Jump to content

Modder's copyright claims...

Sign in to follow this  

Recommended Posts

I'm using as an example this debacle with the Morrowind 2011 Compilation pack. http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/morrowind-2011-mod-pack-pulled-after-modders-raise-concerns/

 

My opinion is that it was not stealing, did not break any laws, and was entirely within the ToS of the game and it's modding program. Credits were provided, and were being updated for the few mistakes it had. The suing for monetary compensation by some of the modders is total bullcrap.

 

What are your takes on it?

Don't insult me. I have trained professionals to do that.

Share this post


Link to post

I can understand that they'd want to be credited but if you ask me, they took it kinda far.

I don't like writer's block, I prefer to call it writer's parry.

Share this post


Link to post

Cool. Something amazing finally comes out and once again the collective bads of the earth jump on it like a pedobear at daycare.

Retired Forum Moderator

Share this post


Link to post

I don't think they own any rights to the mods made by others. Just like the modders don't own any rights to the source material. Isn't it in the terms of service or whatever, that mods cannot be sold for money. So suing someone wouldn't be for damages but for the forced removal of the content from their site if the individual refused to remove it. Is it going too far? maybe not. especially not for the largest mods that took years to make like the graphic mod for Morrowind which makes it look absolutely INCREDIBLE. Unfortunately I can't even run it on my laptop. :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NX-MvnYUEs

I'd be pretty upset if someone took years of my work without asking me for permission and then releasing it under their name in some kind of compilation of mods as if they made it all. And the threat of lawsuit is best done as just a threat. In most cases its enough to force a change. It's not like you have to attach a copy of a legal document to do it. lol

Share this post


Link to post

Hi, Librarian here. I had to take a class in copyright law.

 

Generally, when a company copyrights and trademarks something, there's a clause somewhere in the copyright that includes the words "and all derivative works."

 

It matters very much whether or not that clause is in there.

 

I'll give you an example: Paramound owns the rights to Star Trek, and all derivative works. That means that if you, say, create your own Starship design, kitbashed from or otherwise based on the ship designs seen on the show (a LOT of people did this in the 70's, making blueprints and models and books and whatnot, and selling them), all of that work ACTUALLY belongs to Paramount, and they can sue you and recoup the money you make, if they choose to do so.

 

But if someone copies the design YOU made, maybe dresses it up and posts it as their own? You're SOL, because you don't actually own the rights to it, Paramount does.

 

You can threaten to sue, which may work, since even fighting a winning lawsuit against an invalid claim costs money, but you're very unlikely to ever have a chance of winning such a suit. And if you live where "loser pays" is the rule, you're even more SOL.

He just kept talking and talking in one long incredibly unbroken sentence moving from topic to topic so that no one had a chance to interrupt it was really quite hypnotic...

Share this post


Link to post
Generally, when a company copyrights and trademarks something, there's a clause somewhere in the copyright that includes the words "and all derivative works."

 

It matters very much whether or not that clause is in there.

That clause is most definitely in there, in both the game EULA and the mod tool's EULA.

 

Bethesda EULAs are the only ones besides WoW that I've ever read all the way through.

Don't insult me. I have trained professionals to do that.

Share this post


Link to post

i think the modders did the right thing. i personally know a couple that already payed for a copyright for their mod's sound effects and gunshots. in fact, in the mod's files there's a huge notepad message, that explicitly announces that if anyone used those sound effects anywhere without the mod team's permission, they would sue.

[82nd] Mr. Kochi Bracegirlde: You just blow that fife

[82nd] Mr. Kochi Bracegirlde: the 'if ye know what i mean' aside

Hooper: want to give your men a fast reload? BLOW ME FIRST

Share this post


Link to post
i think the modders did the right thing. i personally know a couple that already payed for a copyright for their mod's sound effects and gunshots. in fact, in the mod's files there's a huge notepad message, that explicitly announces that if anyone used those sound effects anywhere without the mod team's permission, they would sue.

The sounds are not the mods themselves unless the mod only does sound replacement with their own custom sounds. Otherwise the mod still belongs to Bethesda only.

Don't insult me. I have trained professionals to do that.

Share this post


Link to post

To be honest I do the same thing in my videos, but I try my damndest to credit everyone who created content I use. I probably get more leeway however since I don't actually distribute their files, just use them in making the videos.

Share this post


Link to post
Sign in to follow this  


×
×
  • Create New...

This website uses cookies, as do most websites since the 90s. By using this site, you consent to cookies. We have to say this or we get in trouble. Learn more.