Selling for Charity...?

[The Snap]

Hi guys,

What are the rules on selling BVE products for charitable causes (such as railway preservation).

I only ask as I'd love to be able to raise money for the ELR Diesel Dept buy selling the East Lancs route which I plan to make.
If for example, a CD or download was compiled consisting of routes and trains (with authors permissions), and sold for say £5, with all proceeds going to a preservation society, would that be allowed?

I personally can see no problem with it, as no author makes money from it, and remain a developer who develops in their free time. We authors are all rail fans like the users, and surely would all like to see our routes and trains being used to generate money to preserve some of our railways…?

Cheers,

 

[Tom]

Need to ask for permission from mackoy, IMHO.

 

[nath9425]

If were going to be able to download it then wouldnt people download it! An I thought bve was Freeware I know you wouldnt be making any cash but well I dont know! Up to the experts for this one! I wouldnt pay for a BVE 4 route!

 

[devon_metro]

I wouldn't pay when all of the other routes are free...

 

[Dennis]

Selling freeware, no matter what the purpose, rather goes against the grain these days and if past history is anything to go by will result in a good kicking from the BVE community (IIRC, someone in Eastern Europe tried selling BVE as part of a freeware compilation - the community there took an extremely hostile stance).

Why not try selling BVE drives instead; there is no need to let gammy little fingers anywhere near an expensive PC, just plug in a cheap / surplus keyboard or joystick, find an old CRT and hide the expensive PC away - set this up at a running day, turn the volume up to gain attention and sell drives for a quid a go. Oh, and get some cards / fliers printed with a couple of appropriate web sites listed so that the punters can go home and enjoy the experience whenever they want to.

My feeling is that selling BVE driving experiences would bring in as much cash as selling CD's; to sell effectively, a demonstration would ideally be required, so why no sell that instead. Only drawback is getting rid of stroppy 7 year olds!

 

[The Snap]

Good idea that Dennis. The problem would be, organising an event. The only event I can think of is Acton Open Day, whichhas just past. If we were to do that, we'd have to wait until next year - the CoBo will be on shed by then...

 

[Coxster]

Good idea that Dennis. The problem would be, organising an event. The only event I can think of is Acton Open Day, whichhas just past. If we were to do that, we'd have to wait until next year - the CoBo will be on shed by then...

You could always set one up at the ELR, especially if your ELR route does go ahead?

 

[The Snap]

Good point. There is an MSTS stall at the diesel galas usually, which allows people to drive on the East Lancs add-on. Not sure if you have to pay mind.

I'll speek to my "boss" in the Diesel Dept, and see what I can do.

I have written to mackoy, to see what he thinks too.