After buying the CityPack1, I shortly saw the locked thread about it containing models not licensed for distro. I did notice one of the models from the pack which came from http://www.3dcafe.com (the fishtank)
I am no professional model developer by far. I have gone as far as buying models in other formats, converting them, and using them for FPSC myself. I even went as far to develop a pack from a site I had done business with many times, converted the models and asked them to at least carry the packs and sell them, since it was their own models. They took no interest so I dropped the project.
I wish more modelers from other communities would start designing some for use with FPSC and of course slap a price tag to it. I am not asking for free items, just ones that allow a genere of choices. FPSC is lacking in the model area simply because:
a: FPSC is not shipped with many, pushing all games to look the same.
b: ModelPack 1 by TGC is out. Thats great, lets have more!
When it comes to models, the resources are simply not there, not yet anyway. But then again, one must remember FPSC when V1 in Sept 2005, and its only Jan 2006. Only few months have passed.
But back on the main issue, it does worry me to see packs coming out that violates copyrights. I have purchased every available pack posted on these forums to expand my game and have choice when creating a game. Sure, we could use 1000's of models to choose from, but right now they are so limited, I am going to other sites, buying other models and converting them to use in FPSC. I would rather see the money go to the community or individual who creates models directly for use for FPSC, and other formats.
But when that happens, how do we know if they are legal? Packs should be created with a concise license agreement file which states that the models were created by him/her or they have permission to post, or sell the pack if other authors were involved.
No license agreement, no sale. At least with the license agreement from the author in your hands gives you some coverage if a legal matter arises. Then its back in the authors court. But most seasoned model developers already know this.
I too am glad to see mods taking more of an active approach. I almost help the City Pack 1 author make an installer for it. Whew... Glad I did not pursue that route.
