beta's and NDA

Posted:
Oct 7, 2002 @ 8:42pm
by draklava
I'm almost done with my game and was thinking about getting some beta testers on board to ensure it works on various devices...
does anyone have an example of a standard NDA for beta software? I want to make sure I cover me arse.
thanks!
btw - check out
http://darts.divinevibe.com if you are interested in testing

Posted:
Oct 8, 2002 @ 11:56am
by cryo
hi,
as far as my experience goes, an NDA will held a lot of people back from applying to your beta testing program. The point is, even with an NDA in place, would you really try to sue a beta-tester from timbuktu if you find out that he warezed your beta?
If you really want to do safe beta-testing you should not do it online, but either:
a) Rent the devices to test on
b) Pay a professional testing service
c) Get some students from the local university to come over and test with their devices in your location and remove the game afterwards.
Cheers,
cryo

Posted:
Oct 8, 2002 @ 4:22pm
by James S
Well that's one of the reasons why Argentum Beta was warezed, because CARPE didn't use an NDA. So tuhdah, guess what happened...
Courts and judges are really slacking off on using legal language in contracts. It goes back to everyone being dumb, they want everyone to understand it. Just write a simple paragraph or two about how the beta tester shall under no circumstances distribute said software. and that the beta tester shall under no circumstances disclose any information regarding the software. Until developer releases beta tester from contract.