Reviewing dis-allowed mods?

[ptbptb]

OK, I know there are certain mods that should not be uploaded to TES4nexus. I'm thinking of Japanese ones that often re-use work from other mods without asking for permission. Obviously I'm not going to try to upload them.

 

However I would like to know where the 'line in the sand' is. I daresay I can mention the fact that they exist, but can I 'name names'? (e.g. give specific filenames that someone might Google on). Is it OK to review them and give instructions on how to use / install them?

[Vagrant0]

Well, technically those mods contain content that is illegally obtained, so might, in some contexts be encouraging piracy. There are, of course some gray areas if the content is taken from a source which is not licensed in your country, but as TES nexus is an international forum, those don't really apply here. Although the site is not hosting the content, it would still be encouraging or condoning discussion and distribution of that content, which is almost just as bad.

 

From a more practical standpoint, most of those mods exist, and remain available because there aren't many people who know about them or where to get them. Having a place of discussion for this sort of thing in the open would likely cause whatever service was hosting those files to remove them or be the target of legal action. If the host was also a forum or site which had little patience for stupid gaijin, it would likely create further problems. So putting it in any public spotlight would likely be a bad idea for all involved.

 

Or atleast that's my personal take on it.

Edited December 19, 2009 by Vagrant0

[buddah]

As long as the content is not pirated or from a pirated source it would be allowed.

 

If you are reviewing a particular mod that is not allowed to be uploaded here it should be ok, discussion of them is allowed although they may not be hosted here.

 

Linking to them in sometimes a problem, but posting good search instructions would be acceptable.

 

Information on installation and usage of a particular mod that is in another language is always welcome.

 

What you are proposing appears to be a good idea, and I see no problems with doing so. If there are individual issues we can address them as they come up.

 

Buddah

[ptbptb]

What you are proposing appears to be a good idea, and I see no problems with doing so. If there are individual issues we can address them as they come up.

 

How about if I initially post them with [REDACTED] in place of sensitive names and a note on what I believe to be problematic about the mod in question? If I get the OK I can then replace the [REDACTED]s with the actual names.

 

From a more practical standpoint, most of those mods exist, and remain available because there aren't many people who know about them or where to get them. Having a place of discussion for this sort of thing in the open would likely cause whatever service was hosting those files to remove them or be the target of legal action. If the host was also a forum or site which had little patience for stupid gaijin, it would likely create further problems. So putting it in any public spotlight would likely be a bad idea for all involved.

 

To answer Vagrant's points:

 

People do know about them, and where to get them. It's just that the people in question are generally Japanese. :thumbsup: For example [REDACTED] has been downloaded 24,000 times since October 2008. Its location obviously isn't that obscure.

 

For the second point, it's true that the forums that are, marginally, involved (2ch) include plenty of people that have no patience for ignorant gaijin (or, indeed, for anybody at all) but frankly it wouldn't be 2ch without someone ranting about something and I don't think anybody is likely to start posting there from here anyway. I'm somewhat of a 2ch veteran and I've learnt the social do's and don'ts there (the hard way :rolleyes: ) so if posting is required I'll most likely be the one doing it.