jay pettitt on 30/7/2007 at 22:09
Creative works (like sound files) are automagically subject to copyright law (copyright normally resides with the author, but a contract with an employer or publisher may change that). If you hold the copyright you have the right to make copies, if you don't you don't; unless you've permission or license from the copyright holder.
Copyright = copy, No copyright = no copy. Good.
The (
http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1109401#post1109401) DromEd license quite clearly states that...
Quote Posted by DromEd License
You may use this software to create or modify levels for use with the game Thief: The Dark Project...
...Any levels you create can only work with the full, legal version of Thief: The Dark Project...
...You may only exchange them (levels) at no charge to licensed users of Thief: The Dark Project.
Which does somewhat preclude making copies of Thief assets for use in ElderScrolls, what with ElderScrolls not being Thief: The Dark Project and what with Eidos holding copyright for the Thief games. Not that I imagine Eidos is going to lose much sleep this evening.
john9818a on 31/7/2007 at 00:35
Quote Posted by poison_the_well
i jut dont see how posting thief 1 or 2 or gold sounds is agisnt the law
since the dromed was given out to use and as long as he is not making money on it
You just answered your own question. Dromed was given out to use, but doesn't contain any content. The content originally accessible through dromed is still part of the Thief game.
poison_the_well on 31/7/2007 at 01:15
i understand
just seems sad that a guy is trying to give out more things for people to make fms better
if i downloaded a thief fm that had system shock grapics on the fm would i have broke the law,if the person who made fm did not get premission
if so i am going to turn myself in
OrbWeaver on 31/7/2007 at 08:54
Quote Posted by poison_the_well
just seems sad that a guy is trying to give out more things for people to make fms better
Quite possibly, but unfortunately somebody's intentions of goodwill do not take precedence over the law.
Quote Posted by poison_the_well
if i downloaded a thief fm that had system shock grapics on the fm would i have broke the law,if the person who made fm did not get premission
Technically yes, but it wouldn't be you that gets in trouble for it if you downloaded it in good faith. More likely the distributor of the mission would get a take-down notice of some sort, in order to prevent them illegally distributing copyrighted assets.
nickie on 31/7/2007 at 16:43
Quote Posted by poison_the_well
i am trying to see what you think is wrong with what they did?
IMHO and without wishing to muddy any waters, regardless of legality or otherwise, surely it is only polite to credit the source.
RavynousHunter on 1/8/2007 at 02:31
Technically, it is illegal to post original "assets" of ... anything lest you give credit, or unless you gotta do somethin extra as part of the ... thing's ... EULA.
IE: You could demand in your EULA (End User License Agreement), to have anyone who wants to distribute your stuff to have to send you $5,000 in cash to their house along with a video of you dancing Hitler's "Victory Jig."
However, as a general rule of thumb, one credits the source of the material to avoid pissing any whiny little bureaucrats off. But if its a question of weather or not Eidos will notice, chances are slim to none. Put simply, Eidos couldn't give two shits about Thief any more, unless some "crazy person" buys the "cursed" Thief license.
However, i do concur with poison's earlier comment, it IS kind of odd how people are distributing bootleg DVDs, software, and copies of Thief (yes, I've seen Thief torrents before), yet someone comes on questioning the legality of a few sound bytes. Just seems odd is all...
OrbWeaver on 1/8/2007 at 08:50
Quote Posted by RavynousHunter
However, i do concur with poison's earlier comment, it IS kind of odd how people are distributing bootleg DVDs, software, and copies of Thief (yes, I've seen Thief torrents before), yet someone comes on questioning the legality of a few sound bytes. Just seems odd is all...
What's odd about it? All of those things are illegal; the fact that people do them doesn't make it any less the case.
Shadak on 1/8/2007 at 15:02
There's nothing odd, because those other things are "obviously" illegal, hence no need to come ask whether they are illegal, whereas this sound files mod issue is less obvious so it makes sense someone would ask in this case.
Specter on 1/8/2007 at 15:17
The point that seems to be repeatedly overlooked here is the actual alleged purpose of these sound files. They are NOT for an FM. They were NOT posted for any purpose relating to Thief. My understanding of the original poster was that these sound files have been incorporated into a larger mod for a DIFFERENT game. So when you use this mod, you are not playing Thief, or a fan mission, you are playing Oblivion (presumably) which is totally unrelated to Eidos or Thief. Therefore, to use sounds owned by Eidos, without credit, in a game not owned by Eidos is illegal. Its like Ford buying a car made by Dodge, taking the best parts of the Dodge and putting them into a Ford car. Naturally, this practice is illegal.
RavynousHunter on 4/8/2007 at 01:02
Quote Posted by Shadak
There's nothing odd, because those other things are "obviously" illegal, hence no need to come ask whether they are illegal, whereas this sound files mod issue is less obvious so it makes sense someone would ask in this case.
True dat. Of course, if Eidos would've made a fuss, they would've done so a loooooong time ago. Truth of the matter is, Eidos doesn't care unless someone buys the Thief rights for some inextricable reason. Doesn't detract from the fact that is technically illegal, however I wouldn't complain to anyone. The Oblivion mod bunch seem sharp enough, even if they don't catch it, I don't see how it would hurt Eidos business at all, considering the Thief franchise hasn't brought them in any cash since Thief 3.
IMO, its not a question of legality, its a question of "who gives a shit?" If the owner of the company doesn't care enough to spot this stuff, then so be it. Like I said, its not like making pirate DVDs or games, they're not detracting from their cash flow in the slightest.
My suggestion : If Eidos gives enough of a shit, then let them find it, and let the person take the lashing they deserve for having posted material that breaks the EULA, and thus, the law.
