Question about copyrights and previous Bethesda games

[RadioactiveNuke]

Hello everyone, I recently made a radio mod that brings the Mojave Music Radio station from New Vegas into Fallout 4. Right now the mod is set to hidden on the Nexus and I'd like to check to make sure this isn't violating some copyright rules. This would be my first mod uploaded here and I don't want to get off to a bad start.

[Deleted1205226User]

Hello,

It's good that you ask beforehand, but unfortunately for you porting content from one game to another isn't authorized.

 

From the Term of Service:

• 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.
• All files uploaded must have been created by the uploader or used with permission from the original author of the content. Such permission must be indicated in the Readme text attached to the file and/or on the Description page (or in the Description field for images), and must be obtained in advance, before uploading the file. If you cannot provide proof of consent then your file will be removed and your account is likely to be banned.

[RadioactiveNuke]

That's a bit disappointing, but alright. I just wanted to check in before I got in trouble for something.

 

Will it be enough to keep it hidden or will I have to fully remove the mod, and if so how do I do that?

Edited May 4, 2016 by RadioactiveNuke

[Gilibran]

Pretty sure it is not allowed if you used the music files straight out of the NV BSA file. It's stated clearly in the user agreement you cannot use the assets from FO3 or NV in other games. You could @mail Bethesda for permission but i doubt they will give you permission.

 

There were a few mods that combined the files of Elder scrolls games and they were put down by Bethesda. The reason SkyTESrenewal is now completely building Morrowind from scratch, where the project initially started using Morrowind files and retexturing those but Bethesda shut them down.

 

However if you look for the music used, get it from a another source and make sure it's royalty, copyright etc. Etc. free, or it's explicitly stated that you can use it in non commercial ways for free, you can download that copyright license free file and use that for your mod.

 

I'm not entirely sure but some of the songs from FO3 and NV are free to use and others are not. I used some of the FO3 and NV songs in youtube video's and some got removed because of copyright or not free to use and others did not.

 

You could also put up a tutorial how people can get the music from FO3 and NV if they own a copy of the games and make a radiostation themselves. For personal use it's allowed just as long as you do not share it. I am allowed to use any FO3, NV and FO4 assets into a new game just as long as i do not publish it and keep it solely for personall use.

 

 

It's a tricky matter using assets from one game in another. The only company i know that is pretty cool about it are the guys from CDprojekt, they happily allow you to port any off their models straight into Skyrim for instance. The other way around though is a no go, Bethesda will not allow it.

[Deleted1205226User]

 

 

Will it be enough to keep it hidden or will I have to fully remove the mod

I guess, it's up to you but I don't see a reason why keeping a file hidden if it's never going to be published.

 

 

 

if so how do I do that?

Sorry I have no idea, there might be a button somewhere, if not you can always contact a staff with that request.

[RadioactiveNuke]

Thanks for the advice from everyone about this. I found the button to delete the mod and it's gone now. Like Gilibran said I might make a tutorial on how to create a radio station, since the CK is still fairly new and there aren't too many guides on it yet.

[Amatsuo]

Pretty sure it is not allowed if you used the music files straight out of the NV BSA file. It's stated clearly in the user agreement you cannot use the assets from FO3 or NV in other games. You could @mail Bethesda for permission but i doubt they will give you permission.

 

There were a few mods that combined the files of Elder scrolls games and they were put down by Bethesda. The reason SkyTESrenewal is now completely building Morrowind from scratch, where the project initially started using Morrowind files and retexturing those but Bethesda shut them down.

 

However if you look for the music used, get it from a another source and make sure it's royalty, copyright etc. Etc. free, or it's explicitly stated that you can use it in non commercial ways for free, you can download that copyright license free file and use that for your mod.

 

I'm not entirely sure but some of the songs from FO3 and NV are free to use and others are not. I used some of the FO3 and NV songs in youtube video's and some got removed because of copyright or not free to use and others did not.

 

You could also put up a tutorial how people can get the music from FO3 and NV if they own a copy of the games and make a radiostation themselves. For personal use it's allowed just as long as you do not share it. I am allowed to use any FO3, NV and FO4 assets into a new game just as long as i do not publish it and keep it solely for personall use.

 

 

It's a tricky matter using assets from one game in another. The only company i know that is pretty cool about it are the guys from CDprojekt, they happily allow you to port any off their models straight into Skyrim for instance. The other way around though is a no go, Bethesda will not allow it.

Could you get around that and make a mod that has all the assets but require you to copy the main file (Fallout.esp/Pointlookout.esp) to your Fallout 4 folder? Inshort can you use all the assets from a Bethesda Softworks game but require a File that is not included to confirm that you already have the Other games that the assets come from and not get deleted from Nexus? (Master ESPs)

Edited May 5, 2016 by Amatsuo

[RustyXXL]

You'd still be redistributing the files that you don't have permission for (and maybe files that Bethesda can't even give you permission, even if they wanted, like music)

What would probably work, would a similar thing like Tale of two wasteland did. An installer that gets the files from the original installer on the users computer and copies (and if needed converts) them to the desired location.

Copyright isn't about using a file, but (re-)distributing it. Quite a common misconception people have.

[Amatsuo]

You'd still be redistributing the files that you don't have permission for (and maybe files that Bethesda can't even give you permission, even if they wanted, like music)

What would probably work, would a similar thing like Tale of two wasteland did. An installer that gets the files from the original installer on the users computer and copies (and if needed converts) them to the desired location.

Copyright isn't about using a file, but (re-)distributing it. Quite a common misconception people have.

Wow that sounds badass thanks.