Just a question about permissions for uploading

[amokrun1]

I made a weapon mod for myself that I would like to share. I took the mesh and textures from an old mod (https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/38762/?) and tweaked it to my liking, with animations and everything. I reached out to the mod author for permission but they never got back to me. The mod last saw an update in 2012, and the author's most recent Nexus activity was almost a year ago.

 

I don't want to risk getting banned if I upload the mod without getting permission, but I'm wondering if the MA is inactive what Nexus's position on this is. Anyone have an answer?

 

[M48A5]

What do the permissions say on the mod page?

The Nexus policies are pretty straight forward. You can find them in the Terms and Policies that is linked at the top of this and every page in Nexus Forums.

This has been explained so may times that this type of question could almost be considered trolling. No permission, if permission is needed, no upload, no exceptions.

[madmongo]

For that particular mod, the permissions section says that you need the author's permission to do anything with the assets in the mod. Normally, that would be it. If you can't get in touch with the mod author, you can't use the assets, or direct derivatives of those assets (i.e. tweaking them to your own liking).

 

However, in this particular case, you're in luck. The mod author updated the description to say that you can now do whatever you want with the mod, and you no longer need permission to do so. So basically the mod now has open permissions, it's just that the mod author did not bother to update the permissions and credits part of the mod description.

 

With this mod, you can do what you want with it. The mod author has given open permissions for everyone to use it as they would like.

 

For other mods, if the mod author does not give open permissions, then you have to get permission from the mod author. If you can't get permission from them because they are no longer active, you're screwed. You can only use assets if a mod author grants permission to do so. If the mod author is no longer around and you can't get permission from them, you can't use the assets.

 

If you are considering using someone else's work in your mods, first look at the permissions and credits section. If they haven't given permission there, then read the mod description. Sometimes, like in this case, they'll open up the permissions to everyone but won't update the permissions section of the description. If there is nothing there, look for a comment by the mod author in the mod's posts section. Sometimes they'll leave a post there indicating that they are granting open permissions for the mod. If they are nice they'll pin the post so that it's the first post you see in that section. If the permissions section doesn't give open permissions, and the description doesn't give permission, and there's no post giving permissions, and you try contacting the mod author and get no response, then you can't use the assets. Period.

[amokrun1]

Thanks Madmongo, upon revisiting the mod I did indeed see what you're referring to in the description. In my haste I did not read it, I will remember this and make a point of doing so in the future. Thanks again, but sorry for posting on an issue that could have clearly been avoided with some extra diligence on my part.