Legality of editing sprites?

[Ink-Dragon]

Is it legal for someone who doesn't own the RPG maker to edit sprites from it for others to use? A family member of mine is much better than me at sprite-art, but doesn't own the RPG maker themselves, so we're not sure if they would be allowed to edit the rtp sprites for me to use.

 

[Bloodmorphed]

Nope. As far as I know, using anything without having permissions (in this case purchasing them) is illegal.

 

[Susan]

Ink-Dragon didn't say he or the relative was selling or purchasing the sprites. He was only asking if a relative could edit those sprites for him to use.

I presume Ink-Dragon himself owns the program.

It may be better for a mod or staff to answer this question as I've not heard anyone ask this specific question before.

 

[Bloodmorphed]

I still think its a bit sketchy, as you would have to GIVE them over to him, which is illegal. However in this case I'm not too sure it matters. As long as your not distributing the content to him. Which you kind of are for him to edit though, right? Kind of confusing.

 

[Susan]

I will have to agree with you on that. ^^

 

[EternalShadow]

Here, this should answer your question in regards to the RTP:


http://www.rpgmakerweb.com/support/information/eula

 

[Tsukihime]

This part of the RTP EULA seems to suggest whether you're allowed to let someone who does not have a license modify the data.

Further, Licensee shall not sell, distribute, assign, lease, sublicense, encumber, or otherwise transfer the RTP SOFTWARE and/or its data without any prior written consent of ENTERBRAIN.

However, it also states that you can only use the RTP for the purposes of playing the game that someone with an RM license created

ENTERBRAIN grants to Licensee a non-exclusive, non-assignable, fee-free license to use the RTP SOFTWARE only for the purpose to play the game created and distributed by RPG MAKER VX Ace users who shall complete the registration procedure.

So, if you choose to use the RTP, you automatically agree to this license. And you can only use it for the purpose of playing a game.


Now the problem is, the RM EULA doesn't state whether an RM license holder is allowed or not allowed to edit the RTP.


Confused.

 

[GrandmaDeb]

Okay, on a matter of principle, I usually leave this stuff for the people who actually know the official answer. But you drew me in. I admit. I got suckered into it....


"ENTERBRAIN grants to Licensee a non-exclusive, non-assignable, fee-free license to use the RTP SOFTWARE only for the purpose to play the game created and distributed by RPG MAKER VX Ace users who shall complete the registration procedure."


If someone downloads a 30 day trial, it is pretty hard to see how they are not able to make edits just fine.

 

[Sharm]

Note: I don't know the official answer, this is just my view.


I think it's fine. Edits of the RTP are allowed, distributing those edits is allowed too. The RTP is freely downloadable, so the problem of giving someone the sprites to edit isn't really a problem at all. The only problem is that the only people allowed to use the RTP are the people making RM or IG games, but they aren't planning on using them so I don't think it's an issue.

 

[Sausage_Boi]

Or even Ace Lite RTP? Assuming you don't need all that extra fluff, Lite could be downloaded by your editor and whipped into shape...

 

[Bloodmorphed]

Note: I don't know the official answer, this is just my view.

I think it's fine. Edits of the RTP are allowed, distributing those edits is allowed too. The RTP is freely downloadable, so the problem of giving someone the sprites to edit isn't really a problem at all. The only problem is that the only people allowed to use the RTP are the people making RM or IG games, but they aren't planning on using them so I don't think it's an issue.

Hm, true... but don't you need a license to use them in a game? Even if I were to say edit the RTP and give it someone to use in the game wouldn't him and I be at fault? Me for giving someone the RTP, and him for using it without having a license to use it? For example I can't use the VX edits someone has here it even says in their post, that we can't use them unless we own VX. Is this not the case for VX Ace or is it just the owners terms?

 

[GrandmaDeb]

Blood, perhaps there is a distinction to be made between making a game and editing a resource for someone else to use, but considering that there is a 30 day trial in which an artist could have access to the materials and make edits themselves, it seems pretty crazy to try and go to every artist who posts edited RTP materials and screen them for ownership of the maker........


People who make games need to own the maker and people who use the materials in games need to be using them in appropriate makers.

 

[Bloodmorphed]

True enough.

EDIT: You have too many lists by the way <3

 

[Sharm]

I wasn't saying that they could alter the terms of use because they were editing them. I was saying that as long as the person actually using the sprites to make a game followed the original terms of use it'd probably be fine. VX and Ace have the same EULA.

 

[Lunarea]

Here's the official answer...

As long as the edits are:

- Used in RPG Maker only

- Not sold for income or sold/shared with a sub-license with terms that are different than the RTP EULA

- Not breaching any copyright (ex. no re-making Final Fantasy sprites for example)

it's fine.