Hi everyone ! I would like to create a mod for Skyrim, but others players warned me that it may involve copyright violation and I need a permission... from Bethesda ! However, I'm a little bit lost, general info from Bethesda.net redirected me here, and I don't know whom to ask my request. Could someone help me or redirect me to the right person or adress ? Thank you !

Here you go, straight from the horse's mouth:

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1481184-is-it-legal-to-edit-bsas-nifs-etc-and-use-it-in-modding/#entry23749040

Thanks for the reply ! But to be more precise : If I would use Skyrim released Original Soundtrack inside a mod FOR Skyrim, and publish it, will it be considered as copyright violation ? I do not intend to make this for money or something. It would only be a enhancement mod.

Maybe I'm missing something, but if the music you are using is already in Skyrim why would you need to include it in a download?

You can upload modified content, thats what Gstaff stated and thats the rule on Nexus. No modification, no go. Never tried it with music although modified sound effects and voices seems to be ok

But as already stated why include it if its in the game already? Havn't looked into it but you ought to be able to play the existing music file I should think.

Because music used in game files are in really poor quality due to high compression format, and I would like to replace them with new ones in higher quality.

Yeah, that's a no go, since you'd basically be publishing the unchanged soundtrack. Don't see the need either. Unless you listen to it as music, and not in the game, you really can't hear the difference with all the sound effects going on pretty much every second. I have a fairly expensive sound system, and I really don't hear the "really poor quality" you're talking about.

Well this is why i'm actually stuck. I need to find someone that could give me permission to use the soundtrack for my mod, to avoid it being considered just as "illegal soundtrack re-distribution".

If in doubt, contact Gstaff (but he still hasn't read my message from 10th September, so maybe it's not the most reliable method).

But why the insistence on replacing the soundtrack? You're the first person I've seen complain about the quality of Skyrim's music. I doubt anyone else cares.

I made a preview video on youtube but for some reason I am not allowed to post the link. I can assure you there's a bunch of people that would be interested for this.

yeah, you won't get permission i can tell you that right now.. nothing would be stopping a person from just downloading it to put the MP3 or FLAC or whatever format on their media player.. in other words, you wouldn't be able to stop people from using it as piracy..

Gstaff hasn't been nearly as active since the whole .net deal.. at one point, i even wondered if Hungry had taken over his job or something and put G out of work

you need 10 posts (at least i think its 10) before you can post links.. its a security feature, to stop trolls from joining the forums just to post malicious links

Some people released mods that add The Witcher ost into Skyrim. They just asked CD Projekt for permission. And this is not considered as illegal or something. And it does still not prevent people using it as piracy as well. Why wouldn't it be the same for my mod ?

Difference is CD Projekt Red openly gives permission for reuse of all of their assets in other games. It's a fairly unique situation, and it's the reason why you only see Witcher's assets like armors all over the mod pages, while other model rips are being taken down asap.

Can't count how many times I've seen people argue over audio stuff that rarely anyone, if anyone at all, is even capable of hearing, as if every player has a recording studio at home or something, but to each his own. Anyhow, correct, you need at least 10 points in order to post links, and as funnybunny pointed out, it's extremely unlikely you'll get the permission for this.

The crux of the matter: only Bethesda can give you permission. If you want to publish your mod, you'll have to contact them somehow. If Gstaff is a no-go, you can try Hungry Donner or go to Bethesda.net, maybe they monitor that place more often.

This is a vicious circle ; I already tried Bethesda.net like Ask Support or [email protected], all I get is automatic responses that redirected me here, to the forum.