Extracting 3D Models, is it allowed?

Cosmo · Mar 19, 2017

The ED Art Tools community are people who extract the models and assets into other engines. Is that allowed? Here's a gallery.

"Free software "Ninja Ripper 1.6" - extract 3d models 2) The extracted 3d parts of the model are assembled by parts in one single 3d model (in Blender 3d) 3) Save model in "fbx" file formal 4) Import 3d model in Unreal engine 4, "

x NuFc SnIpZ x · Mar 19, 2017

You would need to possible email Frontier Support and ask them because there is a low chance that they would see this since its not about 2.3

Cosmo · Mar 19, 2017

x NuFc SnIpZ x said:
You would need to possible email Frontier Support and ask them because there is a low chance that they would see this since its not about 2.3

Well hopefully a mod sees it and passes it on. If it's not allowed then Frontier should encrypt the game assets more.

Hironichu · Mar 19, 2017

In fact, there is nothing about it that tell you to dont do it. but If you do it, you just have to shut up and keep it for yourself. I think this is just the thing ^^ not sure I dont know, wait for an official answer maybe

Ian Phillips · Mar 19, 2017

I'll raise it with Brett - to pass it on to the right people within FD.

Cosmos · Mar 19, 2017

They don't seem to have had a problem with it so far. A fair few vids have appeared with the models such as ship size comparison... I'd imagine they don't mind provided folks arent using the stuff for financial gain or claiming its their own work.

William J Smith · Mar 19, 2017

Think you'll find that so long as the work is not used for personal profit, or commecial use by another company I'd think you'd get away with it especially if you include credits for it.

But no harm checking anyway

Bill

I like the last shot too

Devari · Mar 19, 2017

Cosmo said:
The ED Art Tools community are people who extract the models and assets into other engines. Is that allowed?

Given that FD has in the past featured players in their newsletter who have extracted Elite ship files and produced 3D-printed ship models that would suggest that personal use of such material is fine. In fact it's basically free advertising for Elite when players use Elite ships or designs in their personal projects as it draws more attention to the game and shows that it has a dedicated and interested playerbase.

Where this changes is if you are selling something or making money in the process (or if anyone else is doing so on your behalf). In that case no, that would go beyond personal use and FD would be able to protect their copyrights.

Iskariot · Mar 19, 2017

Cosmo said:
The ED Art Tools community are people who extract the models and assets into other engines. Is that allowed? Here's a gallery.

"Free software "Ninja Ripper 1.6" - extract 3d models 2) The extracted 3d parts of the model are assembled by parts in one single 3d model (in Blender 3d) 3) Save model in "fbx" file formal 4) Import 3d model in Unreal engine 4, "

http://i.imgur.com/0FGmoKl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/3L2top2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/twPbRh8.jpg

Extracting 3D Models, is it allowed?

If I remember correctly FD have posted links to videos that showed size comparisons between ships, using extracted models in a newsletter.
I suppose it depends on how you use the stuff and give credits.
FD has rules for this.
As others said: contact FD and ask them.

Ashnak · Mar 19, 2017

Encrypted or not - the copyright still lies with FD. Encryption has nothing to do with copyright, but breaking encryption in itself may be illegal (as in DVDs).

However, copyright law is a tricky business and a lot depends on the country and the judge (should it come to that). I'm not a lawyer myself (I'm doing honest work

), but from what I read, I would suppose that the extraction of the game assets would be illegal - however, it is completely within the discretion of the rights holder to prosecute or tolerate the use of their work in each individual case.

So, from the past, I'd guess that, as long as you don't hurt FD's business model, they would refrain from getting the publicity associated with prosecuting fans for liking their product - but if you want to be sure, get a written permission.

The New Number Two · Mar 19, 2017

This is a relevant section to your query from Newsletter 66, and it contains an email address for direct questions on licensing.

http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u...c21b73b1e&id=c99f843233&awesome=no&e=#license

Shadowdancer · Mar 19, 2017

As a general rule of thumb: ripping stuff to play around with locally is perfectly fine; nobody knows, nobody's judging, what happens in the bedroom stays in the bedroom. Publishing stuff you made with the extracted assets without explicit written permission from the rights holder for each work? Hell no!

The way copyright law works in too many (most?) places is that a rights holder technically has to legally go after each and every use of their property or they risk making future infringement not actionable.

In short: don't take bets or make damn sure you can pay your way through and out of a copyright lawsuit.

Gunnet · Mar 19, 2017

It would be insane to go after people who are essentially providing them with free advertising by making thing like ship scale comparisons.

Those renders look great too.

Alex Brentnall · Mar 19, 2017

To be honest there's a big difference between commercial and for personal enjoyment/sharing.
If you are making a few 3d printed models or some cool artwork. Who cares really, it's good advertisement for the game.

If you start selling them and making a profit or using them to advertise something else thats when it crosses a line.

The engine thing is a bit of a grey area, I'd suspect thats not considered cool if it's uploaded to a database for everyone to use... Hopefully Brett can clarify.

xondk · Mar 19, 2017

Cosmo said:
.

Generally as long as people are not earning any money on it, art of games isn't a problem.
Using actual assets though is a bit more of a troublesome area, generally? ripping the models is not accepted, but again, as long as those assets aren't used for profit, many companies let it slide.
Don't know frontier's state on it, but it is difficult with these kinds of ripping programs, they rip from the games output, reading buffers and such. Which is hard to prevent by developers.

Shadowdancer · Mar 19, 2017

Gunnet said:
It would be insane to go after people who are essentially providing them with free advertising by making thing like ship scale comparisons.

Sanity is sadly not relevant in copyright.

In using the game, you agree to the EULA, which is generally the only agreement you (hopefully) looked at, and which explicitly states:

3. Licence Restrictions
You are not permitted:
…

(b) except as expressly permitted by this EULA and to the extent expressly permitted by applicable law, to rent, lease, sub-license, loan, exploit for profit or gain, copy, modify, adapt, merge, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble or create derivative works based on the whole or any part of the Game or use, reproduce, distribute, translate, broadcast, publicly perform, store in a retrieval system or otherwise deal in the Game or any part thereof in any way;
…

and I don't see any parts in there that would allow using the game for anything but playing it without other people watching.

Technically, it would be really nice on Frontier's part to explicitly allow activities like

streaming the game (edit: talking about "let's play" style use, not "remote play" shenanigans) (public performance) or
making all the cool community creations they gleefully exploit in their newsletters and other promotional media.

which are currently in an inconvenient grey area, and calling it grey is a bit of a misnomer since both of those are explicitly prohibited.

DefiledDragon · Mar 19, 2017

Video game EULA's usually prohibit reverse engineering. I would think that this would fall into that category.

Insane4un · Mar 19, 2017

Ian Phillips said:
I'll raise it with Brett - to pass it on to the right people within FD.

This project is not trying to get money with these assets. They know rules. So i think it should be fine.

xondk · Mar 19, 2017

Shadowdancer said:
Technically, it would be really nice on Frontier's part to explicitly allow activities like

streaming the game (edit: talking about "let's play" style use, not "remote play" shenanigans) (public performance) or

making all the cool community creations they gleefully exploit in their newsletters and other promotional media.

which are currently in an inconvenient grey area, and calling it grey is a bit of a misnomer since both of those are explicitly prohibited.

That's why I said they can't do much about it and generally as long as people using these things aren't gaining profit on it, its something many let slide. But yes you are correct it is breaking the EULA.

Gunnet · Mar 19, 2017

Shadowdancer said:
Sanity is sadly not relevant in copyright.

In using the game, you agree to the EULA, which is generally the only agreement you (hopefully) looked at, and which explicitly states:

and I don't see any parts in there that would allow using the game for anything but playing it without other people watching.

Technically, it would be really nice on Frontier's part to explicitly allow activities like

streaming the game (public performance) or

making all the cool community creations they gleefully exploit in their newsletters and other promotional media.

which are currently in an inconvenient grey area, and calling it grey is a bit of a misnomer since both of those are explicitly prohibited.

Right. That part of the EULA is important to have so that it can be used against activities which actually could be detrimental to Frontier's business. But it would be insane to enforce it indiscriminately.