Is Borrowing Assets Considered Stealing?

[CenturionX]

Especially when you've made changes, or updates of your own to suit your needs, and the original authors don't reply when you ask for permission. Just throwing it out there as this is one of the many scenarios that could happen.

[kevansevans]

Depends.

 

While it's great that you're trying to cover bases and ask for permissions, the general consensus is that if the readme/author doesn't explicitly state it's not allowed, then you'll be fine. However, it's extremely encouraged you make it transparent what you're borrowing was not made by you, regardless of how much it's changed.

 

The only exception to this is maps. Never, ever, copy maps without the author's permission.

Edited June 7, 2023 by Kevansevans

[Gez]

• Readme says you can reuse and modify resources: you can do it
• Readme says you can't reuse and modify resources: you can't do it
• Readme doesn't say anything or is missing: contact the author(s)
  • No response from author(s): seek equivalent resources elsewhere

[QuotePilgrim]

Short answer is yes, but if you're doing it for a non-commercial project chances are no one will care.

 

A certain DOOM map that blew up in popularity recently has a monster from Blood and freaking Shrek in it, two things the author was definitely not authorized to use.

[WorldMachine]

2 hours ago, QuotePilgrim said:

Short answer is yes, but if you're doing it for a non-commercial project chances are no one will care.

 

A certain DOOM map that blew up in popularity recently has a monster from Blood and freaking Shrek in it, two things the author was definitely not authorized to use.

Lol myhouse.wad amirite?

[QuotePilgrim]

2 hours ago, WorldMachine said:

Lol myhouse.wad amirite?

Obviously lol. I wasn't going to refer to it by name because it's a spoiler, but I suppose there's no one in these forums that haven't either played it or watched someone play it.

 

Anyway, there are other clear cases of copyright infringement in it (I can think of at least another two, there might be more), I just went with the two most obvious ones. As I said, no one will care if you do it in a non-commercial project. I personally think people shouldn't care, for the most part, even if you do it commercially, but that's just my radical anti-copyright views speaking lol

Edited June 8, 2023 by QuotePilgrim

[WorldMachine]

Tbh, I think they're being used under free use laws. But idk really how those work so you might have to do a little research 

[DJVCardMaster]

It's a common practice since the beginning of Doom modding that people would specify in a text file if some, all, or none of the assets of a mod can be rehused in other maps. Luckly the community has developed some unspoken rules about not to steal assets, and use only the ones that are allowed to be used by author's permission. If you are allowed, it is usually a good practice to give credit aswell.

It really depends on what is specified along-side the .wad in the text-file. I always choose to credit those who give me permission, however, even though it is not required. Consider it as giving the author a "tip".

One thing is for granted, idgames archive and most other databases, or this forum in general, won't encourage resource stealing by any chance, so, following this forum and community's etiquette, I would suggest not to steal assets (This should be obvious in a moral-sense).

In regards of assets from other games, it's quite blurred. Technically you should not, but people do it anyway, unless you try to profit with rehusing assets from other copyrighted media, it is fine aswell.

[Gez]

9 hours ago, QuotePilgrim said:

A certain DOOM map that blew up in popularity recently has a monster from Blood and freaking Shrek in it, two things the author was definitely not authorized to use.

It may be a bit hypocritical perhaps, but the community generally considers stuff ripped from other games (and therefore made by people who got paid for it) differently from stuff made by people in the community and distributed for free.

[Scorpinax]

Really it depends on who you ask, but in general if the author didn't explicitly say "don't use this" and you've attempted to contact them you're in the clear, at least in my eyes, as long as you're using it for non commercial purposes.. Be prepared to remove it if the author ever responds and says no though

[houston]

I haven't made a map in my life, but as a player arbitrarily reusing enemies and textures from asset packs or even other games has always seemed a little awkward and lazy to me. You have to be really careful to ensure they all contribute to a comprehensive creative vision, and not look like a weird Unity asset mish-mash I think.