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Amiga computer related discussion => General chat about Amiga topics => Topic started by: sir_inferno on October 08, 2007, 02:35:28 PM

Title: mod copyright
Post by: sir_inferno on October 08, 2007, 02:35:28 PM

hi,


i'm just curious as to what the copyright situation is with regards to mods and what not. clearly the original mod composers still own copyright over their works (as shown, or rather not shown by the timbaland case), but is it legal to provide them for playback for free on a website hosted in the US? (kind of a subsidiary/curiousity but how was back2roots' hosting legal?)

thanks!

Title: Re: mod copyright
Post by: Piru on October 08, 2007, 02:47:52 PM

Typically mods are/were made available as freeware by the author (the copyright is retained, and you get access to the files for free). As long as you're not making profit (ads or otherwise) I doubt anyone minds really.

Take a look at Nectarine (http://www.scenemusic.net), especially FAQ and Policy sections.

How well this would work for US website (or rather the US legal system) I wouldn't know...

Technically speaking you should not redistribute the mods unless if you can find the "license" for the particular file (basically some note from the author saying that the mod is freely distributable somehow, pd, freeware, CC or whatever, or alternatively get permission from the author directly). This, if you want to be anal about the legality...

Title: Re: mod copyright
Post by: sir_inferno on October 08, 2007, 09:48:36 PM

Many thanks!

(I guess it's pretty much as you said...if you're just spreading their work and not making it a commercial enterprise then they wouldn't really complain)