(TEC) Is it ok to..?
 

Hello, I was wondering if it is ok take a 3D model of a ship from a diffrent game I have and use it with SH4 and release it as a mod. Just wondering if its illegal or not.

Thanks: Miner

Strictly speaking it's totally illegal. The skin will have been created by someone originally ( probably for the game you have ) and so, he/she, or the company he/she works for - the publisher of the original game - will hold copyright over it.

I don't suppose Ubisoft would mind too much if modders port ships between, say, SH3 & SH4. They own the rights to both games, but the owners of the rights to a skin from a non-Ubi game you want to use in SH4 might object.

Of course, a great deal depends on the circumstances. If the mod is strictly not-for-profit, but to enhance gaming experience and enjoyment etc. They could well allow it by "turning a blind eye." It will also depend on where in the sales curve the original game is. If it's an older game which isn't turning the publishing company many sales, they might take a more positive view of someone adapting their product than if its a brand new game where they haven't even recouped their original investment yet.

Of course, a lot would depend on whether they even noticed or not:hmm:

It's a tough call no matter how you approach it. You could just do it and risk the legal ramifications or you could ask permission and be told no (maybe).

The model I was going to port over was the "Kaga" and "Akagi" from Secret Weapons Over Normandy from 2003 by Lucas Arts and Totally Games.

Advice is cheap to give, but if I were you I'd send them an e-mail to ask permission, explaining briefly what you want to do - stressing that it's not for sale, or profit - and promising to give them and their game full credit in your mod.

The worst that can happen is that they'll say "No."

Good luck.

I sent them an EMail via Tech support, they should reply within 48 hours. I can only hope for the best.

If you do not use it for proffit, to make money, may be it use is not unlaw. :hmm:

I just got an Email saying I need to send my request to their corporate office in a letter.

Hmmm, things are getting complicate... I'd suggest you to take the model anyway and make your experiments. If there is a chance of using the model from lucasarts game in "our" SH4 without problems then send a letter and ask for permission. In fact is the RELEASE of your mod containing their model that might cause violation. If you test the procedure (extraction, conversion, insertion in sh4 and test) without publishing the mod, no problem:yep: . Since it may not work properly, i think it's better not to waste time on asking for rights that may prove to be of no use.

Change the model by X% and don't sell it.

Not sure what the min change % is, but it shouldn't be hard.

I agree, Tater. This may be a solution.:know: Change something and make everything for free.

The thing is since I have no 3D modding experience, and I dont know how to get it to work in SHIV I was going to make it an open source/community project, anyone having experence could contribute and the mod could get finished quicker.

Hmmm:hmm: thats a tough one, I say to just do it but you might want to wait for more opinions.

Yeap I believe that's the way to go...:up:
I can help test it and maybe have a go on refining and/or changing the skin. I haven't tried that before but what the heck.... No 3d modelling experience though :D

I wonder if Lucas arts got permission from the Imperial Japanese Navy/Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and the Japanese WW2 memorial organisation, to do a 3D model of these ships.

ONE LARGE PIZZA with extra garlic and chillies, they didn't :lol: