getting permission to upload a mod after original creator doesn't respond or absent for a long time (4-5 years)

[terrorofskyrim]

What do you do when you want to upload a "fix" or addon of an existing mod but you can't get the permission from the original author no matter what you do?

[McclaudEagle]

If permission is required, and you can't obtain that permission, then there's effectively nothing you can do, you certainly wouldn't be allowed to upload it to the Nexus.

[micalov]

Yep what Mcclaud said, no permission, no upload full stop. No exceptions.

[AlexisCasting]

Yeah, it sucks when the mod clearly seems abandoned but you still can't make easy changes that would be of great benefit. As a mod consumer I wouldn't mind some kind of "if you don't touch the mod for 5 years others can release updates for it" de facto or something, but I would probably feel differently if I was a mod creator. I don't see the Nexus implementing such a policy. It is big on mod author rights.

[DrakeTheDragon]

Copyright goes far beyond the end of an author's life. 5 years doesn't even remotely come close. Other hosts establishing such rules 'could' get into legal trouble, but usually they communicate these rules to their uploaders and these agree to them before uploading, so they 'should' be safe.

 

However, Nexus always had this rule in place, and every author uploading his works here can 'trust' on it to remain protected as stated. Those who don't need it usually state so in their descriptions or permissions, those who didn't you must expect don't want to give up on their copyright either. The Nexus for one can't decide that for them, by way of new rules or something, as it would risk legal actions against it now, if it did.

 

Anyways, there's always the possibility to create 'patches', using the originals without touching them, just like has to be done with the Official DLCs, as touching those plugins is legally prohibited, and sometimes even technically prevented.

 

While patches screwing with the original intention or purpose of a mod is mostly frowned upon, patches in order to 'fix' bugs or expand on the mod should pretty much be in the clear. If even the original authors won't be likely to mind what the patches will do, I don't see a problem with doing it that way instead.

[terrorofskyrim]

Thanks for all the answers so far.

 

It's a shame though. The fix that i am talking about is the one for "dwemer vault" on the nexus. The creator placed some stuff in there that didn't work or wasn't accessible for some reason. That is why i have edited his file so that you can access those places but i did also remove the stuff that didn't work since i'm very new to this and don't know how he actually did that (lol i even had trouble with placing a door controlled by a switch, took me hours before i know how i had to do it XD).

 

Anyway, until i hear something from the author (wich isn't very likely since he is "gone" since 2011 i'm going to stay away from putting it on the nexus.

 

thanks you all again.

Edited March 31, 2014 by terrorofskyrim

[RGMage2]

If it is this mod http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/33445 then maybe there is something I’m missing here, but that author only released the mod on March 17^th 2013, and last posted in the comment thread May 23^rd 2013, so less than a year. It would be a little too early to think of it as abandoned. Also he has been a member since Jan. 2007, so a good chance he will be back at some point.

 

Anyway you probably learned quite a bit playing around in the CK, so it’s not a total loss for you. There is no reason why you can’t build on that knowledge by continuing to experiment in the CK and maybe at some point release something that’s all yours, and that will be way more satisfying to you than updating someone else’s mod. :smile:

 

[terrorofskyrim]

If it is this mod http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/33445 then maybe there is something I’m missing here, but that author only released the mod on March 17^th 2013, and last posted in the comment thread May 23^rd 2013, so less than a year. It would be a little too early to think of it as abandoned. Also he has been a member since Jan. 2007, so a good chance he will be back at some point.

 

Anyway you probably learned quite a bit playing around in the CK, so it’s not a total loss for you. There is no reason why you can’t build on that knowledge by continuing to experiment in the CK and maybe at some point release something that’s all yours, and that will be way more satisfying to you than updating someone else’s mod. :smile:

 

 

Ok i might have not read the release date that well :)

Atleast i can't say i didn't post enough (posted it on the mod forum + via mail)

 

About the modding part, i don't think something will come out from me soon (atleast not buildings or worlds that is) but maybe i'm going to upload some basic npc's until i can find out to package mods with your .esp properly because that part is never explained that well (i might be wrong though). I modded before for RTW but that was almost always about fixing or using existing mods for myself (which i sadly all lost because of carshes :( ) and back then i never thought about releasing it as a mod fix. It's just now that i thought that i should share this "fix" because it's sad that it's not really complete without my fix (but that's prolly what every modder says about his work :laugh: )

 

anyway thanks for the support and maybe you will see some npc's from me in the future but don't expect to much from me...yet :D .