Let me cut it first short, our MLODs for ARMA 1 and sample ARMA 2 were released under specific license only and only for usage with our titles, period. There never was any release allowing usage for games not from our studio.
Nobody is allowed use them outside the license approved scope (our titles) for profit nor non-profit (it doesn't matter). Nobody is allowed use them w/o our prior written approval, if You do so then You in volation of Intelectual Property of Bohemia Interactive.
Same applies for using various DX rippers, model rippers (easy to spot due to bugs caused by both types of tools) from our newer games, whose models weren't released even to our community (except some samples).
You need to realize that fair use means that You first COME and ASK for PERMISSION to USE work of someone else. In modding are same rules as for normal development, if the original authors not granted some universal unlimited open license You must obtain permission first. Even IF Your request is declined You must accept it and make own models or find someone who make some for You (not just ask another guy to give you yet another ripped models).
Modding communities shall accept fair approach and take care of the violators of IP because in the end it harms the modding scene (less and less companies will allow it). Also ripped content is then sold to various "sales" sites and as paid addons for games which allow such stuff. In the end authors of original modding content find themself ripped aswel.
e.g. like here Moddb.com vs Moddb.com
Also if modding communities fail to self-policy on IP violations then You should no be surprised when affected game studios or IP owners came in and take rightful legal actions to protect theirs own work.
So, IFs mod is using anything from our game(s) - not just model, could be sound, texture, voice etc. then it's breaking IP laws and main rule of this site which is quite clear:
"The mod is unique and original and not in violation of anothers intellectual property. "
Any questions?
no questions, you basically covered everything I wanted to know, i've done a bit of piracy in my earlier days, and after seeing recently what all this piracy has done to the modding community i bought copies of all the games i pirated. i've seen alot of plagiarism on Moddb.com there are physically to many mods and games to watch consistently for all of this, but the ones who try and go under the radar to hide what content they stole normally get away with it.
We are taking a harder road on this content, and when notified will be deleting the mod and possibly issuing a ban (especially for repeat offenders).
Be creative, make your own it is much more rewarding.
some people are repeated offenders on this behavior too
(why rip content from one game when he can rip two, five or ten)
closed one mod? let's open another doing the same style...
Fully agree with this, half of Men of War mods should be closed as they are using ripped content from more than one game, including from arma.
It has become an increasingly common problem, There were a few mods that ripped models, and then allowed others to freely use them. Basically spreading the problem.
On behalf of the Men of War players, and hopefully all Modders, We sincerley appreciate this crackdown on Intellectual Property theft, it's time to put this to bed.