Quote Originally Posted by 'Freddie',index.php?page=Thread&postID=188153#post 188153
Quote Originally Posted by 'Caspian',index.php?page=Thread&postID=188115#post 188115
How is this bad for the end gamer?
It's bad because of rule number one which forbids publishers of add-ons from charging for their work. This prohibition hurts players and Blizzard because it's a disincentive to producing add-ons.

A rule that encourages more developers to invest more time in producing more add-ons is good for players and everyone else. This rule does the opposite.

Also, on ethical grounds, it's wrong to stop people from charging for their work. People have a right to get paid for their work. This right is a good thing for society and for the individuals involved in the transaction. It encourages honesty and delayed gratification and the keeping of commitments. When a rule is made that does something unethical, like this one does, it normalizes the wrong. It desensitizes people to it. This is bad for everyone who is affected by the rule including, in this case, players.
That rule number 1 affects exactly 1 add on (to my knowledge). As a matter of fact so does rule number 2, the same one. It looks like a targeted strike to stop a trend. This is America, the corporation is king, Nobody charged for addons before, yet they were continuously developed. They are not stopping people from making money from their work, only demanding money for it or asking for it in game. Preventing ads, making people show their code are VERY good things, making sure addons comply with the ELUA and TOS (which kills the Jamba auto follow strobe argument - if it is bad - Blizz will stop it or issue a cease and desist). Which pushes the liability for "bad addons" away from the end user and onto Blizzard and the Developer.

I see your points Freddie, software development put food on my table as a child and feeds my children today. I just don't think that WoW addons fall under the normal rules. Blizzard can, and should, decide who makes money from their game and specifically IN their game. If there are fewer addons because of it, which I doubt, then so be it. But, the intention of addons was for them to be community developed. If development stops on something because of it someone who likes it will pick up the torch. It happens just about every time someone quits wow and the addon they were working on.

I still think this was aimed at Carbonite and to nip their trend in the bud.