Many Private Servers Are Illegal - Read Here

[Fire]

Hello Everyone

Im putting this thread here in order to educate everyone and make sure you know that many private servers are illegal and might shutdown any day without notice.

Why is it illegal ?

NCsoft, the interlocking NC logo, Lineage, The Chaotic Chronicle, PlayNC and all associated logos and designs are trademarks or registered trademarks of NCsoft Corporation.

You will not create, use, or provide any server emulator or other site where Lineage II may be played, and you will not post or distribute any utilities, emulators or other software tools related to Lineage II without the express written permission of NC Interactive. More details can be found here: http://www.lineage2.com/legal/rules.html

Would it harm if I play on private servers ?
There are hundreds and maybe thousands of free private servers. Thats why its very hard for NCSoft to shut them down all. Now they hunt for the biggest servers online. A good example would be l2extreme which was shut down by the FBI. You can read about it here: http://www.lineagechat.com/showthread.php?p=130

Also, the owner of the private server might be a crook who's looking to collect some donations and then shutdown the server, or a 14 year kid having fun for few months then shutting down the server.

Donate money to private servers at your own risk !
Yes, all private servers have that small donation button with the message: Please help us keep the server alive and you get a special subclass or 25+ weapon...etc

If you donate money, keep in mind that the server might shutdown any day without sending any notice to the players . So, its a big risk that you might want to take or not. In other words, its up to you.

There has been emails and posting regarding private servers running L2J. I will do an expanded research and get back to you.

[gavrilo2]

Damn, I know its iligal, but I cant afford to pay bills for Lineage 2 official server.
________
TM400 (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Suzuki_TM400)

[birdofprey]

Damn, I know its iligal, but I cant afford to pay bills for Lineage 2 official server.

well...many people can't either....although I don't find 15$/month a high price...and besides many people like to pay much more for +xxx weapons and armors and subclasses...though believe me...I have seen many enchanted stuff in Official...I even have some 5+/6+....what I think is that a lot of people doesn't support the grind of Official and that's it....Official is for the "working hard" guys....and patient ones....try it and see...

[Fire]

As you all said, many can't afford to pay the monthly fee, so they turn to free servers.

I think free servers are also good for those who like to play High Rate, They lvl fast and then go to pvp for fun. Its no problem for them if the server shuts down.

But if you like to play Low Rate like me and birdofplay, then you need to consider official. Because you don't want to spend months lvling a character and crafting items, then lose it all when the server shuts down.

[Red]

As you all said, many can't afford to pay the monthly fee, so they turn to free servers.

I think free servers are also good for those who like to play High Rate, They lvl fast and then go to pvp for fun. Its no problem for them if the server shuts down.

But if you like to play Low Rate like me and birdofplay, then you need to consider official. Because you don't want to spend months lvling a character and crafting items, then lose it all when the server shuts down.


I also play high or middle rate coz I have limited time. But even on those servers I don't PVP much, I rather try everything the server will let me. Nobless, Sub-class, Hero, crafting... all. This way you get to know the features. When you go to low rate, you better know these or you end up going in circles...

[TanelTM]

Hi, I was searching for some information about the kamex and this site poped up in google.. I looked around and I just had to write here when i saw the name of this topic.

I host my own little server and host it legally as far as i know.
Here's what you can't do if you want to host a legal server.

1. You can't run L2off, l2off server is the stolen official server and that's copyrighted..
2. You can't share any client files or make a client patch, modifying the game files is ilegal.
3. You can't use the lineage2 logo cause that too is copyrighted.
Somebody also said that you can't use "lineage2" in your server's DNS name, don't remember if that was 100% true..

you can make an l2j server legally cause l2jserver project was started before NCSoft changed their licence and added the part that said "You will not create, use, or provide any server emulator or other site where Lineage II may be played, and you will not post or distribute any utilities, emulators or other software tools related to Lineage II without the express written permission of NC Interactive."

Also donations are tricky, you have to register them as your income or something and you can't give "gifts" or anything in return, cause then you would be selling in-game items and that's not legal.

hmm.. maybe there was something i forgot... anyway, my point was not to tell you what is legal or what is not, i'm not a lawyer.. I wanted to let you know that there are legal private servers out there too :)

[Fire]

First of all, thank you for sharing.

I have played/checked many servers and they all break the rules you just metioned. I've never seen a server asking for donations without giving gifts, they know no one will donate.

Anyway, I agree with you but we both know that 99% of l2 servers are illegal.

Yes, Aidan was looking for some kamex screenshots. I will try to get it for him soon and post it in his thread :)

[TanelTM]

I think there are more than 1% of legal L2 servers.. it's just that most servers on "Top Lineage2 servers" sites are l2off servers, that's cause l2off servers are more stable and can handle more players at the same time.. more people - more votes. And if the server isn't l2off it's a PvP server made to get money from donations. It's hard to find a really fun server these days, that's why i'm making my own server.

Waiting for the kamex screenshots too :)

[Thorgrimm]

the only thing you cant do with an L2j programme is to modify it ie, all servers tha are patched are illegal. dunno about donations, i spose thats not a software issue. other than that, its totally legal to provide a free, private server to ppl as long as u use L2j

[Mechanix]

I think that illegal is to make donations on a private 'free' server....

Having a trully private free server, without donations, is legal (i think)

[Thorgrimm]

u can accept donations, as long as u dont give "rewards"

[TanelTM]

u can accept donations, as long as u dont give "rewards"
and i think you have to register the donations as your income in some countrys.