Using models: An ethics issue. Created 14 years ago2009-07-17 19:43:28 UTC by Notewell

If you want to decompile and use a model in your mod, and the author doesn't say anything against it, is it okay?
http://www.fpsbanana.com/skins/27454 This one is almost a no-brainer, because it comes with source files for the barney model to use, but I want to have different shoot anims...
http://www.hitmodel.half-lifecreations.com/filedb/index.php?act=view&id=57 Nothing here but the models, and I want to include it in a bunch of Hgrunt models.
I'd credit the authors, but is it moral to use these?

You emailed them and got no reply?

Can't really guarentee that they still use their email accounts, and I never got the hang of outlook.

How is Outlook related to this?? You just click "send" and your email is sent...

You should really send an email or PM first. It should always be assumed that permission is needed to use something in a mod.
RavenGT has an active account on CDG. I'd send him a PM there, if I were you.

Red Slug is hard to track down because he isn't very active in the HL community these days. You can send him a PM on the HIT forums, but I don't know if he'll ever get it.

And I'll take a wild guess and say that you want to use Ambient.Impact's grunts, which I believe he outright says can be used in mods with due credit on his website.

Yeah, I've been using Ambient.Impact's and ones that use his as a base.
It's not time for getting everything together and using them, I'm just making content for my NEXT mod when I get tired of mapping for my current one.
But I think that if the author has a download for source files, It's automatically free game. I'll send out PMs for the authors once I get the mod in progress, and if they don't want their models used, I'll just replace them with gearbox content.

Maybe, but it's still nice to at least let people know what others are doing with their work.

Yes. I will make sure as many authors know as possible, and that all are credited.
The 9mmhandgun model comes with barney weapon source files, so I'm going to use it one way or another unless the author asks otherwise. I just don't like the shoot animation.
The mp5, on the other hand, I want just because it's a nice model, and I'm tired of M4s.
Thanks for the link to where I can find RavenGT, and for telling me where I might be able to find Red Slug.

Personally, I doubt they'd have anything against their work being used in a mod. That's why they put it up for everyone to download in the first place. Just include the authors in your credits roll/readme and everyone should be happy.

Yeah.
But a lot of the stuff on FPSBannana has a non-derivative licence on it, so if the author doesn't include it, is it okay to decompile the model and use it or parts of in another model, as long as everyone is credited?

Agreed with WCD in that case. Modifying it is different.

Thanks for the feedback.
I've decided not to use the 9mmAR model, and I will credit Red Slug for the 9mmhandgun, including the barney version. I will not modify it, because when I looked at the valve 9mmhandgun, it's the exact same shoot anims, it just looks worse on the HD hands.
Thanks again.
EDIT: If the default op4 grunts in my svencoop folder have the same bone structure of AI's grunts, I can use AI's grunts for all my nessisary custom hgrunts!