I started the post just to ask a question. I don't want a war or arguments of ethics. A modder should have rights to their work. This is a gaming industry where things happen fast. People come and go like the tides. There are tons of decent mods that are no longer supported. My only question was CAN you continue adding to it while giving permissions to the original author. If they show back up, retract your work at their request or work out a deal with the original person. I just don't know. It seems if you tried to contact, seriously contact them and get no reply what makes the effort valid? Anyone can forge an email showing permission. Also, anyone can deny giving permission long after work has been done. There should be some time limit for public domain if there have been no updates or appearance of the modder on Nexus. With full credit of the concept and all work done to that point by the original person. Is the mod really dead if they never show back up?