Project:Open Modding Licenses/Articles

Section 1: Declaration

1. If the user produces a mod which uses any assets from an OMA released mod and distributes it, then the user is bound by the terms of the OMA, and the produced mod must be released under an Open Modding Agreement. If the user doesn't agree to the terms then the user may not use any OMA mods, moreover, the user may not retain any sort of copy of an OMA mod on their hard disk, personal web site, cloud storage, or any other type of storage system, etc.
2. Users not producing any mods from an OMA mod and is only using them to enhance their game playing experience are not bound by the terms of the OMA and by freely use and enjoy the mod within their games.

Section 2: Distribution

1. Open Distribution means that mod authors allow their mods to be redistributed, at will, on all mediums.
2. Limited Distribution is allowed and will still be considered "open" distribution of the mod.
   1. Limited Distribution limits the distribution of a mod to specific medium(s) such as a single website, but still allows open distribution on the chosen medium(s).
   2. Limited Distribution is the mod author's discretion.
   3. Limited Distribution is converted to Open Distribution in the event the specified medium for the Limited Distribution is no longer available, and the original author does not provide new Limited Distribution within a reasonable time period.
      1. Mods hidden from public view for the purposes of updating are allowed.
         1. The time frame for hiding a mod to update shall be no longer than 24 hours.
      2. A reasonable time period for choosing a new medium is not to extend longer than 30 days.
3. Mod downloads must be restrictions free when hosted on personal web sites. There can not be any ads to click past nor forum or site registrations required to download the mod.
   1. Adult content mods are an exception and must have a registration wall which checks for minors.
      1. Registration walls which consist of users entering their birth date to determine age is an acceptable minimum. Clicking an "over 18" button is not an acceptable form of age verification.
4. If an OMA mod is redistributed, then it must be redistributed with all files, readme, agreements, etc.
5. If an OMA mod is broken up into multiple parts for downloading convenience, then the Readme and agreement must be included with each part.
6. OMA mods may be re-compressed into a different formats (e.g., rar to 7z).
7. Authors are not allowed to block users from their distribution sources.
   1. Exception is given to users who's main intent is to "troll" and users who are blocked via third party moderation teams.
      1. Such users may only be blocked after being warned and with sufficient evidence of trolling available for public review.
      2. Authors may not request third party staff to block or remove users unless said users are in violation of third party rules and regulations.
8. Once a mod is distributed, it can not be pulled from distribution by any means with the following exceptions:
   1. A mod may be pulled from distribution by the administration/owners of the distribution medium (e.g. Nexus moderators delete the mod for violation of their ToS.)
   2. A mod may be pulled from distribution by the author if the mod is absorbed into its parent mod or into a mod collection.

Appendix

Published / Public Release

Published refers to any release of a mod to any individual or group other than for the purposes of collaboration or testing. The mechanism of publishing does not matter. All forms of possible publication or release are covered, including, but not limited to Bethesda.net, cloud share links, e-mail attachments, NexusMods, Steam, TES Alliance, etc.

Collaboration

Collaboration in this context refers to the sharing of mod files for the purposes of mod development or mod review.

Testing

Testing is this context refers to the sharing of mod files for the purposes of bug testing.

Section 3: Mod Assets

1. For a mod to be under OMA, the entirely of the mod assets must be bound by the guidelines of the OMA.
   1. If the mod contains assets which are not available for open modding due to the files being from a non-OMA mod or their permissions do not allow for free and open modding because they are owned by another author who does not support OMA for their files, then these assets can not be released under an OMA due to the assets not being available for Open Distribution nor Open Modification.
      1. Such files much be clearly listed and must clearly state they aren't not contained within the scope of the OMA.
      2. Such files may be distributed with an OMA mod, only if the author receives permission for distribution.
      3. Such files must have credits, crediting the original author of the files.
2. Group mods have group owned assets under an OMA.
   1. The entire team is bound fully by the terms of this agreement for said mods.
   2. If any single team member does not agree to the OMA terms, then the mod can not be released as an OMA mod.

Section 4: Modification

1. Open Modification means that mod authors allow their mods to be modified and redistributed at will.
2. Levels of modification include, but are not limited to:
   • Error Corrections - ITM and UDR removal, grammar and typo corrections, fix errors which break the game or mod, etc.
   • Compatibility Patches - fixes which result is better mod compatibility, patches for compatibility between two separate mods, etc.
   • Standardization - dialog standardization (e.g. "continue" to "Continue"), naming standardization (e.g. following a naming scheme), etc.
   • Re-drafting - taking what is an early draft of a mod and redrafting it to be more complete while sticking to the original author's intent.
     • Redrafting allows for some degree of necessary artistic and logic interpretations.
   • Extensions - adding new material which is consistent with the original mod and artistic direction.
   • Multi-pathing - adding content which allows users to take alternative paths from the original mod. Often this relates to quest mods with different choices or paths added which affects the outcome of the original mod (e.g. adding a different path for vampire players).
     • The original path is left intact and is not diminished in any way, but the user is given a chance to take a different path.
     • Multi-pathing can not to the degree that it perverts the intent of the original mod.
   • Artistic Conflict Resolution - correcting artistic conflicts within the mod itself, between sister mods, or within extensions.
   1. • Artistic Destruction is NOT allowed. Artistic destruction is removing any element of a mod for the intent of changing the artistic direction of the mod.
      • Perversion is NOT allowed. Perversion is modifying a mod in such a way that the mod's intent is perverted from it's original intent. This is basically vandalism of a mod. (e.g. altering a dialogue mod that adds "Dogs are nice" and changing it to "Dogs are stupid").
3. Limited Modification refers to the original author maintaining artistic rights of their mod until said author retires the mod.
   1. Under Limited Modification, third-party modifications are submitted to the original author to incorporate into the original or being uploaded as optional files.
      1. The original author must make due diligence to review all modifications submitted to them.
      2. The original author holds the decision of whether submitted modifications are best incorporated or hosted separately.
   2. Any modifications mod to an original mod should be incorporated into said mod, unless otherwise directed by the original author.
      1. Mods which the author decides are best hosted separately will be uploaded by their original authors; not by the author of the parent mod.
   3. Once the author retires said mod, the mod is converted to Open Modification and all future modifications should be incorporated into the original mod.
   4. If the author is not active within 30 days of of any correspondence (e.g. PMs, emails, thread activity, etc), the mod is considered retired and converts to Open Modification.
4. Modification by patch or alternative replacement plugin is allowed.
   1. An alternative replacement plugin is necessary if the modifier wants to perform certain tasks. Replacement plugins also have the advantage of reducing the user's plugin count.
      1. If the original author is still actively supporting the mod, replacement plugins should be given to said author for incorporation.
   2. A patch plugin may be preferable if the parent mod's plugin is large and/or likely to change often. This often simplifies support issues for the original author.
5. All modifications are to be detailed in the changelog.

Appendix

Retired Mods

A mod can only be retired when released with Limited Modification. A mod is retired when the original author posts notification of their retiring the mod or if the conditions set in Section 4.3.4 are met.

Alternative Replacement Plugin

An Alternative Replacement Plugin is a plugin which replaces the original plugin. These types of plugin usually only amends the original with additions or corrections.

Section 5: The ReadMe File

1. OMA mods must be packaged with a ReadMe file. See example here.
2. ReadMe file may be either a text document or a HTML file. HTML is the preferred medium and a template has been provided.
3. The top of the ReadMe should have the standard header.
4. If the mod is a modification of an existing mod or contains assets from other mods, give full authorial credits to the original authors of any work within a Credits section.
   1. Credits should be placed at the bottom of the Readme file.
   2. Credit listings start with the original author first and are followed by subsequent authors in alphabetical order.
   3. If the mod contains non-OMA assets or components, clearly and precisely list which assets or components are not released under OMA, the reason for them being non-OMA, and state or link to the the license for which these assets or components are released under.

Section 6: The Changelog File

1. OMA mods must be packaged with a changelog file. See example here.
2. Changelog file may be either a text document or a HTML file. HTML is the preferred medium and a template has been provided.
3. The changelog file must be a separate file. It can not be incorporated into any other files.
4. Changes entered into the changelog must be detailed to the point which others not familiar with the mod can easily view and understand the changes made.

Section 7: User Support

1. Authors releasing with an OMA must provide fair and equal user support for the released mod.
2. Authors licensed under OML are not bound by Article 7.1, 7.3, 7.5, 7.5.x, nor 7.5.x.x. <<---Check
3. Support may be provided by way of, but not limited to, PMs, emails, chats, forum threads, etc.
4. In the event particular users are not complying with support requests from the author, the author may, at their discretion, cease to provide support to said users until users comply with requests.
5. In the event the author is not able to provide support the following must take place:
   1. The author may assign specific users as "support help".
      1. Any support helpers must be clearly defined within the support area.
   2. When support is no longer offered via the author nor via support help, the mod will be converted to Open Distribution and Open Modification, if originally Limited.
      1. The time period for conversion to Open Distribution and Open Modification, due to lack of support, is 30 days.
6. Authors releasing with an OMA may not block users from their support mediums with the following exceptions:
   1. Exception is given to users who's main intent is to "troll" and to support mediums which users are blocked or removed via third party moderation staff.
      1. "Trollers" may only be blocked after being warned and with sufficient evidence of trolling available for public review.
      2. Authors may not request third party staff to block or remove users from support mediums unless said users are in violation of third party rules and regulations.

Appendix

Support Help

Support Help refers to users which have be designated by the author to provide official support for the mod. These users reply to bug posts and help users having issues with the OMA released mods.

Article 6: Other

1. The OML and OMLL license only covers mods and utilities for only the game/platform which the mod was designed for (e.g., Skyrim mods only applies to Skryim).
2. If either license is in conflict with the Bethesda EULA, then the Bethesda EULA takes precedence in the areas of conflict.
3. The licenses provided may be revoked at any time if their is a breach of the terms.
   1. Authors will be provided a 14 day grace period to comply to any notice of a breach before licenses are revoked.
   2. In the event of a revoked license, any funds provided are nonrefundable.