Article: Not a Lawyer Letter

I posed several questions to my husband's best friend, who comes over to eat my cooking every weekend. He is not yet a lawyer, though he has graduated law school.

These are the questions I assume both sides want answers to the most.

Questions and Answers

1. Given the Tools and User License (below in part and attached in full), can creators of Sims content, who have used EA's tools, legally charge for their work?

"You may include materials created with the Tools & Materials on your personal noncommercial website for the noncommercial benefit of the fan community for EA's products provided this is beneficial to the product(s) in EA's judgment, and provided that if you do so, you must also post the following notice on your site on the same web page(s) where those materials are located: 'This site is not endorsed by or affiliated with Electronic Arts, or its licensors. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Game content and materials copyright Electronic Arts Inc. and its licensors. All Rights Reserved.'"

Answer pending.

2. Given the answer to question 1, is unauthorized redistribution of custom content legally problematic? What about in other countries? (Example: PMBD)

Answer pending.

3. Is there any legal course for subscribers against paysites if EA Games chooses to do nothing about paysites?

Answer pending.

4. Is there any way a judge might find against what you have stated thus far? How and why?

Answer pending.

5. Anything you would like to add?

Answer pending.

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