Free Allegiance Forums

Rick Rashid is probably not the right person to go to. The software is owned by Microsoft as a corporation, not any one particular person.

I think the simplest thing to do is ask Microsoft LCA whether the license we were granted (which looks like a standard MSR-SSLA) would prohibit us from distributing the software on Steam or similar app store, provided that:

Microsoft continues to retain ownership of the Allegiance code and derivative works. (i.e., we need not transfer ownership or grant any license beyond the right to distribute the software).The distribution of the Allegiance software does not accrue a commercial gain to ourselves or others. (i.e., we do not charge for the software or the service).

If I can get a letter from Microsoft LCA to that effect, would that work for you?

If their reply is that such usage is not allowed under the conditions of the existing license, we can then ask who or how we would go about getting the license we need.

cashto wrote:QUOTE (cashto @ Mar 1 2014, 08:46 PM) Rick Rashid is probably not the right person to go to. The software is owned by Microsoft as a corporation, not any one particular person.

I think the simplest thing to do is ask Microsoft LCA whether the license we were granted (which looks like a standard MSR-SSLA) would prohibit us from distributing the software on Steam or similar app store, provided that:

Microsoft continues to retain ownership of the Allegiance code and derivative works. (i.e., we need not transfer ownership or grant any license beyond the right to distribute the software).The distribution of the Allegiance software does not accrue a commercial gain to ourselves or others. (i.e., we do not charge for the software or the service).

If I can get a letter from Microsoft LCA to that effect, would that work for you?

If their reply is that such usage is not allowed under the conditions of the existing license, we can then ask who or how we would go about getting the license we need.

That sounds great Cashto! Let me know how it goes and if I can help!

Rick Rashid is almost certainly the best person to go to as he is the only one who will care at all about the fate of Allegiance. He could potentially make things happen if anyone could talk to him about it. I doubt anyone else will care or even know what Allegiance is.

But quite honestly even if you were to get approval from Microsoft I am sure there is close to zero change of getting on Steam. First I am not sure that they would consider it enough if Microsoft said there was nothing prohibiting it being on Steam. I doubt we could get on Steam without owning Allegiance. On top of that Steam has nothing to gain by adding Allegiance and not necessarily nothing to lose. A 100% free game on Steam is extremely rare. Maybe we'd have a slim chance if it was a modern game. Steam would have to host and distribute the client as well as possibly handle support requests from those who have problems with the game.

I feel we would have to have ownership and charge at least a small fee to play the game or at a minumum offer some kind of paid DLC. Even though I don't see Steam happening if Microsoft gave permission for it to be distributed like this, maybe there would a smaller service that would add Allegiance.

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Done

Btw, his email is rashid at microsoft dot com. (No idea if you'd be able to get through his spam filter though).

He's in the OS Engineering org all right, but his office is still in bldg. 99 which is the MSR building.

TheDevil™ wrote:QUOTE (TheDevil™ @ Mar 1 2014, 11:53 AM) You mean this research?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rick+rashid

No, I don't use the silly Brit version of Google.