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A copyright question

SonoftheStarsSonoftheStars Posts: 35
in The Commons

just wondering, if I were to take a 3D file from a copyright source, say an armor piece from the Skyrim game files, by taking the desired file and converting it to a usable file for hexagon blender etc, then used it for a private, non-profit render or as a freebie, would that be a breach of any sort of law or copyright?

Comments

  • TSasha SmithTSasha Smith Posts: 27,340

    For personal renders, it might be okay, but giving it away as a freebie is a big no no.

  • TSasha SmithTSasha Smith Posts: 27,340
    edited September 2016

    Oops double post.

    Post edited by TSasha Smith on
  • fixmypcmikefixmypcmike Posts: 19,705

    You would need to check the EULA for Skyrim.

  • ermullensermullens Posts: 93

     i have used several meshes taken out of TERA for them as long as its for Fan art use and not commercial they allow it so it will depend on the company. As far as giving it away as freebie might be problem I have seen more than a few being given away on Deviant for  xna but as to the legality of it 

  • ChoholeChohole Posts: 33,604
    ermullens said:

     i have used several meshes taken out of TERA for them as long as its for Fan art use and not commercial they allow it so it will depend on the company. As far as giving it away as freebie might be problem I have seen more than a few being given away on Deviant for  xna but as to the legality of it 

    We customarily remove references to the app you mention as, in many cases, its use is a breach of the EULA for the game in question and as a result discussions inevitably fall foul of the forum TOS.

  • BeeMKayBeeMKay Posts: 7,019

    I've googled the terms a bit, and found very early on a similar discussion an another forum, where it was linked that taking the mesh out is a violation of TOS for Skyrim, i.e. if you make them available to others.

    I'd recommend you use google, or check the website of the game in question to read the TOS there.

  • jestmartjestmart Posts: 4,449

    There is no copyright exception for fan art.

  • SonoftheStarsSonoftheStars Posts: 35
    BeeMKay said:

    I've googled the terms a bit, and found very early on a similar discussion an another forum, where it was linked that taking the mesh out is a violation of TOS for Skyrim, i.e. if you make them available to others.

    I'd recommend you use google, or check the website of the game in question to read the TOS there.

    The game I am using is Skyrim. I get that I can't use it as a freebie, and frankly I should have thought of that since that would basically be giving other people access to skyrim files without having paid for the game, but I can't seem to find any official TOS or EULA for Skyrim so I still don't understand whether or not I can use the game files for private use, i.e. using a game mesh as an armor piece in a render

  • SonoftheStarsSonoftheStars Posts: 35
    jestmart said:

    There is no copyright exception for fan art.

    So is this you saying "no you cannot"?

  • Male-M3diaMale-M3dia Posts: 3,584
    edited September 2016
    SonoftheStars said:
    jestmart said:

    There is no copyright exception for fan art.

    So is this you saying "no you cannot"?

    The 3D assets belong to the publisher of Skyrim, so it would be no. I would also expect the developer would be set against extracting their 3D assets from the game. If they decided to clamp down people that do this practice you would probably be in trouble.

    Post edited by Male-M3dia on
  • SonoftheStarsSonoftheStars Posts: 35
    Male-M3dia said:
    SonoftheStars said:
    jestmart said:

    There is no copyright exception for fan art.

    So is this you saying "no you cannot"?

    The 3D assets belong to the publisher of Skyrim, so it would be no.

    Thanks that is all I needed.  

  • BeeMKayBeeMKay Posts: 7,019
    edited September 2016
    SonoftheStars said:
    BeeMKay said:

    I've googled the terms a bit, and found very early on a similar discussion an another forum, where it was linked that taking the mesh out is a violation of TOS for Skyrim, i.e. if you make them available to others.

    I'd recommend you use google, or check the website of the game in question to read the TOS there.

    The game I am using is Skyrim. I get that I can't use it as a freebie, and frankly I should have thought of that since that would basically be giving other people access to skyrim files without having paid for the game, but I can't seem to find any official TOS or EULA for Skyrim so I still don't understand whether or not I can use the game files for private use, i.e. using a game mesh as an armor piece in a render

    Here's the TOS, you can find it at the bottom of their webpage, under "Terms & Conditions": https://www.zenimax.com/legal_terms_us

    Check point 2, which deals with content. In paragraph 2 of subdivision a (Content Generally) of that section, it states pretty clearly that you can't do anything of what you intend to do, without prior written permission by the company.

    Post edited by BeeMKay on
  • WonderlandWonderland Posts: 7,137
    edited September 2016

    Contact the company themselves. Tell them your fan art is great PR for them and you'll post a link to their site with all images and on social media with hashtags of the game/company. They may agree, may even want to USE your art for promotional purposes, ya never know!

    Post edited by Wonderland on
  • SonoftheStarsSonoftheStars Posts: 35

    I will contact them, and see if it is ok. Thanks for all your help guys

  • argel1200argel1200 Posts: 760
    Male-M3dia said:

    The 3D assets belong to the publisher of Skyrim, so it would be no. I would also expect the developer would be set against extracting their 3D assets from the game. If they decided to clamp down people that do this practice you would probably be in trouble.

    Actually, many games are designed to be modded, and I would assume that extracting that information for the sole purpose of modding the game it came from. There is probably a EULA that covers modding. The Elder Scrolls series of games are some of the heaviest modded ones out there. In fact, the PS4 version of Skyrim is going to include mod support, something we do not see often for consoles. That's how important modding is to them. Valve showcased that -- 5+ years after the release of Half-Life and they were still seilling the game thanks to the CounterStrike mod for it.

  • Male-M3diaMale-M3dia Posts: 3,584
    edited September 2016
    argel1200 said:
    Male-M3dia said:

    The 3D assets belong to the publisher of Skyrim, so it would be no. I would also expect the developer would be set against extracting their 3D assets from the game. If they decided to clamp down people that do this practice you would probably be in trouble.

    Actually, many games are designed to be modded, and I would assume that extracting that information for the sole purpose of modding the game it came from. There is probably a EULA that covers modding. The Elder Scrolls series of games are some of the heaviest modded ones out there. In fact, the PS4 version of Skyrim is going to include mod support, something we do not see often for consoles. That's how important modding is to them. Valve showcased that -- 5+ years after the release of Half-Life and they were still seilling the game thanks to the CounterStrike mod for it.

    But you're speaking of something totally different. Where modding is modifying the game to use different assets most likely made by 3rd parties, the discussion is about taking the assets made by the developers and using them outside the game itself in a third party application. I haven't heard of any game developer allowing that.

    Post edited by Male-M3dia on
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