ESO promoting ModDrop (Possible mod thievery)

[Samulis]

Hi guys!

I'm really concerned about one of the biggest TES Youtubers ESO starting to promote ModDrop.
Anyone who isn't aware what ModDrops background is check out this reddit thread.
https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrimmods/comments/6ors8c/moddrop_whats_this_about/

 

Here is the video ESO is promoting it on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ_28R9yZys

 

I'm sure there are plenty of stolen mods on the ModDrop. Funny thing is they don't allow you to see their mod selection anywhere if you don't install their ModDrop app which has a extremely shady EULA.
This smells fishy. What else is bothering me about the app is that the original mod authors don't get any credits or recognition there for their hard work. :verymad:

I'm considering doing some research what mods are on ModDrop and if the original authors ever agreed to have their mods uploaded there.

Here is Zharics opinion on ModDrop. He has some very good points here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjtkXDVqa1Y

I'm extremely pissed off at ESO. 0% respect for that dude if he doesn't stop promoting this shady app.

Please I'd love to hear what you guys think about this.

EDIT: Little update here... ESO banned me from his comment section and removed my comments pointing this stuff out.

Edited December 22, 2017 by Samulis

[Crosstieger]

This is so sad. I'm not surprised that mxr supports md. In the last few months he made it clear that he's not a grow adult. I'm more surprised that eso promotes this. But that said, I don't know that eso guy to well...

 

I never used mod drop. Heck, I only realised its existence a couple of days ago. But from the source you provided I have no interest in it and I wish it would go away. This just adds more salt to the wounds of mod stealing.

While the idea of a program that does absolute everything for you is really nice, the execution is - to be expected - absolute crap. The eula marks this software (I my eyes) straight as malware and I doubt that, not any but most authors, didn't allow a redistribution on this site.

 

I would like if the skyrim and fallout community would come up with a massive s#*! storm against this site and it's promoters. I have nothing personal against mxr and eso, but I have something against promoting a service like that. But I also would like my statement to be proven wrong. :sleep:

[MapleMarini]

What else is bothering me about the app is that the original mod authors don't get any credits or recognition there for their hard work. :verymad:

 

 

I just installed the app to check and all the mods in the mod pack list the authors and have links back to their Nexus page. So, at least they got that right.

[MapleMarini]

Ok I just read over the Reddit post and the linked forums. Honestly, some of the claims were seem a bit overblown. I couldn't find any evidence they charged money or had any ads on the "gmod" site. They did display some content like images and description about other peoples mods on the site, but it doesn't appear they were actually uploaded. That's still not ok, but it looks like the developer apologized before closing the site down way back in 2013. I didn't realise this went back that far. I get holding grudges, but maybe we should focus on their current project. Just my opinion. :D

 

WHat did the EULA say that was concerning? Legal docs put me to sleep so I prefer not to spend time diggin through it. Plus Im not trained in the legal arts :ninja:

[Samulis]

Ok I just read over the Reddit post and the linked forums. Honestly, some of the claims were seem a bit overblown. I couldn't find any evidence they charged money or had any ads on the "gmod" site. They did display some content like images and description about other peoples mods on the site, but it doesn't appear they were actually uploaded. That's still not ok, but it looks like the developer apologized before closing the site down way back in 2013. I didn't realise this went back that far. I get holding grudges, but maybe we should focus on their current project. Just my opinion. :D

 

WHat did the EULA say that was concerning? Legal docs put me to sleep so I prefer not to spend time diggin through it. Plus Im not trained in the legal arts :ninja:

You don't remember the Gmods scandal? I can confirm that most stuff written on the reddit did actually happen (monetizing, mod stealing, refusing to take the stolen mods down) You know old evidence is easy to hide.

 

I didn't read the EULA myself yet, but according to Zharic agreeing to the EULA you give ModDrop right to scan files on your pc, see what programs are running. It also forbids you taking legal action against ModDrop. I highly recommend you watch Zharics video on this topic.

 

The biggest problem with the app is that you need to be logged in and agree to the EULA to be able to even browse the mod selection as it enables MASSIVE opportunities for abuse. Looking at their background I can't see anything good coming out of this ModDrop thingy.

Edited December 22, 2017 by Samulis

[Samulis]

Elianora seems to be hiding her mods because of this ModDrop mod stealing.
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/216122979761913856/393900407618928640/25550561_1639369162776135_2766036638276908108_n.png

[Linkdude4eva]

The thing with Danny's mod pack is he has all the original links to the mods on the pack itself.

I don't think he's promoting mod drop. This is purely for fans. He has good intentions, but just going about it the wrong way.

SevenFangs on his discord said they are going to fix all of this in the morning.

[Linkdude4eva]

ESO never banned you from his comment section

[Evangela]

What's sad is, if there's a mod in there that was otherwise taken down by an Author, you can be sure a mod user is going to get it.

 

I feel authors taking down their mods is not the best way to combat this and this sort of mod stealing has been going on since Oblivion came out, dare I say, it was much worse. It's the ones downloading their mods that has to take action by not downloading authors' mods from shady sources. I've always and will only download and author's mod under several conditions:

 

1. If it's hosted on a site that is owned by the author.

2. If it's hosted on a site but the author uploaded his mod to that site.

3. If someone else has uploaded the mod and with proof they gained permission*.

*Usually I go check permission pages from the original mod. Often if this permission obtainment is a lie, it's enough to make the author to appear and say the mod was stolen.

 

The system being that the author has to be to present or represented in some way for me to trust downloading the mod.

Edited December 23, 2017 by Rasikko

[Crosstieger]

What's sad is, if there's a mod in there that was otherwise taken down by an Author, you can be sure a mod user is going to get it.

 

I feel authors taking down their mods is not the best way to combat this and this sort of mod stealing has been going on since Oblivion came out, dare I say, it was much worse. It's the ones downloading their mods that has to take action by not downloading authors' mods from shady sources. I've always and will only download and author's mod under several conditions:

 

 

Yea, that's the absolute wrong way to deal with this. The only people who are getting punished are the regular, innocent mod users. The people who steal mods and the people who host the sites don't really care if authors hide their files. They mostly have already downloaded it...