How are the conventions when it comes to release a mod wich is based on other peoples work who iam not able to contact anymore?

I have made some improvements to http://mw.modhistory.com/download-26-7246 by using Darknut′s Creature Textures and making the blighted textures a little bit more subtle:

http://s1.directupload.net/file/d/2997/guguhvc2_jpg.htm http://s1.directupload.net/file/d/2997/5gx7cvaf_jpg.htm http://s1.directupload.net/file/d/2997/5bb826uh_jpg.htm http://s7.directupload.net/file/d/2997/hsfawmbn_jpg.htm http://s1.directupload.net/file/d/2997/q5m2uwsx_jpg.htm http://s7.directupload.net/file/d/2997/3cfwf66f_jpg.htm http://s1.directupload.net/file/d/2997/pnz92xxv_jpg.htm http://s7.directupload.net/file/d/2997/mhhhqdkj_jpg.htm

The original authors have done 90% of the work and I would definitely make that clear in the description. If Darknut or Catherine want me to remove the upload i will immediantly do that too.
Not many people seem to know about Catherine′s Blighted Animals but as its almost an essential mod in my eyes, it wouldnt hurt to upload this new version and get some attention for this old mod.

My PM to Darknut is unanswered scince 4 days, Catherine is gone as far as i know.

Usually, authors mention in the readme file about using their mod in someone else's work. Cathrerine's blighted animals mod doesn't mention that, but readme for her other mods says this:

"If you would like to use this mod in a mod you create and upload to web, I would appreciate it if you would drop me a line at PawPrintExpress@yahoo.com to let me know where I can find it and give me credit in your readme file."

I think that's the way to go for the blighted animals mod too. You don't need to wait for her approval, simply notifying her is enough.

Darknut, on the other hand, says "Please ask Me before using this in another mod." So you will have to either wait for his reply, or ignore this remark and publish your mod anyway.

In general, though, if your mod is good and you give proper credit, I don't think there would be any problems. My own mod was used by others even though I didn't specify anything about using it.

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P.S. Your signposts retextured are the best I've seen in the game!