this post was submitted on 17 Mar 2024

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Modder claims Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection used their work without permission (www.videogameschronicle.com)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 77 points 8 months ago

modder Iamashaymin claimed that footage of Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection that appeared in a trailer suggested that developer Aspyr was using his mod.

Following this, Apsyr released a statement claiming it had “mistakenly” used footage of this mod, and that it was a placeholder. Now, following the full release, players appear to have discovered evidence that prior to a very last-minute patch, the game shipped with the uncredited mod work.

So it looks like its some animation mod. I didn't research further just read the article. They added it back in apparently using a patch. Scum shit to sell someone's free labor to the community no matter what it is.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Important context (from the modder):

“I released the source files for my mod for anyone to use, modify, improve however they wish,” iamashaymin said. “If anything I am flattered and joyous they chose to use mine for whatever purpose they needed it for. Ultimately my mod, like all mods, are property of Lucasfilm and they are free to use it how they wish as I have agreed to the license agreement regarding releasing mods created with the Pandemic modding tools.”

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Does the official mod tools include full license assignment or waiver of right to attribution?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 8 months ago

Apparently. Feels wrong to me unless it's a very guided process but that's not rare from what I hear

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

But I've got all this EA bad circlejerk punt up.

[+] [email protected] -155 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Well if that ain’t the pot calling the kettle black

[–] [email protected] 106 points 8 months ago (1 children)

There's a difference between improving upon other people's work for free, and taking said improvements and selling them on as your own work.

[+] [email protected] -168 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (5 children)

Mods are not always improvements, but they are always using someone else’s work for free.

If no one is asking you to improve upon other people’s work you have no legal right to do so.

I also agree that they shouldn’t be using the modder’s work without compensation.

I support modding, just be real about it.

[–] [email protected] 81 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

“Be real” how? I’m legit confused what point you are making. “Using someone’s work for free” doesn’t mean the same as “taking someone’s work and selling it as your own.” When you buy a shirt, you can put your own art on it, but if the shirt company uses your design without credit or consent to sell more shirts, that’s a bit sketchy, no?

I’m gonna “be real” with you, it doesn’t sound like you support modding at all

[–] [email protected] 31 points 8 months ago

Incredible analogy, makes things very clear

[–] [email protected] 32 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

they are always using someone else’s work for free.

Explain this insanity

You think someone should have to pay to modify the files of a game on their hard drive?

Actually let's back up. What do you think "modding" means?

[+] [email protected] -44 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Nope. I know that the modders didn’t do the original work, that’s why it’s called modding.

Most companies don’t support this practice.

Yes, you can do whatever you want with files on your hard drive, but you’re still modding someone else’s work.

That’s all I’m saying. Everyone is griping that the company used the modder’s work without permission, when the modder did the exact same thing: using someone else’s work without permission.

I’m not saying modding is morally wrong - I’m something of a mod enjoyer myself XD - and I agree it’s a dick move to swipe a modder’s work, but I doubt there’s a legal leg to stand on when their work is based on an IP they don’t own.

I do also understand the difference between small modders doing something for fun based on something they love instead of money and a company swiping someone’s work for profit.

But it’s right there in the name. Modding. What are you modding? Someone else’s work.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Nope. I know that the modders didn’t do the original work, that’s why it’s called modding.

But there is no claim to the original work. They only claim to have made what they made.

And, more importantly, they only release what they made.

This is why I asked you what you think modding is. Because modding is not "releasing a modified game". Modding is releasing a modification to a game. This is a fundamental difference you do not seem to understand.

Most companies don’t support this practice.

[citation needed]

[definition of 'support' needed]

Those that literally don't support mods, as in, block the possibility and disavow it publicly, do so because they make the same mistake you do: thinking that modders release modified games.

Yes, you can do whatever you want with files on your hard drive, but you’re still modding someone else’s work.

Yes. So?

That’s all I’m saying. Everyone is griping that the company used the modder’s work without permission, when the modder did the exact same thing: using someone else’s work without permission.

They did not do the exact same thing. If modders "did the exact same thing", that would mean releasing the games with their modifications.

But they don't do that.

They only release their mods. Which can only be enjoyed with an actual copy of the game. Which, I will remind you - the modders do not provide.

I’m not saying modding is morally wrong

You're certainly implying it.

I’m something of a mod enjoyer myself XD

Then you really should understand that modders don't release modified games.

and I agree it’s a dick move to swipe a modder’s work, but I doubt there’s a legal leg to stand on when their work is based on an IP they don’t own.

That really depends on the mod. A mod extending animation capabilities is not based on anyone else's work but their own. This type of work is generally game agnostic, but is tailored to fit the game for that implementation.

The vast majority of modding is actual game development work that has been tailored to extend an existing game.

I do also understand the difference between small modders doing something for fun based on something they love instead of money and a company swiping someone’s work for profit.

You don't demonstrate any understanding of this fact whatsoever.

But it’s right there in the name. Modding. What are you modding? Someone else’s work.

Yes. Modding. Not flipping - which is what you're accusing them of.

[+] [email protected] -7 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

If you had permission and they were paying you to do it, you would be a game developer, not a modder. You would be updating the game, not modding it.

And yes, I know some companies are cool with mods and grant permission and even provide tools, which is awesome.

I made no comments on the distribution of mods, only the creation.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

You are entirely missing the point, mate. Creating skeletal animations is game dev work. I didn't say they were working for the company!

A modder's work is the mod, not the modified game. And a company releasing someone else's work is not "the exact same" as a modder adding to the game.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Right. A modder’s work is useless without the game because it modifies someone else’s work.

A modder takes someone else’s work and modifies it for their own purposes. Here, a company took a modder’s work, which was based off their own work, and used it for their own purposes.

Should they be paid for it? Yes, I think so. Will they? I dunno, sounds like they removed it pretty quick.

The only point I’m trying to make is that they both used someone else’s work without permission. (I’m assuming the modder didn’t have permission because it’s EA)

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago

You are continuing to perpetuate the misunderstanding that the modder releases a modified game, rather than just a mod.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 8 months ago (2 children)

you have no legal right to do so

That’s up for a judge to decide.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

It doesn't even need to come to that - it is plain as day your legal right to modify files on your computer

[–] JackbyDev 14 points 8 months ago

you have no legal right to do so

I support modding