Project:Open Modding Licenses/Articles

Article 1: Distribution

1. Open Distribution means that mod authors allow their mods to be redistributed, at will, on the chosen medium(s).
2. Limited Open Distribution is allowed and will still be considered "open" distribution of the mod.
   1. Limited distribution is limiting the distribution of a mod to specific mediums such as a single website, but still allowing open distribution on the chosen medium(s).
   2. Limited distribution is the mod author's choice.
   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.

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.

Article 2: 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. changing a dialogue mod that adds "Dogs are nice" can changing it to "Dogs are stupid").

Appendix

Place Holder

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.