User:Ender/Paypal/response

This is my response to the e-mail the ScummVM Project received from Paypal. Relevant potions of the original complaint from Paypal are quoted within.

Their reply may be found on the parent page.

>Dear James,
> 
> We appreciate the fact that you chose PayPal to send and receive payments
> for your transactions.
> 
> However, after a recent review of your account, it has been determined that
> you are currently in violation of PayPal's Acceptable Use Policy. 

Okiedokie, so the problem here is that somebody has noticed a PayPal
button on www.scummvm.org, which is the homepage for an Open Source game
interpreter (similar to z-code interpreters like Frotz, or SCI/AGI
interpreters such as NAGI, FreeSCI, etc).


> The Policy prohibits the use of PayPal in the sale of backup copies of games
> software (e.g., games which require a mod chip or other special hardware to
> play, games referred to as "silver" or "gold" copies, or multiple games on
> one CD); beta copies of games software (e.g., mod chips, game enhancers, or
> boot discs); or hardware or software designed specifically to produce
> unauthorized copies of games.

Now, ScummVM.org does not sell any software at all. We do not offer any
commercial software for sale (this includes 'backup copies') for
download, and prohibit any discussion or link-sharing of such material. 

We do not sell or offer any hardware or software designed to produce or
aid the copy of any commercial game. We do not sell or offer beta copies
of game software. 

We -do- accept (completely optional) donations for our work on the
development of our software. We do offer the free download of two games,
for which we have received the assistance and legal permission of the
copyright holders.

> It also prohibits the use or sale of software designed to allow 
> game software to be played on a system other than the one for 
> which it was designed.


You're actually wrong, it MAY prohibit the use or sale blah blah blah.
Reading the full AUP, it appears to be more specific in referring to
specific companies.

Even if we do not sell it, the ScummVM software does allows game
software to be played on a system other than the one for which it was
designed. 

This is usually done with the permission, and on many occasions the
direct assistance, of the copyright holders involved. We have
relationships with Revolution Software Ltd, WyrmKeep Entertainment Co,
Adventure Soft, and are discussing the final details of a licencing
agreement with LucasArts. All of the named parties have also given us
permission in some form to receive donations through our website.

If you still have issue with our usage of Paypal for donations, please
contact me further. I do believe PayPal to be the premier system for
easy online financial transactions and would hate having to move to
another system.

Regards,
        James 'Ender' Brown
        Co-Project Lead,
        ScummVM [http://www.scummvm.org/]




On Fri, 2006-08-18 at 06:45 -0700, service@paypal.com.au wrote:
>   The complete Acceptable Use Policy
> addressing Games Software can be found at the following URL:
> 
> http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/use/index_frame-outside&ed=games_software
> 
> In order to comply with the Acceptable Use Policy and avoid the limitation
> or closure of your account, you will need to:
> 
> 1.    Remove PayPal as a payment option, as well as all references to PayPal,
> including the PayPal logo and/or shopping cart, from your website(s),
> http://www.scummvm.org/;  and
> 
> 2.    Submit the online Acceptable Use Policy affidavit.
> 
> This is not intended to be an all-inclusive review or list of your Internet
> sites in violation.  Furthermore, the violations of the Policy described
> above are not intended to be an all-inclusive list.  It is the
> responsibility of the user to ensure that all transactions comply with the
> Acceptable Use Policy.   
> 
> For more information about the status of your account, please log in to
> your PayPal account.  
>  
> We encourage you to login and return your account to good standing as soon
> as possible.  Failure to respond by Septembe 17, 2006 will result in the
> further escalation of this issue.
> 
> We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. Please understand that this
> is a security measure meant to help protect you and your account. We
> apologize for any inconvenience.  If you have any questions, please contact
> the PayPal Acceptable Use Policy Department at aup@paypal.com.
> 
> Sincerely,
> PayPal Acceptable Use Policy Department 
> PayPal, an eBay Company
> ----------------------------------------------------------------