This page attempts to make it extremely clear who can use our quiz maker (and other) software for free, and who
needs to pay. If it is not clear, please tell us, so that we can make it clearer!
- Who can use the Qedoc Quiz Player software for free?
Everyone. It's freeware. Find it here.
- Who can use the quiz modules for free?
If the module says it's free, it's free. Most of them are, and it always says so clearly.
Find them here.
- Who can use the Qedoc Quiz Maker software for free?
The quiz maker software is for creating or editing quizzes. It's free to everyone
provided that you share your quizzes as described below.
- What does "sharing quizzes" mean?
It means: they must have "acceptable content" and be uploaded to us for others to use for free.
If you share your quizzes with us, we'll share our software with you. For free.
- Can I share absolutely any quiz with you?
Not quite. Quizzes must be of potential interest to others and not harmful to children. That means, for example:
- If you have questions like "What's the phone number of our company" or "What's Auntie Ethel's white rabbit called?", these are specific to your organisation or family. They could not be of interest to others.
- If the copyright status of your media is uncertain, or anything else is legally or morally questionable,
we could not accept it.
- We must be able to understand it - which means it must be in a language we can understand.
There is more information about this here. If your quiz falls into
an unacceptable category, we will inform you and you then have a choice whether to buy a copy of the
Qedoc eLearning Designer or not. You could also change your quiz so that it fits our guidelines.
- What if I don't want to share my quizzes with you?
You are welcome to buy the Qedoc eLearning Designer. Then you don't have to share.
- If I share, does this mean I'm giving you my quizzes?
No. The quizzes remain your intellectual property. When you upload quizzes to us,
you release them under a Creative Commons licence.
- How can I get free use (or paid use)?
Download a copy of the Qedoc Quiz Maker and then request a free key as a registered contributor.
If you'd like to buy a key instead, first download a copy of the Qedoc eLearning Designer and then buy a key here.
- What's the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike Licence?
This is the most commonly used licence for modules which our contributors make. They can use some other Creative Commons licences as well, but this one is usually used.
You can read about it here: Creative Commons explanation of licences.
You can view a flash movie explaining Creative Commons here: http://mirrors.creativecommons.org/getcreative.
Creative Commons licencing a licencing system created by a non-profit organisation which is quickly gaining a strong following in the shareware world. We think it is a great way for small and inexperienced creators of artistic and educational materials to protect their works against exploitation while at the same time allowing sharing. The three
basic points are these (but please refer to the authoritative explanations on the Creative Commons site):
- Share-Alike means that others can modify your educational modules, but have to stick to the same
licencing if they do.
- Non-Commercial means that others cannot commercially exploit your modules.
- Attribution means that anyone distributing or modifying your work has to give you credit.
- Are you affiliated with Creative Commons?
No. We have no association with them of any kind. We just support their concept.
- Does Creative Commons have anything to gain from this?
Nothing more than popularity. They get paid nothing. Creative Commons is a not-for-profit entity that
helps people like you with licences.
- Can I sell my modules and quizzes if I use your software for free?
No. You can only give them away, reserving some rights as explained above. If you'd like to sell your modules, you will need to purchase a registration key for each copy and user of the authoring tool (Qedoc eLearning Designer). Contact us if you'd like more information or assistance with selling modules.
- Can I download other people's modules to modify and extend them?
Yes, assuming they have been released under one of the approved Creative Commons licences. That's the whole idea. We provide the educational community with a vehicle which
creates professional interfaces, interactivity and administration, and the
educational community gets on with the educational creativity bit, combining
its efforts. It's a little bit like Wikipedia, but it's not quite the same "wiki" concept.
- Can I download other people's modules to modify and then sell them?
No - because normally other people's modules will be released under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike Licence which prevents commercial exploitation. You can only modify other people's modules if you stay non-commercial and join the sharing concept.
- Are there any technical details I should know about?
Yes. If you have free user status, you actually have to upload the modules to us to get them
unlocked for distribution. This is quick and easy - there is a publish button on the Qedoc Quiz Maker
interface, so it's a single-click process.
- Why do I have to sign up as a contributor if I'm using the software for free?
So that we can issue you with a contributor ID and correctly identify your quizzes within our system.
Otherwise we'd have a big mess. Among other things, your contributor ID will allow you to find and track what's
happening to your quiz (e.g. downloads, online communities, tests submitted for marking).
- Are there any limitations on what I can publish through you?
Yes. We can't and won't just publish anything in the free online library. We have a detailed set of guidelines covering issues such as obscenity, pseudoscience and other problems. If you are into these kinds
of material, you should go with a commercial licence instead and remain independent of us.
- What if I need to keep my students away from a module until an exam? I need security.
Our freeware concept is all about sharing and spreading. We can't lock your students out without locking out other educators as well. And that's not part of the sharing idea. So if you need security, you will need to purchase a registration key. That'll allow you to lock up your modules and control their distribution.
- Why would you make it possible for so many people to use your software for free?
A misguided mixture of stupidity, megalomania, philanthropy and a taste for dangerous, bold gestures.
- Surely there's a catch here? It sounds far too charitable to be true.
The intended core of our business is non-commercial. We hope to pick up enough income from
bits and pieces around the edge (e.g. people who don't want to share their quizzes, or custom
services) to support the main business. There are other web sites that use a similar "non-commercial core" concept - for
example, Google's main search services are also free.
Concluding note: please note that this FAQ is intended to assist the smooth running of the site and that nothing in this FAQ replaces or extends the actual licence agreement.
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