With all these Mods, what License are they under??

Cor'e =)

Cor'e =)

Warlord
Joined
Feb 27, 2009
Messages
229
With all these Mods, what License are they under?? I would like to know, i'm not too comfortable not knowing what kind of credit and respect the original artists desire. I have searched and found nothing discussed in several trys, any help would be appreciated, tia!
 
We are 00s and licensed to kill. ;)


Oh you mean game mod licenses....I haven't the foggiest.
 
I'm not sure a particular license has ever been mentioned.

You are free to create mods for the game as you wish, with the caveat that any other copyrighted material that is used should be cleared with that copyright holder. Most mod-makers here request that you give them appropriate attribution, if you build on their works. I would consider most mods here to be licensed similarly to the Creative Commons - Non-Commercial - Share Alike license. Use them, build on them with attribution, don't sell them.

Mods posted here at CFC are free to use. We do not link to mods that require payment to use them.
 
Well, what i'm thinking about is to contact the artist(s), and as years pass they may leave the scene and be very hard to find. Is not all the art here really just a derivative of Firaxis's art works and therefore under their copyright etc. Or have they said nothing all these years simply to encourage mod development? Or do we have original art work by the artists in these mods?

That's why i ask, because if the mod's art work is really Firaxis 99% of the time, or a derivative of it, and i want to use a mod's art in some other free game, then i'll need to ask Firaxis (original artist & copyright holder), unless some one knows what Firaxis's license is here with modders.

Personally, i want to fully credit all works i borrow and use in a game or mod, so no problem there, but since there's like zero mod makers here even discussing this on the forums, or anything in the FAQ, i'm asking you guys straight.
 
I don't really think most mod makers care, to be honest, outside of perhaps asking for permission as a sign of courtesy...
 
This kind of stuff should go in the README file of a mod, which every mod, nontrivial art, or program should have, IMO, by which I mean that the Mod maker should make sure to include one, not that it is common practice.
 
ATM, i'm trying to get permissions from "Daniel Knowles (aka Sn00py, Icedan, Frost, loki, etc.) to use his work in a free game mod, and that will make going forward easy. (If any one knows him today, please help me, tia...)

But i have no idea from Sn00py's mod content if he was the original creator of the art, or if his work is just a well regarded derivative from Firaxis art, that people cannot use outside of the Firaxis Civ games without license.

I certainly hope we can use it, that would be astounding!

I like to think they should leave a ReadMe behind in their mods to give themselves and the others involved credit, plus give some instructions as to the extent their work may be used by other mod makers.

I'm not saying every mod maker needs to put on a lawyer cap and go do an open mega-license (like GPL for example). But a simple terms of use statement and who to credit helps us all out for a long time afterwards. I want to find mods i can use freely(or not) by reading a ReadMe file rather than emailing people who maybe have stopped caring to reply back.

So this is why i'm saying something on this issue today. =)
 
Usually when someone posts a unit or graphic or something and make their work available for download it basicaly means that he allows anyone to use it (without asking). Because units for example arent posted so that people can see the picture of it, they are posted to be used in mods. But if a unit doesnt have a thread of it's own and you found it through an obscure link in a alpha version of some mod it's prolly better if you ask the creator.

However - when someone posts a mod or something complex that took lots of months or maybe years to make, you cant just take the mod, modify one or 2 things in a day or so and then upload the mod as your own work (even tho you mention in the credits that you worked on someone else's mod). For these kinds of things you need to ask permision.
 
For like 10 years now this forum has had no guideline or rule or even FAQ about this simple but IMPORTANT issue.

Has anyone thought about that? Has CivFanatics taken any step to at least INFORM modders and respective artists of that? Without saying anything, much work cannot be used anywhere else except by Firaxis' consent, because they'll stop us and say that it is all a derivative of their original game copyrights, you are all being owned. ;)

Modders here have cheerfully created many many mods to the benefit of the community, but since no distinction has been made, most if not 99% of all the graphical mods here probably cannot legally be used for Open Source Games.

And an author's permission to use a derivative work(s) does not make it legally usable, it is still owned by the original copyright holder, that's no good for Open Source creations, this stuff is really important going forward in any direction away from Firaxis' ownership.

I'd like to see CivFanatics add to the mod download/upload DB columns something like "Content: Original|Derivative|Mixed", for example:

File Title: The Mighty Good Graphics Mod (Huge) (619.5 KB)
Author: SomeGuy (Uploaded by SomeGal)
Date: January, 02 2008
Content: Original
Downloads: 1001
Rating: 4.5 stars
.
 
The things is, most mods will not include artwork that belongs to Firaxis. Where such artwork is used, the mods will just access it from its default position in the Civ folder. What I mean is, say a mod has a new unit which uses the Swordsman graphic. That mod won't include the Swordsman graphic as part of its download. It will just direct the game to where that graphic is normally kept in the Civ folder.

So there should be no issue about using Firaxis artwork. To the extent that a mod requires Firaxis' game in order to play it, one can say that a mod is derivative of Firaxis' work, but if it doesn't actually contain their artwork in its download there is no legal issue involved.

Anything that people post on the site is taken to be free to use for Civ modding purposes. For example, if someone posts a unit that they have made, or a leaderhead, or terrain graphics, or anything else, you are free to use those in a mod that you make yourself, and you can include them in the download for your mod. You are expected to credit the authors of those elements you include, as has been mentioned, but you don't have to seek out their permission to use their work beforehand.

If you want to use work that has been posted here for something other than modding Civ - for example, in an independent game you're writing yourself - then you should certainly ask permission from the creators.

If people use pre-existing artwork from elsewhere as part of their mods or modding-related artwork, and they want to post it here, then other restrictions may apply - but that's nothing to do with this site. It's entirely to do with the creators of that original artwork.
 
Cor'e =) said:
For like 10 years now this forum has had no guideline or rule or even FAQ about this simple but IMPORTANT issue.
Click to expand...

That's because they don't care, really. People would rather go by the honor system and allow other peoples' work by giving them their permission rather then care about some silly copyright law. This is a fan site dedicated to a video game, for god's sake, not some Linux project or something. As for Firaxis, I highly doubt that they would bother suing their fans for incorporating their work into their freaking mod of their game. Issues about mods that are commercial are irrelevant.

As for open-source games, make your own damned graphics.
 
I think (from my intellectual property work) that anything original that is posted without claiming a copyright (or other IP protection) is considered public domain, though I'm no lawyer. Unfortunately, determining whether it is original can be problematic.
 
Plotinus said:
The things is, most mods will not include artwork that belongs to Firaxis. Where such artwork is used, the mods will just access it from its default position in the Civ folder. What I mean is, say a mod has a new unit which uses the Swordsman graphic. That mod won't include the Swordsman graphic as part of its download. It will just direct the game to where that graphic is normally kept in the Civ folder.
Click to expand...

Bill3000 said:
That's because they don't care, really. This is a fan site dedicated to a video game, for god's sake, not some Linux project or something. As for Firaxis, I highly doubt that they would bother suing their fans for incorporating their work into their freaking mod of their game. Issues about mods that are commercial are irrelevant.
Click to expand...

I think they said it all... I new here but... I think that CIV IV is built for modding, Soren and the rest of the bunch always said that, they wished to give us the users of the game the oportunity to "help" improving the game for ourselves, it's just u having a car and giving it new rims or putting new interiors I dunno, whatever... do u ask permission to the car manufactor to that? Civilization has the probably the best designers, why? cause they made an awesome game and even had the niceness in "saying" : Here's the game, enjoy, if u want to modify it making it yours, do it so:)
there's probably more than thousands of diferent "CivIV" in the world due to modding Firaxis wanted so I guess... and they would shut CFC down... cause they'ld basically making more than 150K fans pissed -_- it's bad for business :D
 
DaveShack said:
I think (from my intellectual property work) that anything original that is posted without claiming a copyright (or other IP protection) is considered public domain, though I'm no lawyer. Unfortunately, determining whether it is original can be problematic.
Click to expand...

Nope. Berne Convention. My point, that no one really cares outside of etiquette to ask for permission, due to the nature of this site as a fan mod site still applies though.

Faladhrym said:
it's just u having a car and giving it new rims or putting new interiors I dunno, whatever... do u ask permission to the car manufactor to that?
Click to expand...
Individual cars (as opposed to industrial designs of said car) aren't protected by copyright.
 
as with any piece of software the civ games do bind you to the EULA - and Firaxis is quite explicit about their license - if push comes to shove they'd claim exclusive rights on all creations posted publicly (I doubt that they actually would since it would destroy the modding community which is actually a sales argument):

Civilization 4 EULA said:
(a) All Customized Game Materials created by you are exclusively owned by LICENSOR and/or its licensors (as the case may be) and you hereby transfer, assign and convey to LICENSOR all right, title and interest in and to the Customized Game Materials and LICENSOR and its permitted licensors may use any Customized Game Materials made publicly available to you for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to for purposes of advertising and promoting the Software;

(b) You will not use or permit third parties to use the Software Utilities and the Customized Game Materials created by you for any commercial purposes, including but not limited to distributing, leasing, licensing, renting, selling, or otherwise exploiting, transferring or assigning the ownership of such Customized Game Materials;

(c) Customized Game Materials must be distributed solely for free; provided, that you may contact LICENSOR for a license to commercially exploit the Customized Game Materials which LICENSOR may grant or deny in its sole discretion;

(...)

(f) Customized Game Materials cannot contain libelous, defamatory or other illegal material, material that is scandalous or invades the rights of privacy or publicity of any third party, or contain any trademarks, copyright-protected work or other property of third parties (without a valid license); and

(g) All Customized Game Materials must contain the proper credits to the authors of the Customized Game Materials and must indicate that LICENSOR is not the author of the Customized Game Materials with additional language that “THIS MATERIAL IS NOT MADE, GUARANTEED OR SUPPORTED BY THE PUBLISHER OF THE SOFTWARE OR ITS AFFILIATES.”
Click to expand...
 
What about brand new nif files which can be used in several games that use Gamebryo, rather than just Civ4?
 
I don't see anything in the EULA that covers new art that just happens to use the same format as the game does.
However in case someone distributes new art along with the necessary assets files (xml and the like) to integrate them into a mod - I would think that the EULA would claim exclusive property rights for Take-Two. Doesn't mean that they would win this right in court - but that is the one published license claiming to cover any game modifications :mischief:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

King Phaedron
No Dedications in Multiplayer Bug for AI Civs
Replies
0
Views
398
King Phaedron
King Phaedron
MutilationWave
How about some more hotkeys? Slowly going crazy in a World War.
Replies
8
Views
933
MutilationWave
MutilationWave
Naokaukodem
My Civ VII review
Replies
0
Views
352
Naokaukodem
Naokaukodem
Blake00
  • Sticky
[MoM] ATTENTION: Master of Magic 30th Anniversary Celebration - Communities, Fan Mods & Remakes, Sequels, Similar Games & More!
Replies
0
Views
3K
Blake00
Blake00
BrianKindly
[List] Civ 7 Mods that make the game and UI more understandable (especially for a new player)
2 3 4
Replies
70
Views
33K
MutilationWave
MutilationWave
Back
Top Bottom