Legality questions

[Mick_Berg]

I have a couple of questions regarding legality of using routes created by other people.

I have made a small route that is based on the Trainz ECML route and uses its DEM and a lot of scenery. I would like to upload it to the DLS as my own route. Would it be sufficient to just credit the ECML team for their contribution? (Originally the plan was to add this route to ECML, but as it closed and was taken up in 1954, it doesn't make sense.)

And, more involved, I was thinking of making a DVD of this route and selling it through the local Historical Society. What would be the ramifications of this with N3V and the ECML team?

Thanks,
Mick Berg.

 

[mjolnir]

OK, so I have no connection to either the ECML team, nor N3V other than use of their products. However, if it were me, I'd upload the route as one authored by ECML and modified by Mick Berg. As to the DVD, you don't specify, so my answer is predicated on the assumption that you plan to make video and/or still images of the route, and distribute those on DVD. But who get's the money from the distribution of the DVDs? If you are getting an amount sufficient to cover your costs, and perhaps a very modest bit more, and the historical society is getting the greater part of the proceeds, then why not make treat the transaction as a "suggested donation"?

ns

 

[Mick_Berg]

H'mmm, surprised not to get more input on this one.
Thanks mjolnir, I'll take your advice on the first part, and I have as yet to make the DVD, which will take some time, and will re-address the problem then.

Mick.

 

[Dermmy]

Unless there is an absolute statement to the contrary in the asset's license you definitely need the original creator's permission to upload a modified version of a route. The fact that that asset on-disk has no license statement does not constitute a statement to the contrary.

The money-for-DVD thing is way out of the norm, but I suspect the original creator(s) of the route must have some input. A not-too-convoluted argument could be mounted that the DVD was 'payware' in which case it won't take long for things get messy if it is launched without permission....

 

[USArmyRetired]

I'm no lawyer, but have you read the fine print of the software license agreement? They could have something that specifically talks about any content created by the user community using their editor software.