open-source license for -- likely GPL-based), a few members believed that this tool was in violation of the EULA. Now, as to whether they didn't understand that we were reading the files from the hard drive as opposed to reading the memory of the client, interpreted the EULA differently than we did, or thought that this would violate the 'spirit' of the EULA/TOS, I can't be sure. However, at their urging, I am making this post asking for something from CCP explicitly on this subject, as opposed to what we've been going off of so far -- responses to something similar or hersay.

I understand that I'm making this post during Saturday evening in Iceland, so I completely expect not to get a response from someone within CCP until Monday morning Iceland time at the earliest. I'm primarily doing this now to reasure my alliance-mates that I have every reason to believe this is allowed and to be transparent towards those asking us questions about this.

I'm sure at some point, someone's going to ask why I didn't just file a petition or the like. The biggest reasons? Transparency and TOS rule 18. If CCP says this is OK, I want to be able to point to a forum post I cannot fabricate in support of my position. Also, I want to make sure that I'm allowed to tell other people what I'm told in response to this question (TOS rule 18 prohibits publishing private communications with CCP). If we are told by a CCP representative that what we are trying to do is not allowed, we will immediately cease development, testing, use, and distribution of this application and strongly urge anyone who has access to it do to the same. My corpmates and I enjoy this game and are not looking to get kicked out of it, but rather to get the most from it. Additionally, if we are told that this is not allowed, we feel it would be in CCP's best interests to clarify the EULA/TOS in regards to what files Eve writes to the hard drive that we can read and which we cannot. I don't want to see people getting kicked out of this game due to a misinterpretation.

...continued...