Is this stealing?

#1

So i taught myself 3ds max and i made an AKM and it looks photorealistic but took me 2 and a half weeks and i want to speed that up to a week maximum. If i download free weapon assets and completely overhaul the geometry, i mean like new edges, rounder edges, and more geometry and an upgrade from like 8k triangles to 15 to 20k triangles, to make it what i want it to be. Can i use that gun i upgrade in my game?

I want to have the basic frame done and then turn it from a turd to a AAA weapon. So is that okay to do? I plan to remake the textures in substance painter and unwrap it myself.

Any feedback is welcome as i dont want legal trouble. Though i believe there are some laws about changing artistic things and cant find the information on 3D models specifically

#2

Don’t do it. Games have been taken down off Steam and companies have been blacklisted for doing that. Many ‘free’ assets are actually assets that have been ripped from games. If its free, and looks really good quality, chances are its been stolen.

You could look at purchasing some really nice commercial models and building up a kitbash set of your own. Good quality commercial assets aren’t that pricey nowadays.

Just check the licenses, they are usually clear about what can and cant be done with your purchases.

#3

The design is under copyright too, not just geometry and textures. So even when you would model and texture it from scratch, you would break design copyright.

#4

…since the AKM is derived from the WW2 German StG MP 44, I’d suggest perusing stock content accordingly because WW2 German or for that matter Axis military ordanance patents/copyright are void, hence violating copyright law internationally would not apply.

#5

Even if its not recognizable anymore? Like i have no interest in stealing i just want to speed up the workflow. I also model the interior of the guns so id be cutting apart the models and re-texturing and unwrap myself.

#6

How can i model something from the ground up and it not be mine?

#7

I would never use any product I’m not certain of in any commercial product. You need to look at the site you get the product from and read their notices on how their products can be used. You may also have to look at each product you plan on using from their site and check that that particular product allows that use. You have to do the footwork and read the terms regards this use. That is the only way you can or should feel confidant with a particular use.

#8

As told, the design is also under copyright.

When you model a super mario, then it is still a super mario, and under the design copyright of Nintendo. And when you use this sprite in your game, then Nintendo will most probably sue you.

#9

Well that makes sense but what about real world weapons? Lets say i model all the real world weapons i want in my game myself. Am i still gonna get sued?

#10

I think we misunderstood us here. I was still under the impression that you want to remodel weapon artwork from somebody else.

Real world content like weapons should not be a problem. But also here you can find some pitfalls. Car companies like BMW or Mercedes are known to sue artists who remodels cars with their design and their emblem at it. Here the brand and the design is copyrighted. Some weapons could also be in a grey zone here. It is design. But ww2 weapons shouldn’t fall under that, that’s too long ago.

The important part is, is there any copyright from somebody else involved. When unsure contact the company or artists and ask i would say.

#11

There are two issues here. One is the use of the image as stated in the above car example. The other is the original model. that you use to build upon. They are both covered under copyright law. The look of the model is one thing. Does it look the same as a copyrighted product? If so you need permissions to use it. But also is it legal to take a model that someone else created and build on it or change it? Answer? NO Unless they allow this. You have to look at the terms on the site and sometimes the allowed uses for each individual item. Like someone said you can contact the site and ask them. If they give you the go ahead be sure to save a copy of them giving you permission somewhere in case you need to prove they said it was allowed.