Is it a banable offense to upload a mod containing assets from another game even f it's just a sound effect

[iRonnie16]

I made a rather neat mod I want to share, it includes 3 audio files totaling 39 seconds, that's it.

[LadyMilla]

Absolutely no copyrighted work is to be used without permission of the original creator. This includes content from other games, from DLCs, music creators or from other file authors. This also includes members from countries that do not recognise copyright laws.

 

 

 

The term 'content' obviously includes sound effects too, so if you do not have permission, you may not include them in a mod that you want to upload to Nexus.

[iRonnie16]

Alright thanks

[LeddBate]

Audio synthesizer programs for the PC can be bought fairly cheaply. Wouldn't be too hard to create similar sound effects on your own to replace the files you're talking about. Then there wouldn't be any problem since the audio files would be "yours".

 

Also, a Google search will yield up libraries of public-domain (copyright-free) sound effects and music. Example: Freesound.org.

 

Remember, audio and effects you make yourself must be slightly different -not a direct imitation/copy of the original. A famous example is the theme from "Jaws". Many a YouTuber has uploaded a video using their own synthesized version of the theme, only to have their video quickly taken down.

 

Any audio effects you download from a site must be public domain OR the original artist (not necessarily the uploader) must have given permission for it's use in order to add it to your mod.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Edit: I should clarify. Even if the original artist has "given permission" for his/her work to be used publicly, if he/she previously sold it to another company (or individual) that person/company may still have the rights to that material, thus invalidating any claim of the original artist that you have "permission" to use their work.

 

Gets tricky, doesn't it? Create your own original content and you save yourself a boat-load of potential future legal headaches.

Edited August 26, 2014 by LeddBate