Please let carefully read the entire content of the message, and answer only with constructive feedback that can help me and other people
I know that this topic has been discussed many, many times! Also on this board it is many topics related to the same argument but no one has given a definitive answer, examining all possible cases.
I'd like to create a small private server, without profit through donations or other, totally free.
Browsing the web I found a lot of information, some useful and others surely invented and "dangerous"!
My intention is to create a topic that would collect all the information on it and it can help the current or future owners of private servers.
Then, we get to the point, this is what I know for sure now:
Create a private server complete with website and emulator, it is certainly legal, as long as use emulators rAthena, eAthena, Hercules, as they have been completely rewritten from scratch and are detached from Gravity in all its forms.
Change the client's official Ragnarok to connect to these emulators is legal ONLY if done for private use, in localhost with address 127.0.0.1.
DISTRIBUTE an official client changed, or a patch to change the client so that it can connect to a private server is illegal.
Ok, so far we understand each other, but I want to investigate further this last point:
If I create a private server and distribute the patch to the client by an external source, such as mediafire, MEGA, torrent or another ... the responsibility for this "lawlessness" is mine or who has the patch on their servers? Of course on the site of the private server is a link to the patch on external servers.
If the responsibility is always mine, what risk really? Risk so even if I do not take advantage of the server? (as Money).
it is true that in some regions distribute the client is legal?
Why (classic question) there are many active servers since 2003 who have never closed? even if they take donations and have more than 2000 people?
Even on some forums I read that some of these private servers have had the tacit consent of gravity, is it true or is an enormous stupidity?
That's all, I hope that this topic may bring clarity in every way, by removing all DOUBT !!
I apologize for my English, I'm Italian;)