Copyright question

[Sketcz]

Game "A" is developed by company Z and published by someone else on a games console.

Company Z releases the partially PC ported source code of game "A" so that freelancers can finish the port to PC.

Lets call this port, game "B"

Game "B" is released on PC as a totally free game to download and distribute freely.

What is the law regarding game "A" now? The original published game, that Game "B" is a free port of, based on game "A"'s original source code?

Can game "A" also be freely distributed now?
Or only the port of it, game "B"?


Sorry for the confusing way of asking, just needed some clarification.
My guess is, that since game "B" is basically given away, the original comapny releasing it freely etc, game "A" should therfor also be freely distributable? Or does its original publisher still hold rights over it?

Do you need more info?

Thanks

[Papercut]

Can game "A" also be freely distributed now?

no.

does its original publisher still hold rights over it?

yes.

The rights are probably for a particular platform, but either way the publisher holds the rights to the release code and associated media, which is not covered by owning or giving away the source code.

It would be like saying because you have sheet music to a song in the public domain that entitles you to any recorded version of that song.

[Sketcz]

cheers for that bit of info.