The general rule of thumb is any content made by a person is their own. You have no right to access, use, change, or distribute that content unless the maker/owner gives you permission. With mods, a lot of mod creators do not like their content added into "mod packs" that are then distributed elsewhere. Personal use is different. If you have a bunch of graphics mods and changes, that's fine. It's when you start handing them to others outside the intended purpose of the content does things go sour. Content from Crossfire, for example, was not made for the purpose of being added to Discovery.
It's a super grey area at the end of the day that is leaning more towards the no-go. Get Permissions from the creators and if you can't get permission or can't find the original creator, don't make a pack for people to use with that stuff. If you want to continue, make a pack with content that was green-lit for you to use or your own tweaks.
One of the reasons why I had my doubts is because I once met a content creator who didn't mind his work being used. His philosophy was as long as people enjoy his work, why would he want to stop it? Just give credit.
But, of course, not all are like that. Which is completely understandable.
(12-12-2015, 07:00 PM)jammi Wrote: Well, you don't say. Of course abandonware isn't legally recognised. It's an informal term for when a company cares so little for a product it doesn't even bother to issue a notice of discontinuation.
There's also little to no chance of Freelancer making it on to Gog for that same reason. Microsoft isn't interested in the IP and persistent rumour says they've lost the source files that would enable them to formally distribute rights to third parties anyway.
Now, that replies my question regarding Freelancer. Thank you for clarification, pretty appreciated. As for loss of source code - it's painful, since the very same fate met Homeworld: Cataclysm.
(12-12-2015, 01:41 PM)Laz Wrote: In terms of the mod, technically Disco is already illegal, it spreads files and what not and also uses a CD crack.
Technically, no. Discovery doesn't distribute the game, it modifies files. As to the "CD crack", that was actually published by Microsoft and is legal to distribute freely.
Neither of those circumstances absolve you from a legal obligation to own a copy of the software.
