Uploading converted Fallout 3 mods without permission

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I would like to remind all users that you cannot convert and reupload mods that you did not create yourself from Fallout 3 for New Vegas without permission from the original author of the Fallout 3 modification. This is in line with our rules on using other people's work without permission.

Most authors provide information on how they would like their files to be used and distributed in their ReadMe's or file descriptions. If the author has not provided this information then you must request permission from them. No information does not mean no permission needed, it means the reverse.

If you convert a file and upload it without permission or even crediting the original author of the work you are very likely to be banned from the network without warning.

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  1. nivea
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    Quick question, what if the original author is inactive and doesn't respond to messages requesting permission???


     
    Unless you get permission, then NO you do NOT have permission. So, no you do not have permission.
  2. Aloevb
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    Quick question, what if the original author is inactive and doesn't respond to messages requesting permission???
  3. sputnik421
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    I don't like the GECK and only use it to see my models in my game, before sending them to the GECK users that wish to place my models in the game. I have been considering adding some of my meshes to the nexus as moders resources, but I was reconsidering those plans halfway though reading this thread. Now I have read all posts in full I think I may post my models on here, as they have not been made with the GECK. Bethesda can have no claim on them and I can retain my rights over them, as I'm not good at texturing models yet. I would invite moders to make there own textures for my models, if they so wished and give me credit for the work I have done. I can see why gamers don't want to get the experience with the GECK to be able to make there own mods, but that should not be a excuse to bring others work from any other source without asking for rights to do so.

    I can't see why this thread has got so long it was started as a news thread not a discussion, and on most forums would have been locked after the first post from the admin. I'm sure more than enough discussion has been had on this subject, and the reasons why it it wrong to use others work without proper permission. So I for one would like to see this thread locked as soon as possible stop further discussion, as the game has now been out for long enough for mods to get well into making new mods for the game.
  4. bben46
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    If your new mod, using all new meshes and textures - looks too close to the original it will be reported as a likely port, and we will probably put it under review (not viewable by anyone except staff and author) to check it out. To avoid this, make it enough different that you can easily show - in your mod description that it is not a port from some other game.

    When we overlay the mesh from your version with the mesh from the original - it is instantly obvious if you copied or even just changed some of the verticies to try to make it a little different. Changing a few vertices does not make it original.

    And, in a prominent location in the short description please state that it is not a port. Fewer Nexus users will report it just because it looks like a port. This will save wear and tear on the staff.

    Note that the word port has a negative connotation here. Some people like to use it in the meaning that they used the original as the idea for their mod. We use it as meaning that you copied the material from another location and pasted it into your mod.
  5. psychophat
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    Do we have an extended article regarding this matter?

    I'm making a mod based from ideas all over. And if a certain feature of my mod sounds the same as another or some entries are thesame (commands and stuff) or near variant is that considered not mine even if I made it from scratch on GECK?

    What if you hexedit a file to generate an ESM/ESP then use FNVEdit to do the loading of entry heads/cats/paths then re-edit the id's and values, that skips the use of GECK overall. Does that void any legal context?

    On another note, if my mod resembles another ported from other games FO3/2/1, RE, CoD, DAO or other games even from movies due to the fact it resembles another mod; also if it does contain models, textures which resembles another even if I created the model/anim/texture does that count to be deleted or in that sense due to resemblance to another?
  6. ginnyfizz
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    You gave up the rights to your work to Bethesda when you started using the freaking thing. Get that through your skulls, people. You CANNOT legally force people to request permission from the owner of the mod, since the owner doesn't own the mod to begin with! If you want people to have permission to port a mod, tell them to contact Bethesda. THEY and THEY ALONE own all modifications. Again, you CANNOT legally assert ownership over a mod, since it is the property of Bethesda. To do such is in breach of copyright laws across the spectrum, and NO court will side with you on that matter. I'm surprised Bethesda hasn't chimed in on this matter, since you folks are asserting that you own their property, in regards to modifications made using the GECK. I'm not threatening, or blackmailing, or whatever other excuse you could use to ban me. I'm STATING that you are in breach of copyright law by attempting to enforce ownership of modifications made using the GECK. NOBODY on this site is required to seek permission to reproduce a mod. All of this permission BS is a fairy tale invented by the folks in charge here to keep their own screwy form of law in place. Regardless of your site TOS, the moment any mod worked on with the GECK is uploaded, on a non-commercial basis, as enforced by the Terms of Use for the GECK, it is the property of Bethesda, not you. They own ALL rights to New Material made with the GECK. Therefore, Dark0ne, and moderators, your argument is, by the very wording of the GECK Terms of Use, NULL AND VOID. Should you continue to assert that the mod creators own New Material they have created, Bethesda WILL be informed, if not by me, by someone else, of this clear breach of their Terms of Use. As it is, by not complying with the Terms of Use, you have forfeited your rights to use the GECK.

    Oh, and please don't use this as an excuse to ban me. I'm not blackmailing anyone. I saw some guy get banned for demanding that FOMM be removed, otherwise Bethesda and Microsoft(?) would be informed, and the site shut down. I'm not threatening anyone here. I'm not going to try to shut down anything. What I'm going to do is attempt to help Bethesda keep a firm hold on their property. That's not blackmail, extortion, or whatever. It's upholding the law.

    Sincerely,
    FlyingHigh10000000


    Wow, rude Get that through your skulls people, AND wrong - you quoted the EULA and got it right around your neck.*Takes her lawyer's wig out of the box and puts it on...* I suggest you try reading that EULA again.It is the GECK itself that remains the sole property of Bethesda.As regards anything you create with it, you grant BETHESDA the irrevocable right to use it as they see fit.That is most certainly NOT the same thing as giving them ownership, not in any jurisdiction that I know of.Bethesda can do what they like with created content, but the modder CAN specify what anyone else can and cannot do with it, since they do still own their own creations.

    In other words, Dark0ne and his team are totally within their rights to make and enforce a site rule against uploading content without the modders permission.
  7. Surenas
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    ...
    Until such time as Bethesda tell me otherwise that is how it will be.


    And then it will be no more...
  8. Dark0ne
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    So what you're saying is that instead of getting permission from the creator, you should have to get permission from Bethesda.
    Yeah, that sounds like an improvement.


    This. Just because you, supposedly, lose ownership rights of any esp/esm files doesn't automatically make them open source for everyone to do with as they please.

    Scripting is just like any other modding skill be it texturing, meshing, animation, etc.; just because you use the SDK to compile the script doesn't make it any less talented. We've already discussed at length that simply changing 1 or 0 values in pre-existing scripts isn't protected, but writing a nice 200 lines of new script code for a mod? Yes, that's protected under our site's rules irrespective of laws or otherwise. Until such time as Bethesda tell me otherwise that is how it will be.
  9. bben46
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    Bethesda knows very well what we do here, If they have a problem , legal or otherwise with our rules, I'm sure they will let us know. Meanwhile, the rule stands.
  10. Quetzlsacatanango
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    So what you're saying is that instead of getting permission from the creator, you should have to get permission from Bethesda.
    Yeah, that sounds like an improvement.