Hi everyone,I would like to release a project of mine as payware (or shareware), but I'm wondering if it's legal. Here's what I have;1. The original bitmaps and gauges are by someone else.2. Contact with this person (Dmitry Stepin) has been unsuccessful. This is due to an inactive email address supplied in the readme.3. I don't know if Bombardier requires a license.4. The readme of the original freeware panel says the following: "

This panel is released as freeware.

Gauges or panel modifying and improving are welcomed. Redistrubution original or modified panel and gauges is allowed,but please give credit." Does this mean I can or can't release this as a payware package?

5. I've done major modifications for maximum realism, which will be verified by my friend, a Q400 pilot.

6. It would be released as a panel only, with a link to the freeware Dreamwings package. I would sell it for only about $5, maybe less.

7. Here is the original panel, as available from FlightSim.com; dash8q4.zip

Thanks for any replies, as I'll be excited to get this up as my first payware package if it's legal. And, if it's successful, I'll be moving on to create a 717, something that's definitely missing from the FSX community. Another project would be the Q100/Q200/Q300 panel.

Any chance of some screenshots please?

Sorry, no screen shots yet. I'm waiting until I know if I can redistribute it first. If it's legal for me to sell, then I'll post screen shots. Otherwise, I'll take out all my custom guages, with one exception, and distribute it as freeware which he clearly stated is allowed. Hopefully though, it would simply be legal for me to use his bitmaps and gauges to start with. I also forgot to mention that it's going to be FSX only, with a possible supported portover to FS9. Hope this helps,

Sorry, no screen shots yet. I'm waiting until I know if I can redistribute it first. If it's legal for me to sell, then I'll post screen shots. Otherwise, I'll take out all my custom guages, with one exception, and distribute it as freeware which he clearly stated is allowed. Hopefully though, it would simply be legal for me to use his bitmaps and gauges to start with. I also forgot to mention that it's going to be FSX only, with a possible supported portover to FS9.Hope this helps,

No, not really.Payware of freeware, how do you expect anyone to want your product without a taster? Even the fabulous Project Tupolev TU-154 had screenshots and that could well have sold a million copies had it been payware. It still stands as the most complex freeware ever and won an Avsim award for it's technical brilliance.There is no restrictions on screenshots here as long as they are shown with permission of the developer. Ever hear of 'Airsimmer'?

It's really a moot point, since without written permission of the original author, the project can NOT be sold.In fact, it cannot even be given away free without attribution in the credits to the original author.

Oh well. People can just use the original then, since it really is quite good for freeware. One point is though, without a small change, the APU is inactive. If you do use it, it's a good idea to merge it with the Dreamwings Q400, and a good sound pack. Thanks for the replies,