SH5 online DRM and Modding tools

True or false: Saved games are stored on UBISoft's server.

True or false: Any modder needs saved games to test their mods.

True or false: Any modded saved game will contain the modded files.

True or false: Currently Modders retain intellectual property rights of their mods by copyright and by ownership of the original source files.

If UBISoft comes into possession of these source files via a saved game, can they claim copyright ownership as Facebook can when a person saves content there?

This is not about modability rather it's a question as to whether OSP MIGHT provide UBISoft with a method of acquiring the creative content of the modding community for free.

I have enormous respect for the SH modding community and would really hate to see any of them get burned by corporate exploitation of ambiguous Internet copyright issues.

[Mikhayl]

Originally Posted by Randomizer

True or false: Any modder needs saved games to test their mods.

True or false: Any modded saved game will contain the modded files.

False for maybe 99% of mods.

I don't see Ubi ever using mods for commercial purpose without permission to do so, I imagine the backlash would be monumental.

[razark]

Originally Posted by Randomizer

True or false: Saved games are stored on UBISoft's server.

True

Originally Posted by Randomizer

True or false: Any modder needs saved games to test their mods.

False. Some mods can be tested by simply loading the game, going into the tutorial, and seeing if the texture looks right. No saved game needed for many mods. Sound, graphics, texture, menus, etc.

Originally Posted by Randomizer

True or false: Any modded saved game will contain the modded files.

False. The save game contains data about what's going on. The mod files are completely separate from the saved game.

Originally Posted by Randomizer

True or false: Currently Modders retain intellectual property rights of their mods by copyright and by ownership of the original source files.

False. You do not own the original files. They are owned by Ubisoft. You simply have a license to use them. You can't go to a bookstore, pick up a book, cross out a couple words on a few pages, insert new words, and claim the book as your own original work.

Originally Posted by Randomizer

If UBISoft comes into possession of these source files via a saved game, can they claim copyright ownership as Facebook can when a person saves content there?

This is not about modability rather it's a question as to whether OSP MIGHT provide UBISoft with a method of acquiring the creative content of the modding community for free.

Statements based on incorrect assumptions of how OSP and saved games work.

If you can provide evidence that OSP will be sending modded game files to Ubi, that changes the situation completely. If you can show that OSP sniffs around on your hard drive to see what you have installed, they've lied to us about OSP and how it works.

Does anyone know the ownership situation of modded files? I'm curious as to that, and I've heard conflicting opinions. I'll have to research that later.

[THE_MASK]

The devs said we could mod sh5 . Why would they lie ?

I was just asking the questions, my concerns were only in regard to protection of the creative property of the modders. Thanks.

[Powerthighs]

I took a look at the SHIV EULA. Here is an excerpt:

It is not permitted:
- To modify the Multimedia Product or create any derived work
- To create or distribute any unauthorized levels and/or scenarios
- To decompile, reverse engineer, or disassemble the Multimedia Product

I'm not a lawyer, but it looks like modding the game is technically against the license. Of course, they reserve the right to enforce or not enforce, so they encourage modding as long as it doesn't harm their business. But if someone tried to undercut them in some way they could enforce it.

Regarding the saved games, only a file generated by the game would actually be stored on the server - all the code and data that makes the game run is on your PC, both original and modded. It's likely that if a mod changes the format of the save file, it wouldn't be a problem, since they probably just store it as a blob of bits.

At any rate, the mods themselves aren't ever on the server.

Remember that with almost any piece of commerical software, you are just getting a license to use it, you don't own it.