rr3-server/EA-LEGAL-AGREEMENT.md

# ⚖️ EA Legal Agreement - Community Server Guidelines

**Date:** February 22, 2026  
**Source:** Electronic Arts (EA)  
**Applies to:** RR3 Community Edition Server Project

---

## 📜 Official EA Policy

Electronic Arts has communicated the following requirements for community servers:

### ✅ Allowed

1. **Free Distribution**
   - APK can be distributed for free
   - Server can be hosted for community use
   - All in-game content must be free

2. **Donations**
   - Server operators may accept donations
   - Donations must be for server upkeep costs only
   - No pay-to-win features
   - No premium memberships with gameplay advantages

3. **Community Features**
   - Custom content (cars, tracks, mods)
   - Community events
   - Server modifications
   - Quality of life improvements

### ❌ Prohibited

1. **Monetization**
   - **NO charging for the APK**
   - **NO in-app purchases with real money**
   - **NO paid DLC or content packs**
   - **NO subscription fees**
   - **NO selling in-game currency**

2. **Commercial Use**
   - Cannot operate commercially
   - Cannot generate profit
   - Cannot sell access to features

---

## 🎮 Implementation Requirements

### Server Configuration

**All in-game items MUST be free:**

```csharp
// ProductController.cs - All items free
public IActionResult GetAvailableItems()
{
    var items = _context.Products
        .Select(p => new {
            p.Id,
            p.Name,
            p.Description,
            Price = 0,              // MUST be 0
            Currency = "FREE",      // Mark as free
            IsPurchasable = true    // Available to everyone
        });
    return Ok(items);
}

// RewardsController.cs - Gold purchase always free/unlimited
[HttpPost("gold/purchase")]
public IActionResult PurchaseGold([FromBody] GoldPurchaseRequest request)
{
    // Give unlimited gold for free
    var user = _context.Users.Find(request.SynergyId);
    user.Gold += request.Amount; // Or just += 999999999
    
    _context.SaveChanges();
    
    return Ok(new { 
        Success = true, 
        NewBalance = user.Gold,
        Cost = 0,  // FREE
        Message = "Community server - all currency is FREE!"
    });
}
```

### DRM Controller

**Purchase verification MUST bypass real transactions:**

```csharp
// DrmController.cs
[HttpPost("android/verifyAndRecordPurchase")]
public IActionResult VerifyAndRecordPurchase([FromBody] PurchaseVerificationRequest request)
{
    // DO NOT validate with Google Play
    // DO NOT charge real money
    // Just grant the item for free
    
    return Ok(new {
        Success = true,
        ItemGranted = true,
        Cost = 0,
        Message = "Item granted - Community server is 100% free!"
    });
}
```

---

## 💰 Donation Guidelines

### Acceptable Donation Practices

**Transparency:**
- Clearly state donations are optional
- Show server costs breakdown
- Provide donation receipt/confirmation
- Never gate features behind donations

**Example Donation Message:**
```
🎮 RR3 Community Server is 100% FREE!

All content, cars, tracks, and features are completely free.
No in-app purchases. No premium memberships.

Server hosting costs: $X/month
Your donations help keep the server online for everyone!

Donate (optional): [PayPal/Patreon/Ko-fi link]

Thank you for supporting the community! 🏎️
```

### Donation Transparency

**Monthly Report Example:**
```
📊 November 2026 Server Report

Server Costs:
- VPS Hosting: $50
- CDN Bandwidth: $20
- Domain/SSL: $5
Total: $75

Donations Received: $80
Surplus: $5 (carried to next month)

Thank you to all donors! The server remains free for all players.
```

---

## 🚫 What NOT to Do

### ❌ Bad Examples (PROHIBITED)

**1. Paid Features:**
```
❌ "Premium members get exclusive cars"
❌ "Donate $10 to unlock multiplayer"
❌ "VIP pass: $5/month for faster progression"
```

**2. Paid Currency:**
```
❌ "Buy 1000 Gold for $9.99"
❌ "Gold Pack: $19.99"
❌ "$0.99 per car unlock"
```

**3. Selling the APK:**
```
❌ "Download APK: $4.99"
❌ "Modded APK access: $2.99/month"
```

### ✅ Good Examples (ALLOWED)

**1. Optional Donations:**
```
✅ "Server costs $50/month. Donate if you can - keeps us online!"
✅ "100% free game. Optional donations help cover hosting."
✅ "Thank you donors! See transparency report: [link]"
```

**2. Community Perks (Non-gameplay):**
```
✅ "Donors get 'Supporter' badge in Discord"
✅ "Name in credits/thank you page"
✅ "Early server update announcements"
```
*(No gameplay advantages!)*

**3. Free Everything:**
```
✅ "All cars unlocked for free"
✅ "Unlimited gold and currency"
✅ "All tracks available immediately"
✅ "Custom content free for everyone"
```

---

## 📋 Compliance Checklist

### Server Implementation

- [ ] All ProductController items have price = 0
- [ ] Gold/currency purchase endpoints give unlimited free currency
- [ ] DRM controller bypasses real purchase verification
- [ ] No premium/paid tier system
- [ ] No paid subscription features
- [ ] No gameplay advantages tied to donations

### APK Distribution

- [ ] APK distributed for free
- [ ] No paid download links
- [ ] No "premium APK" versions with extra features
- [ ] Clear disclaimer about EA's IP ownership

### Donation System (If Implemented)

- [ ] Clearly labeled as "optional"
- [ ] Shows server costs breakdown
- [ ] No gameplay rewards for donating
- [ ] Transparent financial reporting
- [ ] All donations go to server costs only

### Legal Notices

- [ ] Disclaimer: "Real Racing 3 is owned by Electronic Arts"
- [ ] Notice: "Community server - not affiliated with EA"
- [ ] Statement: "100% free - no in-app purchases"
- [ ] Donation transparency report available

---

## 📄 Recommended Disclaimers

### In-Game Message (First Launch)

```
🏎️ Welcome to RR3 Community Server!

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
• This is a community-run server
• 100% FREE - No in-app purchases
• All content, cars, and tracks are unlocked
• Not affiliated with Electronic Arts
• Real Racing 3 is owned by EA

Server donations (optional) help cover hosting costs.
Donations do NOT provide gameplay advantages.

Have fun racing! 🏁
```

### Website/GitHub README

```markdown
## ⚖️ Legal Notice

**Real Racing 3** is a trademark of Electronic Arts Inc.  
This community server is not affiliated with or endorsed by EA.

### Free-to-Play Policy

In accordance with EA's guidelines:
- ✅ This server is **100% free**
- ✅ All in-game content is **free**
- ✅ No in-app purchases with real money
- ✅ APK is distributed free of charge

### Donations

Server hosting costs money. **Optional donations** help keep the server online.
- Donations cover hosting costs only
- No gameplay advantages for donors
- Full financial transparency provided

[Monthly Cost Breakdown] [Donation Options]

### Intellectual Property

All game assets, code, and trademarks belong to Electronic Arts.
We respect EA's intellectual property and their generous allowance
of community servers for this discontinued game.
```

---

## 🎯 EA's Reasoning (Implied)

**Why these restrictions exist:**

1. **Protect EA's IP** - RR3 is still EA's property
2. **Prevent commercial exploitation** - No profiting from EA's work
3. **Avoid legal issues** - Clear boundaries prevent lawsuits
4. **Fair to players** - Discontinued game should be accessible to all
5. **Community goodwill** - EA allowing this is generous

**What EA gets:**
- Community keeps game alive
- Positive PR for supporting fans
- No maintenance costs
- Players stay engaged with EA franchise

**What community gets:**
- Game continues after EA shutdown
- Free access to all content
- Custom mods and improvements
- Active community

**Win-win situation!** 🤝

---

## 🔒 Enforcement

### Server Operator Responsibilities

1. **Monitor for violations**
   - Regular audits of code
   - Check no paid features sneak in
   - Review donation messaging
   - Ensure APK distribution is free

2. **Community moderation**
   - Ban users selling items/accounts
   - Remove paid mods/content
   - Report violations to EA if needed
   - Keep community informed of policies

3. **Transparency**
   - Public server costs
   - Open source code (recommended)
   - Financial reports for donations
   - Clear communication with EA if needed

### If EA Contacts You

**Do:**
- ✅ Respond professionally and promptly
- ✅ Provide evidence of compliance
- ✅ Fix any violations immediately
- ✅ Keep communication documented

**Don't:**
- ❌ Ignore EA communications
- ❌ Argue about policy
- ❌ Continue violations after warning
- ❌ Claim ownership of EA's IP

---

## 📝 Server Configuration Template

### appsettings.json

```json
{
  "ServerSettings": {
    "ServerName": "RR3 Community Server",
    "IsCommercial": false,
    "AllowRealMoneyPurchases": false,
    "FreeToPlay": true,
    "AcceptDonations": true,
    "DonationUrl": "https://donate.example.com",
    "ShowDonationNotice": true,
    "TransparencyReportUrl": "https://example.com/transparency"
  },
  
  "EconomySettings": {
    "AllItemsFree": true,
    "UnlimitedGold": true,
    "UnlimitedCurrency": true,
    "DisableRealPurchases": true
  },
  
  "LegalSettings": {
    "EACompliance": true,
    "ShowDisclaimers": true,
    "DisclaimerText": "Real Racing 3 is owned by Electronic Arts. This community server is not affiliated with EA. 100% free - no in-app purchases.",
    "TermsOfServiceUrl": "https://example.com/terms"
  }
}
```

---

## 🎉 Summary

**EA's policy is simple:**

1. **Keep it FREE** - No charging for anything
2. **Donations OK** - For server costs only
3. **No profit** - Community service, not a business

**This is very reasonable!** EA could have shut down community servers entirely.
Instead, they're allowing the community to keep the game alive.

**Let's respect their terms and build an awesome free community server!** 🏎️💨

---

**Last Updated:** February 22, 2026  
**Status:** Documented and understood  
**Compliance:** Server configured for 100% free operation