Are mods open source for anyone to use and build off of?

[Codenaugh]

I know that mods get installed on every subscribers machine and are not encrypted or hidden at all, so it seems to me that mods are by nature, open source. When one creates a mod are we just simply agreeing that anyone can use our code to create additions to our mod or make similar or competing mods? If not, how do I prevent others from basically stealing my code to make something that I do not approve of.

 

[Gedemon]

mods are not "open source", unless there is a license attached of course.

There is no rules set in stone, because even if I believe that a mod belongs to the modder(s) who made it, the EULA (2KGames/Firaxis/Steam Workshop) say something different IIRC.

So we have a "modiquette" here, more a "code of conduct" than "rules", used since civ4 days.

We want mods to be shared between modders, but we insist on credits being given when used and "creativity" when reusing parts of someone else mod.

see: https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/the-modiquette.621791/

1. Be creative, don't copy, and respect other people's work
2. When you upload content, you automatically grant permission for it to be used by all members of this community.
3. Therefore no permission is required to use content that is uploaded.
4. However, the modder should give credit for any content used in their mod.
5. If you identify another modder's content being used in a mod, notify the mod's modder.
6. If someone notifies you about another modder's non-credited content, you should then add the credit.

 

[Snowygerry]

Usually there's some sort of "licence" included, this from RI for example :

"Information for fellow modmakers

We always felt our work to be a community effort, and as such we would very much like to give back to community as well. Our mod has tons of stuff incorporated into it, and much of it can currently only be found in it - we'd like that to change. Releasing all the units, buildings etc. from the mod separately on CFC is not an option, not only due to the sheer amount of separate items, but also due to the fact that our own involvment in its different bits and pieces varies greatly - from making stuff from scratch to redoing the textures and reshaping the models to even simply resaving stuff in a more efficient way (say, removing unused alpha channels in textures).

Therefore we urge you all to thoroughly pillage our mod for content. I can assure you, even if you already saw this particular unit/building/improvement/whatever on CFC, please take your time to compare, and in over 80% of cases you'll find that our version has been improved in some aspect. You can use any of our stuff without asking, but it would be nice if you informed us, just so we can enjoy the fact our work is being appreciated by the community."

 

[Codenaugh]

I actually found some pertinent info related to my original question. It does look like the mod authors retain Intellectual Property rights according to the Steam's Online Conduct Agreement and third parties are not allowed to use another's mod without explicit consent to do so, unless I am misinterpreting.

https://store.steampowered.com/online_conduct/

As a Steam subscriber you agree to abide by the following conduct rules.
You will not:

• Upload, or otherwise make available, files that contain images, photographs, software or other material protected by intellectual property laws, including, by way of example, and not as limitation, copyright or trademark laws (or by rights of privacy or publicity) unless you own or control the rights thereto or have received all necessary consents to do the same.
• Use any material or information, including images or photographs, via Steam in any manner that infringes any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or other proprietary right of any party.

 

[Gedemon]

I actually found some pertinent info related to my original question. It does look like the mod authors retain Intellectual Property rights according to the Steam's Online Conduct Agreement and third parties are not allowed to use another's mod without explicit consent to do so, unless I am misinterpreting.

https://store.steampowered.com/online_conduct/

It's because of this

You represent and warrant to us that you have sufficient rights in all User Generated Content to grant Valve and other affected parties the licenses described under A. and B. above or in any license terms specific to the applicable Workshop-Enabled App or Workshop page.

See:
https://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/#6

 

[Tychusfindlay919]

This applies practically to all modding really, not just civ6.

Mods are de facto open source: anyone who downloads a mod for any game can mess around with it with or without the author's consent. Most games declare any mods to be under their purview as opposed to the mod authors.

And even if the mods were legally owned by mod authors, my experience is that most mod authors lack the financial and time resources to seriously challenge anyone messing/republishing their mods.

It's expected throughout many parts of the internet that you don't act like an *******.

Alternatively, many mod authors for a lot of games do provide encryption for their mods in part or in whole that would make changing parts of the mod pretty hard.

Personally I've never tried to republish a mod. The most I'll do is change a few numbers around in a mod if I feel like it's unbalanced, but that modification will just be unique to my own download of the mod and never sees the light of day anywhere on the internet.

TL;DR Mod authors sometimes like to act like tough guys, but in reality 99.99% of the modding community in just about every game is powerless to stop mod-thieves (at least with regards to intellectual property law, not taking into account the bad things that can happen to you when you get on the bad side of some internet stranger who may have the werewithal to try and mess with you). That being said, people expect others to not be dicks about things.