What is the legality of this? Is a Commercial Coin-op Possible with VP?

[Itchigo]

Say you want to put a Pincab in a bar, what is the legality of this? Obviously if you use "Licensed" games you'd have to pay somebody something. What if you have a Coin-op with all original tables. With VP being free and open source you can't sell the program. But does that extend to things made with the program?

Here's an example. Say I want to take my woodrail cab and put it in a bar and stock it with my originals only. Would I have to notify Randy Davis and pay him a fee? Obviously if I put Mata Hari on it I'd have to pay Bally (or whoever owns it now). I'm not saying I want to do this, but I was curious about it. Obvoiusly other things would have to happen as well, like modifying the Hyperpin coding and such (or even write my own version). Which, opens up a new can of worms...

[Pintrepid]

Can o' worms, definitely!  ;D

As for VP as openSource ... if you were to use all original tables, it might be possible to charge a quarter for the use of the designs, in a bar setting ... but VP is best with recreations (unless you have super killer originals). Recreations would not work without proper licensing of the Bally, Williams, etc tables.

I dunno ... just some initial thoughts ... a loaded subject ...

But if there were a cab in a bar with original tables ... would it really be enough to merit going to that kind of trouble? Would it really be something people would play?

Just offhand thoughts ....

[faralos]

from what I know of vp any and all tables are freeware and never can be sold/rented
the vp editor in itself is the problem as it is freeware
and can't be used in ANY money making way
even if  the cab were all filled with original pins
they still need vp to run and vp can't be used that way at all

[Itchigo]

From what I understand, our buddy at VPF was granted 100 licenses for his cabs. Now I'm not saying I want to put my beloved woodrail cab in a bar when it's done, I was more thinking out loud than anything else. But, I have had my other machine (Defender) in a location for a time since I owned it. Since my dad is still an operator, it begs the question, "can it be done"? What I'm guessing woud be required is licensing from these parties:
Randy Davis
Any manufacturers
Any backglass authors
Table authors?

[faralos]

I did not know 'he' was granted any sort of licensing for those cabs he sells
and did he also get all the table authors permission?
I am guessing he did but does each one get a royalty check?
or do they upon the sale of such a unit?

[Rukia]

Not any more.  Now the spies have informed on you.

[Itchigo]

I did not know 'he' was granted any sort of licensing for those cabs he sells
and did he also get all the table authors permission?
I am guessing he did but does each one get a royalty check?
or do they upon the sale of such a unit?

Authors permission, I doubt it. They were freely put up for download, so legally I don't think there is any obligation. I'm not an expert by any means though. Royalty check I'd seriously doubt too., especially if the above is true, there's no need. The licensing was told to me by a BBB member who I won't name, but he's been around long enough to where I trust what he says.