mikejkelley Blog RSS feed - Mod DB

An open letter to the moddb.com staff

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 10:45:57 -0600

I've recently researched and written an article regarding copyright infringement as it applies to modding (and, briefly, the legal repercussions of hosting copyright-infringing materials). I completed it with the input of several lawyers and a professional game designer. I realize that the "soapbox" feature's establishment is probably not coincidental with the "IP in mods" debate and that the article may seem a good candidate for inclusion in the "soapbox" feature. However, as the article contains a much higher ratio of legal citation than opinion (it contains a singular conclusion that is the reflection of a multitude of statutes and legal precedents), putting it in an oped feature would tend to undermine the amount of research and professional input it includes. As a result I would only be willing to let it run as a feature. I'm sure the staff and users of moddb.com are just as concerned as I am about the survivability of modding. Hopefully, understanding the legal repercussions of making and distributing copyright infringing materials will result in change for the better and help to ensure the survivability of modding for years to come. http://mikejkelley.com/copyrightAndYouTheModder.doc Thanks for your time and consideration and I hope to see the article featured soon. Sincerely, Michael Kelley

MOTY 2007! The abridged version!

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:36:03 -0600

MOTY 2007, the abridged version Top 5 unreleased; 5. Licensing rip-off* 4. Licensing rip-off* 3. Licensing rip-off* 2. Licensing rip-off* 1. Zombie mod Top 5 released; 5. Licensing rip-off* 4. Guns and planes and tanks 3. Guns and planes and tanks with a twist 2. Guns and planes and tanks 1. Guns and planes and tanks Seriously, add an originality category. (*violate copyright law and moddb.com's TOS)

MOTY 2007!

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 04:22:34 -0600

How many people have read the moddb.com TOS? "Must not contain copyright material " "The mod is unique and original and not in violation of anothers intellectual property." I've been watching the scoreboard for a little while, lots of votes for Stargate Mods, awesome. I'd rotflol if it weren't such a sorry state of affairs.

안녕하새요...

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:42:06 -0600

안녕하새요... 070603 I clean, attempt to unpack, and later, attempt to purchase furnishings for the very meager squares of feet of space that is my apartment. My apartment is too small to accommodate the contents of my two suitcases in a civilized manner. Everything requires stacking, packing, and piling away. Retrieval of books or clothes or electronics requires rummaging through one of the few cabinets or drawers provided and purchased. The watchword will be 'hassle'. 070602 I woke up today, Saturday, feeling less like having taken a flight half-way round the world and more as if I had stumbled upon a very secret door in the back of a magical bureau. Opening it upon a half-forgotten world, I am saddened to realize it is also somewhat familiar to me. On my first visit I had landed on the very southern tip of the peninsula in a small airport made of cinder blocks. It was hot, and everything hummed electric in iridescent amber hues through my saucer-sized shades, of the type favored by dictators in this hemisphere. We passed by rice patties in the valleys of mountains and hills on our way to the small sea-side town of XXXXXXXXX. Nearly 3 years to the day, and it is once again remarkably hot. XXXXXXX is land-locked. The woman who dropped me off last night, I am not yet aware of her position at the school, neglected to tell me where in the city of XXXXXXXXXX I am, nor where anything of necessity might be. I have her number, but no way and no reason to call her. The other foreign teachers, of which I am told there are two, do not stop by to welcome me. I go out wandering. 070601 I begin by calculating the time in XXXXX, Greenwhich mean +9. I leave the house at a little after 5am EST, about 6pm in XXXXXX. I arrive one day and four hours later at what is to be my apartment for at least the next year.