Is this mod legal?

[Youmu970]

2K's terms of service says that you cannot distribute modifications of the game.

 

[Gazebo]

2K's terms of service says that you cannot distribute modifications of the game.

Eh? The game isn't included in this mod - you have to own Civ 5 to use this. Nothing in the EULA prevents mods, so long as you aren't monetizing it.
G

 

[Youmu970]

From Take2's EULA: You agree not to reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, display, perform, prepare derivative works based on, or otherwise modify the Software, in whole or in part.

 

[Libermmucist]

Say that to Firaxis who openly approves the modding of the game, and provided the means to do so.

 

[sleepyx732]

It'd be weird that they (well Firaxis, but still) would supply a mod tool (SDK) but then say modding is not allowed.

It probably is worded like that, with no underlying conditions, but a lot of EULA's say something similar and still they have no problems with mods (unless you're games workshop ). They don't care as long as you don't modify the source code or otherwise make a profit off the modification.

They word it like this to cover all basis.

 

[Tubbilicious]

From Take2's EULA: You agree not to reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, display, perform, prepare derivative works based on, or otherwise modify the Software, in whole or in part.

It's not clear that modders are modifying the base software. The base software is simply being used to run a different (non-vanilla) rule set. Nothing in the mods changes say, the way the engine of the game runs.

 

[Wodhann]

You're confusing things. It's illegal to modify the game and then resell/redistribute it as a whole, like for example if someone changed it and then distributed it as though it were a different game. It's not illegal to distribute just the modifications, in fact Firaxis provides a way to do so themselves.

If you think about it mods are great for companies as it's a way for them to keep their own game fresh without spending a single penny.

 

[XplosiveLun]

I think he/she is talking about the dynamic link library(.dll) modification. Since .dll is treated as if it's part of the .exe, this leads OP's confusion.

If I recall correctly, Firaxis should have released the .dll to the public. Then it isn't violating EULA.

 

[Zanteogo]

 

[Aristos]

Yeah... let's make the only thing that keeps Civ5 interesting and better illegal... sure

 

[lordrune]

Firaxis released the source code for the DLL with the intended purpose of allowing the community to modify and re-compile it for use in mods.

Yes, the language in Take 2's terms & conditions is broad, but that's generally the way those things work, to minimise commercial risk to the publisher. Given the modding actually enhances the value of the product, there is no way they would attempt a lawsuit - doing so would trash their own reputation as well as leaving everybody in the industry scratching their heads.

Of course attempting to reverse engineer the executable e.g. to circumvent copy protection would be an entirely different matter.

 

[Senteliks]

From Take2's EULA: You agree not to reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, display, perform, prepare derivative works based on, or otherwise modify the Software, in whole or in part.

You don't even understand what half of those terms mean, besides if 2k has something to say against CP it would have done it by now, so off you go

 

[Coilean]

Everyone knows software EULA's are legalistic nonsense. The very idea that you buy a thing, and must sign an undisclosed legal contract AFTER the purchase to be able to use it is an abuse that would be considered illegal for any other transaction. EULAs only exist for software because they are basically unenforceable and noone gives a crap about them.

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

Moderator Action: Clearly it is legal, otherwise the whole of the modding community is on thin ice. I'm closing the thread as it warrants no further discussion.