Permit assets in contribution-focused forks

ASSET-LICENSE.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# NETfishing Asset License 1.0
+# NETfishing Asset License 1.1
 
 Copyright © 2026 Woofmeow. All rights reserved except for the permissions
 expressly granted below.
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ expressly granted below.
 
 This license applies to original NETfishing artwork, graphics, textures,
 models, animations, music, sound recordings, narrative content, visual
-designs, characters, and other creative assets owned by the NETfishing owners,
-publishing as Woofmeow (the **“NETfishing Assets”**).
+designs, characters, and other creative assets owned by the NETfishing owners
+or licensed to them with authority to sublicense, publishing as Woofmeow (the
+**“NETfishing Assets”**).
 
 It does not apply to:
 
@@ -35,6 +36,13 @@ NETfishing Software. A Mod may add, replace, or alter content loaded by the
 Official NETfishing Software, but it may not redistribute a replacement copy
 of the game or represent a fork, clone, sequel, or separate game.
 
+**Contribution Fork** means a source-control fork or clone of an official
+NETfishing source repository that is created and maintained in good faith
+primarily to prepare, test, review, or submit changes for possible inclusion
+in Official NETfishing Software. It does not include a fork presented or
+developed as an independent game, community edition, replacement distribution,
+or ongoing product separate from the official NETfishing project.
+
 ## 3. Permission to use the official game
 
 You may reproduce NETfishing Assets as technically necessary to install, run,
@@ -64,7 +72,7 @@ A distributed Mod must:
 3. include the following notice in its documentation or distribution page:
 
    > Contains or adapts NETfishing assets © 2026 Woofmeow, used under the
-   > NETfishing Asset License 1.0. This Mod is unofficial and is not endorsed
+   > NETfishing Asset License 1.1. This Mod is unofficial and is not endorsed
    > by Woofmeow.
 
 4. identify material created by the Mod author separately from NETfishing
@@ -77,14 +85,57 @@ charging for access to it, licensing it commercially, or using NETfishing
 Assets in paid products requires separate written permission from both
 NETfishing owners.
 
-## 5. Uses not permitted
+## 5. Contribution Fork license
 
-Except with separate written permission from both NETfishing owners, you may
-not use or distribute NETfishing Assets:
+Subject to this license, you may reproduce, modify, and distribute NETfishing
+Assets within a Contribution Fork. You may also make the nonpublic builds
+reasonably necessary to develop, test, and review its proposed contribution.
 
-- in a fork, clone, remake, sequel, or standalone game;
+This permission is worldwide, nonexclusive, royalty-free, and available for
+as long as you comply with this license. Public source-control hosting of the
+Contribution Fork and the repository history technically necessary for that
+fork are permitted distributions.
+
+A Contribution Fork must:
+
+1. remain primarily directed toward preparing changes for possible inclusion
+   in the official NETfishing project;
+2. preserve this license and the official NETfishing project's applicable
+   attribution, third-party license, and copyright notices;
+3. remain visibly linked to or identified as a fork of the official source
+   repository and not be presented as official or endorsed;
+4. limit test-build access to the owners, maintainers, contributors, and
+   testers directly participating in development or review of the proposed
+   contribution;
+5. not publish general-audience binaries, releases, packages, or downloads,
+   operate a persistent public alternative service, or monetize access;
+6. not distribute the NETfishing Assets as a standalone extraction, archive,
+   or general-purpose asset pack; and
+7. comply with `TRADEMARKS.md`.
+
+Temporary access-controlled servers may be operated when reasonably necessary
+to test a proposed contribution. They may not be promoted or maintained as a
+public alternative to Official NETfishing Software or its services.
+
+Submitting work from a Contribution Fork is governed separately by
+`CONTRIBUTOR-TERMS.md` and does not require the NETfishing owners to accept the
+work. Declining or closing a proposed contribution does not retroactively
+invalidate good-faith use under this section. A compliant Contribution Fork
+may remain publicly accessible as an archival development record, but it may
+not be repurposed for continued development or distribution of a separate
+product containing NETfishing Assets.
+
+## 6. Uses not permitted
+
+Except as expressly permitted by Sections 3, 4, and 5 or by separate written
+permission from both NETfishing owners, you may not use or distribute
+NETfishing Assets:
+
+- in a fork, clone, remake, sequel, or standalone game that is not a qualifying
+  Contribution Fork;
 - with a modified distribution of the GPL-covered NETfishing code that is not
-  Official NETfishing Software;
+  Official NETfishing Software, except for nonpublic contribution-testing
+  builds permitted by Section 5;
 - in another game, application, asset library, template, or merchandise;
 - as a substantially complete asset extraction or archive;
 - in a way that implies sponsorship, endorsement, or official status;
@@ -92,22 +143,25 @@ not use or distribute NETfishing Assets:
   identity; or
 - under terms that claim ownership of the NETfishing Assets themselves.
 
-The GPL permits forks and redistribution of the GPL-covered code. This asset
-license does not permit those forks to carry NETfishing Assets. A code fork
-must remove or replace the NETfishing Assets and reserved branding unless both
-owners grant separate written permission.
+The GPL permits forks and redistribution of the GPL-covered code. Except for a
+qualifying Contribution Fork under Section 5, this asset license does not
+permit those forks to carry NETfishing Assets. A code fork that is not a
+Contribution Fork must remove or replace the NETfishing Assets and reserved
+branding unless both owners grant separate written permission.
 
-## 6. Ownership of Mods
+## 7. Ownership of Mods and contribution work
 
-You retain ownership of your original Mod material. The NETfishing owners
-retain ownership of the NETfishing Assets and adaptations of those assets to
-the extent provided by applicable law.
+You retain ownership of your original Mod material and original material
+created in a Contribution Fork. The NETfishing owners retain ownership of the
+NETfishing Assets and adaptations of those assets to the extent provided by
+applicable law.
 
-This license does not require you to assign your original Mod material to the
-NETfishing owners. It also does not grant you ownership of the underlying
-NETfishing Assets.
+This license does not require you to assign or submit your original material.
+It also does not grant you ownership of the underlying NETfishing Assets. If
+you intentionally submit material for inclusion in NETfishing,
+`CONTRIBUTOR-TERMS.md` applies separately.
 
-## 7. Termination and cure
+## 8. Termination and cure
 
 Your permissions under this license terminate automatically if you violate
 its terms. They are reinstated provisionally when you stop the violation and
@@ -117,7 +171,7 @@ within sixty days after it has been cured.
 Termination does not limit remedies available for activity outside this
 license.
 
-## 8. No warranty
+## 9. No warranty
 
 THE NETFISHING ASSETS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS,” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
 EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A
@@ -125,7 +179,7 @@ PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT
 PERMITTED BY LAW, THE OWNERS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES, OR
 OTHER LIABILITY ARISING FROM THIS LICENSE OR USE OF THE NETFISHING ASSETS.
 
-## 9. Additional permission
+## 10. Additional permission
 
 Uses not granted here require written permission from both NETfishing owners.
 A permission granted to one person or project does not amend this license for

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -10,6 +10,21 @@ applicable grants and representations in
 affirmative record of that agreement. Contact the owners before submitting if
 separate written terms are needed.
 
+## Contribution forks
+
+The [NETfishing Asset License](ASSET-LICENSE.md) permits a public source-control
+fork to retain NETfishing assets when the fork is maintained in good faith to
+prepare, test, review, or submit changes for possible inclusion in the official
+project. Keep the hosting platform's fork relationship visible, preserve all
+license and attribution notices, and do not publish general-audience builds or
+use the fork as an independent game or distribution.
+
+Private test builds and temporary access-controlled test servers may be shared
+with people directly participating in development or review of the proposed
+contribution. Submission remains subject to `CONTRIBUTOR-TERMS.md`; permission
+to maintain a Contribution Fork does not guarantee that its changes will be
+accepted.
+
 ## Change discipline
 
 - Keep a change focused; avoid unrelated cleanup.

README.md

@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ world and UI authoring, and testing are consolidated in
   [GPL-3.0-or-later](LICENSE).
 - Project-owned artwork, models, music, and other creative assets are covered
   by the [NETfishing Asset License](ASSET-LICENSE.md). It permits community
-  Mods for official NETfishing software, but not use in forks, clones, or
-  unrelated products.
+  Mods for official NETfishing software and narrowly scoped contribution forks,
+  but not independent forks, clones, or unrelated products.
 - The NETfishing and Woofmeow names and branding are reserved as described in
   [TRADEMARKS.md](TRADEMARKS.md).
 - Third-party materials retain their own terms; see the consolidated

TRADEMARKS.md

@@ -24,10 +24,24 @@ An unofficial Mod may use wording such as “Example Mod for NETfishing” if it
 name and presentation remain clearly distinct and it displays an unofficial
 notice.
 
-## Forks and redistributed code
+## Contribution forks
+
+A qualifying Contribution Fork under `ASSET-LICENSE.md` may retain the
+NETfishing and Woofmeow names, logos, icons, and trade dress already present in
+the official source repository solely as necessary to reproduce, modify, and
+test the Project while preparing a proposed contribution. The source-control
+host's visible fork relationship or an equivalent repository notice must make
+its unofficial contribution purpose clear.
+
+This permission does not allow a Contribution Fork to use NETfishing or
+Woofmeow branding to advertise a public build, release, service, community
+edition, or independent product. It does not imply acceptance, sponsorship,
+endorsement, or official status.
+
+## Other forks and redistributed code
 
 The GNU GPL permits forks and redistribution of covered code. A fork or
-modified distribution must:
+modified distribution that is not a qualifying Contribution Fork must:
 
 - use a distinct product name;
 - remove NETfishing and Woofmeow logos, icons, and official trade dress;

docs/ATTRIBUTION.md

@@ -53,11 +53,12 @@ alone does not relicense third-party material.
 The GPL permits study, modification, redistribution, and forks of covered
 code. It does not grant rights to NETfishing creative assets or branding. The
 NETfishing Asset License separately permits qualifying noncommercial add-on
-Mods for official NETfishing software; it does not permit those assets to
-accompany code forks, clones, standalone games, unrelated products, or
-general-purpose asset packs. A GPL fork must replace NETfishing assets and
-reserved branding with independently licensed material and a distinct
-identity.
+Mods for official NETfishing software and narrowly scoped Contribution Forks
+used to prepare changes for possible upstream inclusion. It does not permit
+those assets to accompany independent code forks, clones, standalone games,
+unrelated products, or general-purpose asset packs. A GPL fork that is not a
+qualifying Contribution Fork must replace NETfishing assets and reserved
+branding with independently licensed material and a distinct identity.
 
 Project-wide code, asset, branding, or contributor-license changes require
 written approval from both NETfishing owners under their private joint