52 replies to this topic

[Kaemon]

Stop Talking.

Read this - http://www.wisegeek....t-is-an-nda.htm

Send all the money I saved you in legal fees/sorrow to my house (my wife thanks you).

But what is an NDA, oh wise Kaemon, you ask? Well my lowly forum dweller, let me tell you a story...

Once upon a time, there was a truly awe-inspiring game called oh...MechWarrior, and it had a long and glorious lineage dating back to before you were born (like even back to the 1980's...whoooo).

But then, something happened, and evil Micro-beings took all of the MechWarrior secrets and hide them away, fearful someone might one day take it's knowledge and make a truly awesome game that everyone will want to throw money at.

Then, it happened. A group of wizards (and some guy named Paul) got together and decided to make the magic that was RobotWarrior:Online, but...there was a problem...the name was dumb...so they changed it to MechWarrior:Online...which was a lot better.

But then...there was another problem, they needed people to help test this game.

To make it better for everyone, to try and sunder it's magic with their greasy, cheetoh stained fingers, and their glowing boxes that ran hot like the gut of a slightly drunken old person that had eaten one too many Buffalo Wild Wings (seriously that was a mistake...stupid cayenne).

So they wrote a Scroll of Binding, and they sent it to those who they deemed worthy (and a few that were like, eh, close enough) to be accepted into the Brotherhood of Testers.

But lo, hidden in the scroll was a Non-Disclosure Agreement, which stated that they will tell no one of their fortune, lest those who were not invited be enveloped in nerd rage and destroy that which they had labored over most friday nights from about 8pm - 2am or so playtesting (depending on how long the beer lasted).

Those that did not abide by the NDA were summarily exiled from the Brotherhood of Testers and cast out, threatened with the fearful undead horde of LAWYERS, brandishing their icy cold LAWSUITS, to which there could be no salvation.

So hear this tale, fellow forum crawler, and heed this warning well, if you accept the Binding of the Non-Disclosure Agreement, thou shan't (shanst) break this vow, or woe and cursed days will fall upon ye (and your wife will be pissed).

TL:DR - Break the NDA, talk/post videos/post on forums about Closed BETA, and bannation and possible legal action can occur...so don't do it.

*bows*

Edited by Kaemon, 22 May 2012 - 08:01 PM.

[syngyne]

Have they announced an NDA yet?

[Mota Prefect]

The moderators have to sign an NDA, so I'm positive that beta testers will have to as well, its pretty standard for beta testing.

Edited by Mota Prefect, 22 May 2012 - 07:55 PM.

[Monky]

If you get the closed beta, you'll likely have to sign an NDA. When open beta rolls out, they'll likely drop the NDA, because it's nearly impossible to keep a 'free access' beta from leaks... and open beta doubles as demo nowadays...

[Kaemon]

Monky, on 22 May 2012 - 07:56 PM, said:

If you get the closed beta, you'll likely have to sign an NDA. When open beta rolls out, they'll likely drop the NDA, because it's nearly impossible to keep a 'free access' beta from leaks... and open beta doubles as demo nowadays...

The real question is, does the Founder's entry into Closed BETA qualify under an NDA? You purchased access, does that exclude you from the NDA?

Hmmm...inquiring minds want to know (that being someone else, I'm buying it either way).

[Alymbic]

Kaemon, on 22 May 2012 - 07:51 PM, said:

*bows*

(Applause) Bravo! Should be a story writer.

Actually cleared up a few minor points for me. Thanks

And also, I think they could easily justify a NDA too. And I'm going to buy it either way as well

Edited by Alymbic, 22 May 2012 - 08:03 PM.

[Monky]

Kaemon, on 22 May 2012 - 08:00 PM, said:

The real question is, does the Founder's entry into Closed BETA qualify under an NDA? You purchased access, does that exclude you from the NDA?

Hmmm...inquiring minds want to know (that being someone else, I'm buying it either way).

given that you can only buy 'guaranteed access' by mid July then I would say yes... until that date you probably have an NDA.

[Jakebob]

NDA's are pretty standard for closed betas, and yes.. they're legally binding and it can cost you more than you'd care to find out if you break them.

That being said.... I hate cheeto-stained fingers.

[GrimFist]

No doubts, the horror of cheeto fingers and teeth...

Aghhh...

NDA is easy compared to that.

[Kyuui]

and here I always thought the first rule of beta, was to remember, you must eat, shower and inform the family of your existence, at least once a day. I'm sure we will have an NDA, and like all other Betas at some point it will be lifted, when it is, its game on for blabbing, until then, silence before they sue you!
/ackmed

[SweetJackal]

Kaemon, on 22 May 2012 - 08:00 PM, said:

The real question is, does the Founder's entry into Closed BETA qualify under an NDA? You purchased access, does that exclude you from the NDA?

Hmmm...inquiring minds want to know (that being someone else, I'm buying it either way).

If you do buy it, you are given access to the Beta. But when you access that Beta, you have to agree to abide by the NDA. It's the same way that you have to agree to a ToS or EULA when you purchase software.

Difference is, an NDA can actually stand up in international courts as it is a contract that you willingly signed to the company itself. NDA are used for the protection of sensitive information, so breaking a Beta's NDA is on the same legal level as a 3rd party company employed by a major manufacturer giving the designs for production of the next generation electionics to a competitor. Breaking the NDA and making money from it at all is the same as the above, but selling the plans instead of giving them away.

NDA is what keeps your private information stored on a massive server bank somewhere in a non-disclosed location safe. Breaking NDA is bad, as NDA is security tailored law, while a ToS or EULA is consumer tailored law.

[Malgian]

I was wondering when these 'try to get in good with the devs' threads were going to start.

[SweetJackal]

Malgian, on 22 May 2012 - 08:20 PM, said:

I was wondering when these 'try to get in good with the devs' threads were going to start.

You're late, those started before I joined the forum. A "What would you do in the Beta?" thread.

[Arikiel]

What are we talking about here?

[SweetJackal]

Arikiel, on 22 May 2012 - 08:22 PM, said:

What are we talking about here?

The rules of NDA
1)Do not talk about your NDA
2)Do not talk about your NDA
3)Do not breach the confience of your NDA

Failure to comply and Friend Computer will be forced to ban you from life. Remember, Happiness is Mandatory.

[syngyne]

Arikiel, on 22 May 2012 - 08:22 PM, said:

What are we talking about here?

A non-disclosure agreement. Basically, you're not allowed to talk about what you're testing anywhere until the devs lift the NDA. So, no posting on other forums or anything about how the beta plays.

[StandingCow]

[OnLashoc]

First rule of Closed Beta Club, is no talking about the Closed Beta Club.

Second rule, You DO NOT TALK about the Closed Beta Club.

Third rule, If someone says "This Beta is awesome!" or goes blab'in on forums, or youtube, etc. the Closed Beta is over.

Fourth rule, only Closed Beta Club members fight. No giving your access to someone else.

Fifth rule, One access per member, again no giving your access to someone else or "Sharing" access.

Sixth rule, No shirts, no shoes. *huh?*

Seventh rule, Closed Beta will go on as long as it has to.

Eighth rule, If this is your First Closed Beta, don't make it your last by breaking any of these rules.

Edited by OnLashoc, 22 May 2012 - 08:48 PM.

[Kaemon]

Malgian, on 22 May 2012 - 08:20 PM, said:

I was wondering when these 'try to get in good with the devs' threads were going to start.

wow....you sure about that one, you might want to look around a bit first before you start slinging your CoD style posts in this forum.

[Aelos03]

I don't get why NDA when open beta is so close, and why fellow testers cant tell us something to make our wait less harder ?
So wrong