UPDATE: New Statement on Modding Rules

"userafw;c-18172032" wrote:

Spoiler

"haneul;c-18166888" wrote:

"userafw;c-18166850" wrote:
@haneul The “license” granted indicates that neither EA nor other players have any obligation to pay you anything. For instance, the Sims 3 gallery contained lots that INCLUDED custom content with them: this clause makes it clear cc makers have no right in that situation to prevent players from adding cc that they use in their own game to gallery lots that then include that content when others download it.

Likewise, it keeps sue happy content creators from filing suit on EA or other players. As I mentioned, if it is just a few things from a few cc creators permawalled, people can just pay to get access, then simply reshare them. If they sue for this they can be reported for TOS violations, meaning they could be prevented from ever using any game assets again. Because guess who could get sued for the lawsuit damages to the player resulting from gameplay next? What goes around, comes around.

@userafw I don't think anyone said there was an obligation to pay. I pointed out the license to say that EA doesn't own all custom content because it was stated that EA did. CarpeNocheSims didn't understand what a license was. That's all. Also, I agree that hopefully no one will get sued or sue.

There are multiple types of licenses. One of them is CC by SA that permits others, including businesses, to use and share creations as long as credit is given. That is a Creative Commons license. However, any parts that use game assets are copyrighted by EA, and licensed by EA not the custom content creators or modders. So only the part functional outside the game is Not subject to EA control. EA controls game assets as a gaming software company.

Okay, but I think we should be as clear as possible when discussing this because it's really confusing for a lot of people. So just to be clear for others who may read this, the Creative Commons license has nothing to do with this. It is completely irrelevant and confusing to mention. I was referring to a specific license grant from content creators to EA etc. in the agreement. That's all and the point was that EA doesn't own 100% of the content created by content creators.

It's really no surprise that there's a lot of drama and misunderstanding about mods and CC (not Creative Commons, but Custom Content) when absolutely basic licensing concepts aren't understood by tons of people. Ideally, they would write their rules and other stuff using less lawyer-like language, but... they also want to be safe.

Here is the license:

ⓘ You allow EA and our players to use anything you upload or create (UGC) for free within our games and services. You are responsible for your UGC, it must be your own content or content you’re allowed to use.


When you contribute UGC, you grant to EA, its licensors and licensees a non-exclusive, perpetual, transferable, worldwide, sublicensable license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works, publicly perform, publicly display or otherwise transmit and communicate the UGC, or any portion of it, in any manner or form and in any medium or forum, whether now known or later devised, without notice, payment or attribution of any kind to you or any third party. You also grant to all other users who can access and use your UGC on an EA Service the right to use, copy, modify, display, perform, create derivative works from, and otherwise communicate and distribute your UGC on or through the relevant EA Service without further notice, attribution or compensation to you.