ATTN: Addon Makers - Rules of content permissions.

[RavenDK]

It dosnt sound like it ben. OFP and ARMA are both BIS games

[Max Power]

Clearly, it says you need permission for anything owned by someone else. So, if you aren't the creator of a particular thing, then you need permission. This includes *everything*. Placebo just stated that you can use BIS addons for use within BIS products so long as you don't sell the end result. That seems to include anything that BIS owns the rights to, as opposed to CodeMasters. Treat that as permission, and there you go.

[Messiah]

common sense prevails - I eagerly await to see how this proactive stance follows through.

I assume that this also includes if you source items from outside the ArmA/OFP community? I.e. take a public addon from CS and convert it to ArmA/OFP without permission?

[vektorboson]

common sense prevails - I eagerly await to see how this proactive stance follows through.

I assume that this also includes if you source items from outside the ArmA/OFP community? I.e. take a public addon from CS and convert it to ArmA/OFP without permission?

Every art is copyrighted and you need permission to use it (unless of course, the local laws say otherwise).

The best thing is, when that 'addon' has a License.txt (for example Creative Commons) where it clearly states what one is allowed to do and what not. Even better if the Readme has a short summary of the license.

[Messiah]

I'm aware that every addon, regardless of platform/engine, is subject to the same rule in principle, I was merely asking if those forms of copyright infringement would be as actively pursued on these forums, or mainly just the OFP/ARMA ones.

[quiet_man]

Every art is copyrighted and you need permission to use it (unless of course, the local laws say otherwise).

hmmm, good point.

If someone models real life weapons, vehicles, clothes or whatever without permission of the company owning the design, how can he claim ownership of the model?

just a question

QuietMan

[JdB]

Need help contacting someone for permission?
Obviously there can be issues in contacting people due to their inboxes being full, them choosing to not make their Email address public, etc. etc. if you're having problems contacting someone to request permission I'm happy to help out, I can get PM's through to people who have full inboxes, I can send Emails to people who keep their Email address hidden, I'm here to help so let me, rather than breaking one of the cardinal rules of the community by using something that isn't yours.

There is one thing I'm missing here:

What if I try to contact someone, and ask you to try to contact him, and it has been known that this person has left the community a while ago, no longer using the e-mail address and visiting the forums like before, in other words not being able to contact someone during an extended period of time. When for example that person decides to return after a long period of time and see his work has been used, will it be removed as well?

[Sparky]

well, i think that you have some point there.
But it's a different thing the trademark, example take a look in BIS ArmA fuel station it says shnell instead of shell, also some other signs, possible there will be a problem cause it's a trademark.
But as for modelling, a model like car, tank it will never be the same as the original, only something that looks like the original, i believe that the creator doesn't claim copyright for the creation of the car, tank or whatever, BUT for the modell. There will be a law problem if you try and use the prototype CAD model of this vehicle.
But if someone uses your model/textures that you've created 1st, and you haven't give any permission then it's different, and it's violation of the copyright.
Copyright it's a very sensitive situation, and demands respect.

[Straubinger82]

And in context with the brandmarks (sry for my english, trying my best), I do not understand the point of the Brands.
Brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi or the hole bunch of the rest should run to all the gamedevolopers, asking for showing their brands in game. Shouldn´t they?
For the best example I will point on racegames.
Just for example, I guess we usally don´t discuss racegames in here. But all the brands should have an interest catching consumers with that medium to, shouldn´t they.
Imagine a ambisous kid driving racegames and got keen on Mercedes-Benz since he drove their classic DTM-Cars for example.
Perhaps he later gets money enough to makes his dreams come true....

Ok, I guess this doesn´t work really well with defensestuff^^.
But Shell for example could be proud for shown in a game, equalizing some dark times in the past. (that oilrig...sunked in sea... blabla)

Sry, this doesn´t meant as focus here... just an loadout.

Credits to addonmakers should ever be given.. their is no discuss. While giving permissions could be impossible by communications handicap.. ehm not getting the question even.

[Placebo]

I assume that this also includes if you source items from outside the ArmA/OFP community? I.e. take a public addon from CS and convert it to ArmA/OFP without permission?

One would hope that anything taken from anywhere else would be done so after permission is sought, in all practicality there's no way to know for certain that the addon maker really did request permission to use something even if he says he did, but certainly if someone comes along and says "hey I made this for "A.N. Other game", I was not asked permission" then the same rules apply as mentioned above, no matter what the item in question is.

What if I try to contact someone, and ask you to try to contact him, and it has been known that this person has left the community a while ago, no longer using the e-mail address and visiting the forums like before, in other words not being able to contact someone during an extended period of time. When for example that person decides to return after a long period of time and see his work has been used, will it be removed as well?

Obviously every situation will be a little bit different so will need playing by ear, but someone asked me essentially the same question via PM and my reply was:

Quote[/b] ]What I would suggest is that you Email to me (Placebo@bistudio.com) a "report" of the efforts you've gone to to contact him, such as sent PM's/Emails and the dates etc. etc. include a link to the person's forum profile and then I'll proceed from that and attempt to contact him myself, if no answers to either of us, then I think it's fair to release the addon/mod using this person's content, but you should include a disclaimer in the readme about attempting to make contact for permission as per BIS forum guidlines, unable to get a reply, if the originator of the used content finds this release and is unhappy about what you used to Email you blah blah.......

If the original creator of the used content finally comes out of his cave and does try to kick up a fuss (despite all good measures being used to contact them), I'll try to mediate in the situation to resolve it amicably for everyone.

And in context with the brandmarks (sry for my english, trying my best), I do not understand the point of the Brands.
Brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi or the hole bunch of the rest should run to all the gamedevolopers, asking for showing their brands in game.

That's really outside the remit of this thread, at the end of the day using logos is free advertising for companies, but if they're unhappy with their logo being used all they need to is ask for it to be removed and I'm sure the addon makers would be happy to oblige.