COPYRIGHT ISSUES, RICHARD/ALL READ PLEASE!!

[tictoc]

Sad day for you and us my friend, i can only offer my condolences (and an olive branch if i could to the author) if there is an infringement.

tic

[Andrés]

Sorry to hear this.
I can create a replacement race portrait if necessary.

[Atrocities]

Post a disclaimer. Second, unless they have access to your full real name, chances are they will not take action.

Best thing to do CLEARLY state that it is the work of a FAN, and not MM/Shrapnel.

Past that, don't worry. Change the images in question, and let it go.

Most companies (IE Paramount) want credit if you use there images. THEY want money if you get money for there images. They consider fan work free advertisment, and do not act upon it as long as the person using the images GIVES them credit for it.

This person is just raddling the saber to get some attention. I would not worry about it.

[Taqwus]

That's the problem with creating a derivative work. If it's not authorized in advance and it's not covered by the fair use exemptions (which, for this sort of mod, don't apply methinks -- they mostly allow for research or review, and there's some legislation specifically aimed at libraries -- but I'm not a lawyer), then distributing it is a bad idea... And putting it in a public Online forum is explicitly labelled a public performance for purposes of copyright law according to the US Code, IIRC.

For reference, you might want to look into, say, the various _Doom_ mods. ISTR that Fox went after the makers of the Alien "total conVersion" for Doom because it used their IP, for instance. It didn't matter that it was free -- it was still a violation of their IP protections. It also wouldn't have mattered if credit had been given.

So I would highly recommend that people looking to create derivative works ask in advance -- possibly in writing, to get a response you can file, if particularly paranoid.


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-- The thing that goes bump in the night

[Richard]

Yes the best way to stay out of trouble is to grant credit where credit is due.

But to be honest I wouldn't be too concerned though about any trouble we may get in for fan work...

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Sarge is coming...

Richard Arnesen
Director of Covert Ops
Shrapnel Games
http://www.shrapnelgames.com

[Andrés]

Yes I have always added a discalimer note whre I specificaly say my shipsets are a work of fan art, non-profit and named the copyright owner.
I didn't know the pictured used as y'gath portrait was copyrighted material. I will add the note now.

[Deathstalker]

Update:

I have not heard directly from the artist in question, only her friend (who is indeed her friend). But it seems alot of sites have been using her artwork without her permission. Including the Baldurs Gate site, she is understandably upset. My condolences go out to her, and my sincere wishes that she continue with her artwork, it is indeed incredible. Don't let the actions of a few get you down.

I have comissioned a replacement picture, done by Andres as per his offer. As he made the shipset pictures I have full faith in him for this, his artwork too is amazing.

Hopefully, all will go well, maybe I can even aquire permission to use her picture for the Y'Gath, if not, well a lesson learned. As said before, no harm was intended. Nor was any offense.

Thank you to all those who have responded to my paranoid thoughts.

Steve.

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"The Empress took your name away," said Chance.
Owen smiled coldly. "It wasn't hers to take. I'm a Deathstalker until I die. And we never forget a slight or an enemy." -Owen Deathstalker.