Post by giftfish on Feb 24, 2017 19:00:39 GMT
I've spent the last couple of days talking to Nexus admins about a particular incident regarding permissions and modification of a mod's content. I thought I'd share certain details of this with folks, as it pertains to the discussion we've been having in this thread. It's also a grayer area than a lot of what we've been talking about so far, so it's useful to discuss.
Our DLC content mods for ME3 are a different than a lot of mods for other games. They can modify existing game content or add new content, all within their own, isolated package. Built into their core functionality is a method of overriding other files from BW or other mods. When it comes to overriding BW, that is one thing. When it comes to overriding other mods, that is another.
For example, let's say another mod adds some strings to their TLK and you want to override those strings with alternate content in your mod. ThaneMOD v3.0 will be doing this to a particular MEHEM email, for example. You must have permission from the mod author to do this. While you are not directly distributing their assets, you are intentionally modifying their content. This is not okay with Nexus and it is likely not okay with the mod author.
Another example. Let's say a mod author releases some brand new armors for Shepard. They are new, unique files added to the game and contain brand new meshes and textures. Now, let's say you are a texture modder, and you want to re-tex those armors. You must have permission from the mod author to distribute this content. You can make them for yourself without permission. To distribute, you need permission, as it alters that mod, purposefully.
Now, to be clear, we're not talking about incidents of mod conflict. There will always be mods that override others. For example, Shorter Dreams and Better Dreams (once released) will inherently conflict, as they mod the same files, and one indeed will override the other f both are installed (which they shouldn't be). This is fine. Neither Shorter Dreams or Better Dreams use the other's content. However, if one used the other's files, or if one negated or changed unique content added by the other, that would not be legal. In that case, Nexus would force you to remove or alter the mod.
Tl;DR -- You cannot modify another mod either by directly distributing their edited content, or by distributing alternate content that will somehow alter its unique assets. By doing this, you are essentially "patching in" your content in favor of there's. Not cool. Requires permission.
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If anyone has any questions or thoughts, please share
Our DLC content mods for ME3 are a different than a lot of mods for other games. They can modify existing game content or add new content, all within their own, isolated package. Built into their core functionality is a method of overriding other files from BW or other mods. When it comes to overriding BW, that is one thing. When it comes to overriding other mods, that is another.
For example, let's say another mod adds some strings to their TLK and you want to override those strings with alternate content in your mod. ThaneMOD v3.0 will be doing this to a particular MEHEM email, for example. You must have permission from the mod author to do this. While you are not directly distributing their assets, you are intentionally modifying their content. This is not okay with Nexus and it is likely not okay with the mod author.
Another example. Let's say a mod author releases some brand new armors for Shepard. They are new, unique files added to the game and contain brand new meshes and textures. Now, let's say you are a texture modder, and you want to re-tex those armors. You must have permission from the mod author to distribute this content. You can make them for yourself without permission. To distribute, you need permission, as it alters that mod, purposefully.
Now, to be clear, we're not talking about incidents of mod conflict. There will always be mods that override others. For example, Shorter Dreams and Better Dreams (once released) will inherently conflict, as they mod the same files, and one indeed will override the other f both are installed (which they shouldn't be). This is fine. Neither Shorter Dreams or Better Dreams use the other's content. However, if one used the other's files, or if one negated or changed unique content added by the other, that would not be legal. In that case, Nexus would force you to remove or alter the mod.
Tl;DR -- You cannot modify another mod either by directly distributing their edited content, or by distributing alternate content that will somehow alter its unique assets. By doing this, you are essentially "patching in" your content in favor of there's. Not cool. Requires permission.
---
If anyone has any questions or thoughts, please share
