Map: Middle Earth

[Taalen]

Err, no, it's not illegal. Copyright laws only apply to stuff you create if you're trying to use it commercially. Modding etc. is 100% legal if you don't ask money for what you've made.

[NTJedi]

Taalen said:
Err, no, it's not illegal. Copyright laws only apply to stuff you create if you're trying to use it commercially. Modding etc. is 100% legal if you don't ask money for what you've made.

True as long as the creation is not provided on game forums. I was informed during my discussions with Tolkien Enterprises is if that the created mod is made available on forums the game will attract more attention from fans of the fantasy books/movies. This would provide income for the creators which could get those hosting the forum in trouble. I guess someone could make the mod and then send a one time PM to existing members on where the nation can be downloaded thus not drawing attention from outside fans.

[Taalen]

So basically they're telling you you're free to produce whatever you like but not allowed to tell anyone? Well, sounds like your average big business way of dealing with people - lets tell them what exactly what we want to and pretend it's the law. That's not how it works, though. I'm not exactly familiar with the details of "Fair Use", since here in Europe the same things are usually covered by common sense, but publishing anything you've created yourself, if not a direct copy of something, on a forum is absolutely legal.