(2024-05-13, 15:13)Orion Pobursky Wrote: It's frustrating but LEGO is in the position of power here. They can, at any time, shut us down completely and there's not a lot we can do about it. That's why I avoid shaking the tree too much.
I am passively familiar with US trademark and copyright law so I am sure its different where ever LDraw is incorporated but from a US position, as long as everything in the system is a new creation, there is no leg to stand on for TLG to shut down LDraw. It would preclude ripping the digital models out of the app and other sources but the basic system cant be shut down because it is not infringing on the IP of TLG.
Now could they bury LDraw in legal battles so large and costly it would effectively shut it down? Thats definitely a risk.