5 réponses à ce sujet

[tpp5004]

I think I have a good idea what the answer to these questions is but I wanted to make sure. If I design something based on a book, movie, television show, etc. would it be copyright infringement to use audio/music from that work?

Lets take Lord of the Rings for example. I know its perfectly fine to make a Lotr based mod but if I were to extract audio from the movies for character dialogue and music that would be copyright infringement right?

If someone could provide a little info on copyright with relation to game modding it would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Proleric]

Regarding music (only), the performance rights organisation in the UK has told me "you would ordinarily need to seek permission to use the music from the rights holder". So, you don't need to buy a license, but you do need permission. It would be worth double-checking with the equivalent authority in your host country, mentioning that the context is a non-commercial video game which will be downloaded on the internet.

[giskard44]

tpp5004 wrote...

I think I have a good idea what the answer to these questions is but I wanted to make sure. If I design something based on a book, movie, television show, etc. would it be copyright infringement to use audio/music from that work?

Lets take Lord of the Rings for example. I know its perfectly fine to make a Lotr based mod but if I were to extract audio from the movies for character dialogue and music that would be copyright infringement right?

If someone could provide a little info on copyright with relation to game modding it would be appreciated.

Thanks

Yes mate, even using dragon age stuff in dragon age mods is a copyright infringement.

Modders have over the years become seen as a FAN based group and thus ignored or given new licences to allow them to use content from the game they mod. But companies rarely allow us to use content from other games, other movies etc. And they do not like fans of one game using that games resources in another game.

The compromise most accept is, we can use a games resources in that game and no where else. This is usually a condition of most Eulas. So anything other than that, is usually a no no.

EAs EULA is pretty open, it allows fans to use toolkit material for the benefit of other fans of the game, none profit of course.

[Quaxo]

tpp5004 wrote...
Lets take Lord of the Rings for example. I know its perfectly fine to make a Lotr based mod

Actually, no it isn't. Both the book and movie forms are copyrighted and taking any part of that and making something from it is copyright infringement, even if it's non-profit. Technically, making anything related to Lord of the Rings without permission from Tolkien Enterprises/The Saul Zaentz Company is copyright infringement. There are only around 10 licensees out there, including New Line Cinema (the films), Turbine (LotR Online), Kevin Wallace Limited (stage show), and Electronic Arts (LotR Conquest and Battle for Middle Earth series).

While the chances are they won't attack a fan for making a mod, that doesn't mean it's "perfectly fine". About 6-months ago there was a fan-made LotR prequel called "The Hunt for Gollum" (which actually turned out really well). It was an original story using the setting and characters from LotR, but they did ask for permission before doing so and were allowed to do so on a strictly non-profit basis. However, I don't think they used any of the music, artwork, or other copyrighted material.

[Arixsus]

If I recall, you are more or less inclined to get busted over using something that is more or less on the visual end then on the audio end of the copyright infringement spectrum. I've seen plenty of mods use music from other games/movies/artists and not get touched while, other mods that use direct representations of items from another source and gotten whacked. For instance creating the witch king armor could get you slapped around, but having a stormtrooper outfit might not. Guess more or less it depends on who's running the show, and how greedy they are.

Never really see any LOTR mods for games so it is possible that their uptight about unauthorized use of their materials, where as Star Wars mods for instance are encouraged, and even make press on starwars.com


Also I would recommend if you do end up using resources from another peice of work, you might wanna make a citation for it....Just..In case.

Modifié par Arixsus, 27 novembre 2009 - 04:29 .

[tpp5004]

Thanks for the responses. Now that I think about it it makes sense, but since there are so many mods out there based on movies and books for some reason I thought as long as you didn't directly use material from them it was okay.