illegal stolen content

[CSF_Manti]

I would like the same for GRAW: Nature maps, skins and weather from [GR]

[sui317]

it would be nice if ubi made a statement pro or con ripping skins or other stuff, their copy right still stands, and it seems to be a violation of the rules

but if this is allowed then it would open up a world of modding posibilities

[ToW-Angel]

Being a 3d modeller from another game, I can tell you that there is a lot of pride in the work you do, especially if it turns out nice.

Creating objects for a specific game there is intellectual property rights involved, including any patent pending laws and trademark laws that are involved in the production of any game.

Are my objects copyrighted? No. Are they patent pending? No. Are they trademarked? No. Is there intellectual property rights? YES.

When I made the objects for the game, there were intellectual property rights involved.

Would I be ###### off if someone stole my work for another game that I had not intended? HELL YES.

GRiN/UBI owns the patents, copyrights, trademarks and intellectually property rights to the game. There is and will be legal ramifications if GRiN/UBI so desire to chase after this individual. Whether or not he gives GRiN/UBI credit isn't even the point. He's taking from one game from one manufacturer and putting them into a game from another manufacturer. Which does infringe upon all of the above and aforementioned information I have provided. He is in breach of EULA of the game, the manufacturer and publisher of GR:AW on top of what I've already mentioned.

Even if he has used the demo version of the game or the retail version, it doesn't matter.

However, this individual has put himself in the line of fire.

It would be one thing if he had gotten express written permission to use the models from GR:AW, but I've read all the way through and it seems he is aslo breaking the law of plaegerism.

So far, I have counted at least 5 laws that this individual has broken. And I'm sure that he could be found liable for all of them if GRiN/UBI so choose to persue this in court. This would mean that other manufacturers of games he's stolen content from could also follow suit of GRiN/UBI in this matter and could end up paying quite a sum of money, fines, court fees and even possible jail time.

Just like the US Army is now attempting to prosecute cheaters in open courts of law for patent infringing of a government piece of software.

[Hockeystick]

Is the character model illegal to take or is the the loggo illegal to take?

Or is it both?

[ToW-Angel]

All of the above if there is not expressed written permission to use anything from GR:AW.

I should addon... All of us have permission to mod GR:AW and insert our personal content into GR:AW. Since this content are your creations and your content that you add to the game, you are the intellectual property owner, but the game still belongs to the manufacturer. In essence of the EULA and License Agreement, you are giving GRiN/UBI permission to use your personal content of the game in the creation of maps, mods, objects and other content and vice versa, they are giving you permission to add it to the game.

**EDITED FOR CLARIFICATION ON THE LAST POINT**

Edited October 5, 2006 by ToW-Angel

[Wille]

I dont know if anything will be done legally, probably not if you ask me..

I think that if anyone should be mad it should be Valve, since mitchell is now making PR for GRAW in THEIR game.

we as a company, does not ofcourse support this kind of behaviour .

[PONDLIFE]

Cool, can someone mod me a Bilbo Baggins instead of me playing Mitchell?

[halvorsen]

well, i dont think the poster here is a crybaby letting the ghost recon forums know about this. and im for what you guys are saying.

im a texturer myself, and im ###### when people use my stuff without asking and crediting. and i wouldnt call the notifier a crybaby.

anyways he has now ported the GR:AW scar weapon:

http://www.fpsbanana.com/skins/16745

[Dannik]

Are my objects copyrighted? No.

Absolutely incorrect, and important enough to point out. As of April 1, 1989, anyone in the USA (which I know you are) who creates any new material, from as minor as a post in a forum, automatically has the protection of copyright assigned. In fact, you must voluntarily surrender said copyright to not have it.

Certainly, there is still the action of registering an existing copyright, which then makes your rights legally enforceable, but said registration is not necessary for the retention of copyright on your work.

[ToW-Angel]

I was talking about going through a Copyright office and actually filling out the necessary forms to say that it is in fact copyrighted material.

The copyright you are referring to is considered intellectual property rights, which does give you some legality, but not much.

Edited October 5, 2006 by ToW-Angel

[WhiteKnight77]

Who Can Claim Copyright?

Copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created in fixed form. The copyright in the work of authorship immediately becomes the property of the author who created the work. Only the author or those deriving their rights through the author can rightfully claim copyright.

and

What Works Are Protected?

Copyright protects “original works of authorship†that are fixed in a tangible form of expression. The fixation need not be directly perceptible so long as it may be communicated with the aid of a machine or device. Copyrightable works include the following categories:

literary works;

musical works, including any accompanying words

dramatic works, including any accompanying music

pantomimes and choreographic works

pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works

motion pictures and other audiovisual works

sound recordings

architectural works

These categories should be viewed broadly. For example, computer programs and most “compilations†may be registered as “literary worksâ€; maps and architectural plans may be registered as “pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works.â€

and

How to Secure a Copyright

Copyright Secured Automatically upon Creation

The way in which copyright protection is secured is frequently misunderstood. No publication or registration or other action in the Copyright Office is required to secure copyright. (See following note.) There are, however, certain definite advantages to registration. See “Copyright Registration.â€

Copyright is secured automatically when the work is created, and a work is “created†when it is fixed in a copy or phonorecord for the first time. “Copies†are material objects from which a work can be read or visually perceived either directly or with the aid of a machine or device, such as books, manuscripts, sheet music, film, videotape, or microfilm. “Phonorecords†are material objects embodying fixations of sounds (excluding, by statutory definition, motion picture soundtracks), such as cassette tapes, CDs, or LPs. Thus, for example, a song (the “workâ€) can be fixed in sheet music (“copiesâ€) or in phonograph disks (“phonorecordsâ€), or both. If a work is prepared over a period of time, the part of the work that is fixed on a particular date constitutes the created work as of that date.

If a work is prepared over a period of time, the part of the work that is fixed on a particular date constitutes the created work as of that date.

Source = Copyright Office Basics

Once anyone writes, draws, or designs anything from a text file, letter, picture (in the case of film or digital cameras or motion or video or still) or even in a graphics program is protected by copyright immediately without having to submit any form whatsoever.

The guy is using IP and copyright material illegally.

Now in the case of mods, the mods are property of the mods creators. One can recreate a level for use in a different game using textures, models and other neccessary items that they create for use in a game not originally intended for. This is how de_dust and other maps for CS were done for Rogue Spear and GR. They were completely recreated and ported from one engine to another. This is legal and is even protected by copyright law.