LE Continuing another authors Mod

[ArronDominion]

Making a new mod that imitates the mod idea in question would be a better idea, with a nod to that original creator as inspiration for your final project.

 

If an option was created, I would say it should be based on the author's preferences, and be shown explicitly in the permissions section of a mod. In my opinion, it should be broken down by months/year.

[DrakeTheDragon]

A change in the TOS is not needed.

 

Rather an option could be added to the permissions section that if a mod author so chooses, they can indicate that their work be permission free after X number of days without login on their part.

 

Granted that does bring up other issues such as: how many days; who gets to decide how many days; will there be a minimum or maximum number of days; will it be displayed or hidden till the time comes; and many other things to consider I'm sure.

 

Biggest issue of all, such option cannot be applied "after the fact".

When a mod author published his/her mod here on the Nexus agreeing to specific conditions, trusting on all rights being protected by these even in his/her absence, said conditions can neither be changed nor expanded while the author is away.

 

As this discussion is all about authors who left the scene a long time ago and aren't responding to permission inquiries since months, it won't be of much use now to introduce such option. Said author will have to explicitly agree to the alterations him- or herself in person or the option is void.

 

How would You feel coming back after 4 years of unvoluntary absence, just to be greeted with "Sorry, pal, they changed the rules while you were away. All your stuff are belong to us now!"? :blink:

 

I for one will take special care that, should I ever really have to leave the scene for an unforseeable time, I'll give appropriate permissions for my stuff's reuse in my absence (oh, wait, I already did!)... but that still doesn't mean everybody who didn't can safely be robbed of all his/her belongings only because of being absent now.

[Grimoa]

Prepare to get massive fire from other sides soon though.

Huh. I was waiting for that aswell.

 

Ok, my two cents:

 

Do you realise that - in most countries - copyright on art, literature, music becomes void 70 years after the original authors death? Why should my rights here on Nexus be cut short after a few month? This is not WoW after all where you get kicked from the guild for not spending your life in front of the screen.

 

I realise that mod authors sueing each other is not gonna happen. There's only money to loose on both sides. I percieve the system as an honour-based one and I really, really hope I'm not wrong about this. Asking for permission, giving credit and not using a mod or part of it without consent: It comes down to being respectfull towards another person's work and said person him/herself. Look at how the community turned upon the mod thieves in the early days of the workshop.

 

The last word about rules on the Nexus is Dark0ne's of course. He could and probably would ask mod authors for a vote but he does not need to. Either way, I don't think I need to worry.

Edited November 28, 2012 by Grimoa

[IsharaMeradin]

@DrakeTheDragon

 

My suggestion was an idea to solve the problem going forward. Those who made mods & left long before such an option were made available, they would be grandfathered into the "opt out" group. Then on the outside chance they do come back, they can be informed of the option and decide what they want to do.

 

If their mods need to be updated or fixed in someway. It is better to recreate and use different resources (textures/meshes/scripts/etc...) as applicable.

[Ka3m0n]

I think IsharaMeradin is right - there's no need to change the TOS. By adding an additional option on the permissions page such as the one below, it would simply give mod authors more flexibility to define their intent and preferences.

 

The suggested option below could effectively be viewed as an "in the event of death" clause and would in no way infringe on any mod author's rights. It would simply give them more flexibility in defining their true wishes.

 

If someone spent 6 months creating a great mod for the community and suddenly died, I think they would want their mod to live on. Similarly, if someone quits playing Skyrim and moves onto another game, they might prefer to have the community continue using and enjoying their mod instead of it dying.

 

http://i.imgur.com/CkVzj.png

 

I think an added option like the one above would be a Win-Win. Thoughts?

 

EDIT: And I agree that the default should be "opt-out" when implemented which means it would only alleviate the problem with new mods going forward. I'm advocating for positive change without ruffling feathers. :)

Edited November 28, 2012 by Ka3m0n

[Natterforme]

I think that this issue will acted upon, even if it is heavily considered by the staff. From my view at least, the legal issues involved with permissions and absense from modding and proper credit are too touchy to mess with at this time. Better to leave it as it is for now. Besides, how many mods are:

 

A) in desperate need of an update/patch/maintainence

 

AND

 

B) are vital to continued existance of the game or the existance of other mods

 

AND

 

C) is too complicated or intricate or extensive to replicate, immulate, remake, or restart from scratch?

 

You could argue that a massively important mod like SKYUI or SKSE would fit the bill however these mods have multiple people working on them to begin with and the hierachies of succession for their continued development are likely already established internally. Simply put there are no essential mods where a decision on this issue could be a critical factor. If I am wrong about this then by all means let me know, as I like to remain informed^^.

 

-Natterforme

[Grimoa]

@ Ka3m0n - uh, hm, well, put that way... Actually, like DrakeTheDragon said, the option is already there. Mod authors could put it in the readme, the description or the "I'd like to specify my own permissions" text box. Adding another option that only needs to be ticked could be a convenience if there really are a lot of poeple who would want to do that. (No idea...) It could also rise awareness.

On the other hand it's less flexible then the text field. (Like time of absence, what can and can't be done if author becomes absent...)

So if it's not touching already released mods and the option is opt-out by default I'd say it's not actually a change to mod author's rights here on Nexus.

[IsharaMeradin]

So if it's not touching already released mods and the option is opt-out by default I'd say it's not actually a change to mod author's rights here on Nexus.

And there is the catch 22. You can't change the rights of authors who have left without changing the rights of authors who are here. But you can adapt for authors who are here or will be here in the future. Yes, anyone can put in the permissions box what they'd like to happen after some time of absence, many don't think of that however.

 

I had been thinking more of an option to check and then the author themselves write out the terms of that, rather than a fixed amount of time. However, I would settle for additional description/explaination text so that mod authors going forward would consider establishing something and listing it in their permissions section.

[tg08096]

I hate to break it to you all, but no person has any legal claim to any mod or work they've published on this or any other site. It's clearly stated in the terms of use of the creation kit and the game itself. That means no (winning) lawsuits. Bethesda could, if they wanted to, release one of your mods as a DLC published by Bethesda, charge for it, require the nexus to take it down from the site, and compel you not to re-release it on any site. If you did, you would be sued, and you would lose.

 

The only thing that protects mods and their authors is mutual respect. What if a mod author got called in to war and simply couldn't be at a computer?

 

I really like the tickbox idea moving forwand. Obviously mods that were published before that tickbox appears are off limits. It sucks, it would be great to get an update on an awesome mod that the original author probably doesn't care about anymore anyway, but we just cannot justify taking that chance. It's about mutual respect.

[blove]

I hate to break it to you all, but no person has any legal claim to any mod or work they've published on this or any other site. It's clearly stated in the terms of use of the creation kit and the game itself. That means no (winning) lawsuits. Bethesda could, if they wanted to, release one of your mods as a DLC published by Bethesda, charge for it, require the nexus to take it down from the site, and compel you not to re-release it on any site. If you did, you would be sued, and you would lose.

 

The only thing that protects mods and their authors is mutual respect. What if a mod author got called in to war and simply couldn't be at a computer?

 

I really like the tickbox idea moving forwand. Obviously mods that were published before that tickbox appears are off limits. It sucks, it would be great to get an update on an awesome mod that the original author probably doesn't care about anymore anyway, but we just cannot justify taking that chance. It's about mutual respect.

 

Not true, you clearly mis-read it, see the last one, true, true, not true, definately not true, doubtful, and see the last one.

 

Copyright protects mods and just because it has not been challenged and upheld in a court of law does not mean that it does not.