"legal questions"
Hey everyone, i'm starting to play around with hammer and i'm wondering about some "legal" issues.
1.a. Can i just use wad files from other maps, or do i have to ask the creator of that wad files for permission.
1.b. What if i extracted some textures from wad files and made a "custom" wad file with some of my own textures and some "borrowed" ones? Is that ok, or do i need permission for that?
2. If i wanted to make some "soft porn" room at the end of the map (or as secret room), can i just use whatever images i can find, or would i have to ask the creator of the images for permission (if it's "professional" art, and not some random semi-nude girl)? Or is there some sort of "fair use" policy that would cover that? (btw i'm not even talking about super hi-res files that you can only see with subscription to the "art site", i'm more talking about the public samples).
3. similar to point 2: can i just use any song in my secret room or do i have to try to contact the band and ask for permission? Could i use "snippets" of a song at least?
Thanks for any answers.
1.a A majority of mappers use wads made by someone else. Creating your own textures requires knowledge about different 2d programs which can take a while to learn. The wads are free.
1.b This is something most mappers do. You pick the textures you like from different wad files and create your own. Then you save them as your own special wad file. In that way you will only have the textures you want instead of having to scroll through a whole list of halflife.wad textures :)
2 If you want to follow the law you're not allowed to use copyrighted images. But I don't think the police is checking kz maps for illegal images. In the kz world you can use any image you want, but remember your theme.
3 Same as 2. The music can stronger your theme ALOT. It's pretty hard to create your own unique music so feel free to use anything you got on your computer.
Thanks for taking the time to answer.
Point 1a and 1b were the most important ones. That's exactly what i wanted to do, take some textures and "mold" them with some simple self-made ones into "my_map.wad"^^ Good to read that people don't mind using their textures.
Point 2 and 3 were not really meant to enhance the theme of my map, i was just thinking about using both things in a "bonus" or "secret" room for those who finished the map. Similar to the music in the disco room in alpin or the "porn teleporter" in ultrablock.
(after all, i am a total newbie when it comes to mapping, just trying to make some simple blockmap for myself^^)
18/09/2008 19:56Originally posted by lostsoul1.a. Can i just use wad files from other maps, or do i have to ask the creator of that wad files for permission.
One of the terms which has been forgotten.
Standard Half-Life/Cstrike Textures there is no need. For Custom textures from other mappers/texture artists you need to ask for permissions. But because this term has been forgotten it is better to make a sign in the map textures by blablabla
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