This posting outlines the policy of the narrow guage forum with regard to repaints.
It is derived from postings on the old topic "On the subject of repaints" and represents a composite view which the moderators hope will be acceptable to all members of the forum.
1. Once you have downloaded a freeware loco, item of rolling stock or scenery, then you are free to put it to your own use. This use can include repainting or altering the shape file using tools such as Shape File Manager.
2. However, 'your own use' does not include the public sharing of the altered file, or screenshots of the altered item without the explicit permission of the creator. Very often, this permission will be granted - but should not be taken for granted.
3. This is because when people see an item, they tend to associate it with its creator. Whilst most repainting is very good, there are occasions when:
a. The quality of the work is such that the creator of the item does not wish to be associated with it;
b. The repaint is very similar to the original item - ie simply renumbered, or with weathering added.
In these cases, many people would not dowload the item anyway;
c. The work contains items that are copyright or offensive in some way - which could cause legal problems for the creator. For example, company trademarks are used, the repaint contains offensive graffiti tags; or
d. The creator simply doesn't like it or considers it to be inappropriate.
4. If you are considering repainting a model for public release, we would prefer if you followed the following procedure:
a. Please contact the author by email (or PM if no email address is available) before starting work. By outlining what you are intending to do, you are quite likely to either get permission or save yourself some work.
b. Please send the author a copy of the model after it is finished. This lets them be sure that they are happy with the quality of the repaint, and that it meets any other criteria that they have.
c. Some authors may want to upload the repaint themselves - adding to your fame by association.
5. On occasion, you might want to repaint or renumber locos for inclusion with a specific route. In general, any change that you make would need to produce something distinctively different and specific to your route. In any case, you should follow the procedure outlined above, and give credit to the original author in your route documentation.
6. In conclusion, you need to remember that unless you paid someone to make an item for you, you don't own that item. This is at the core of intellectual property law, and is a principle that should not be ignored.
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The moderators
Narrow Gauge Repainting and Reskinning Policy
Moderator: Moderators
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pitleyfalley
- Builder of the Southwold Railway Route
- Posts: 2366
- Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2003 11:56 pm
- Location: Tinkering with a new project