Examples Of Game Mods License/eula Problems

Browser_ICEBrowser_ICE Join Date: 2002-11-04 Member: 6944Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">(need past examples with links as refer)</div> If anyone remembers any game MODs that had license/copyrights/EULA problems that involved dealing/debating with the game company (leading or not to having it shutdown), i would appreciate having a small description here and if possible, with links.

I am using this as a base info for my GMAX support site to show noobies where to draw the line when it comes to using/modifying componants from one game (either in same game or in a different game) without the owners/company's permission.

I've seen such examples but cannot gather all of them due to my aging memory.

Some members seam to think its ok. Some others sent emails to company but after 1 day, decided the answer had to be "OK" just because they didn't get a response.
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Comments

  • StormLiongStormLiong Join Date: 2002-12-27 Member: 11569Members
    Blizzard perhaps?

    They never ever supported mods of any kind of their games until WoW came along with its UI mod ability.
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  • DOOManiacDOOManiac Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
    If someone else owns the copyright, then you can't use their stuff. At all. It's really that simple.

    Of course if they give you permission to use it, well then you can, but very few companies give permission.
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    Doomeh is correct, like the various remake mods, trying to remake existing games, that's a nono.

    I don't think I know of a single game in which it violates the EULA to make mods for it.
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  • BloodySlothBloodySloth Join Date: 2003-08-27 Member: 20284Members
    edited June 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-StormLiong+Jun 6 2005, 12:49 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (StormLiong @ Jun 6 2005, 12:49 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Blizzard perhaps?

    They never ever supported mods of any kind of their games until WoW came along with its UI mod ability. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Extremely untrue. They don't support people making mods of non-blizzard games based around blizzard-created universes (like the battlefield 1942 mod that turned everything starcrafty) but there's an enormous mod community for starcraft and warcraft 3.

    I would supply more info about the bf1942 mod to actually keep to the topic, but unfortunately i didnt follow it and only learned of its existence after it got canned.
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  • NarfwakNarfwak Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5258Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Playtest Lead, Forum Moderators, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Supporter, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Gold, Reinforced - Diamond, Reinforced - Shadow, Subnautica PT Lead, NS2 Community Developer
    edited June 2005
    NS! Yes, that's right, NS - except we totally owned 'em. FOX originally tried to name their expanansion pack for AvP 2 "Natural Selection," but Charlie already had copyright so FOX had to change the name to "Primal Hunt."

    Now you know - and knowing is half the battle!

    Edit: Just realized that's not really the kind of exampled you're looking for, but it does involve FOX Interactive, a company notorious for shutting down mod teams for making <i>Aliens</i>-style games. In fact, most people refer to a company shutting down a mod for using copyrighted materials as being "FOX'd."
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  • Lt_PatchLt_Patch Join Date: 2005-02-07 Member: 40286Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Caboose+Jun 6 2005, 11:10 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Caboose @ Jun 6 2005, 11:10 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Doomeh is correct, like the various remake mods, trying to remake existing games, that's a nono.

    I don't think I know of a single game in which it violates the EULA to make mods for it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Too true, most EULAs refer to "commerical gains" as a break of the EULA, but as long as the MOD doesn't include the original game engine, then it's normally OK.
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  • Leaderz0rzLeaderz0rz Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7847Members
    bid for power one of the first dbz mods for q3 had to change all their content to original stuff becuase of funimation/bandai but the other 100000 dbz mods weren't touched so /shrug
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  • Lt_PatchLt_Patch Join Date: 2005-02-07 Member: 40286Members
    Bid For Power wasn't in breach of the Quake 3 Arena EULA, it was in direct breach of Bandai's copyright over the Dragonball Z imagery and character likenesses.

    It was probably targeted by the Bandai "Almighty Siege Cannon" for being too popular with the DBZ-loving, Q3A playing masses...
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  • RaVeRaVe Join Date: 2003-06-20 Member: 17538Members
    Actually BFP had plans on making it *gasp* retail.(From what I heard on other DBZ-based mods)
    All the other DBZ mods I remember haven't been contacted in any way by Bandai.

    Essentially, the breach of copyright is really just one step closer to being shutdown. Some companies don't really care as much as some others.

    Getting it retail however, completely b0rks the EULAs set by both companies. In a sense, by the time you plan to make your mod go retail with a licensed game engine that you have no permission to use, you are essentially, screwed big time and most likely will be sent a 'Cease and Desist' order. At least that's how I remembered it before.
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