NBC Issued Take-downs for All BSG Mods on Moddb

[EAS_Intrepid]

I just thought I let you guys know:

Apparently NBC Universal has issued a take-down request/order (?) for all BSG material on Moddb. I am still researching this one, but as far as I can see, there is no more downloadable BSG mod content on moddb whatsoever.

NBC said told the admins of ModdB that they had to remove all the content due to "copyright claims".

I'll keep you posted, as soon as I find out more.

EDIT:
NBC found out about the BSG mod for Nexus TJI and started mailing ModdB about it. As it is stated in ModdB's site rules they took down the mod. Unfortunately NBC then started having fun banning BSG mods off the web and asked for all other stuff to be removed as well.
The guys from the BSG Diaspora mod team did not even get a message from the site staff that their work was removed...

Stay Safe
EA

 

[CABAL]

I wonder if that means they're getting ready to make a BSG game. Microsoft did something similar shortly before they announced Halo Wars.

 

[EAS_Intrepid]

I am afraid not, Cabal. Rumor has it, that this is due to the BSG online game...

 

[Adm_Z]

I heard about this a couple days ago on fleetops. It is disturbing. I still noted a couple mods left on modDB(yesterday), so they are probably still in the process of taking them down.

This is a blow to all BSG fans. This is not how you get people to watch your shows more. If they keep going and try to remove BSG related content everywhere they can, I would seriously consider boycotting the company.(and still develop my mod too.)

Thankfully, the downloads are restricted in such a way here that anything we release will only be available to our friends, and not to the public. I seriously doubt it will/can affect us here at MSFC.


If nothing else it might make this site become one of the only places where you can get BSG mods anymore.

@ cabal

I have heard the same, in that it has to do with drawing players away from BGO.

 

[Dominus_Noctis]

The other thing that you can do is send messages to NBC requesting permission . Doesn't hurt to try, and if a bunch of groups explain their position, could be enough to reinstate.

 

[Terra_Inc]

It's just disgusting of them to sabotage their fans just because they preferred to please the MMO crowd instead of other gamers. I for one will boycott the official stuff and go play the HRM.

 

[Adm_Z]

It's just disgusting of them to sabotage their fans just because they preferred to please the MMO crowd instead of other gamers. I for one will boycott the official stuff and go play the HRM.

Exactly. Like I said at fleetops, why would you ever mess with free advertising??

 

[Starfox1701]

Look guys heres the deal NBC can only claim copyright infrengment if the mod in question includes content from the TV shows or the use of Registared tradmaks. The most commen example of that content is the soundtracks. Based on the international law on the subject audio less then 20 sec long can be used under fair use. They CAN"T claim it for for things like new models even if they are of trade marked ships Like Galactic as long as it is NOT FOR PROFIT. I would wager that the mods in question had music taken directly from the score in it used without permission and thats how they got them. Remeber Sony and Paramount did the same thing a few years back on FF.

 

[Adm_Z]

If it is for music, then that could cause problems for my mod, Maj's mod, and the HRM. I know at this point I use full music compilations.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
I've also heard about tihs a couple of days ago thanks to EO. And even if I think that to take all mods is a way to kill new fans from getting interested for BSG as for bottle-neck players to play BSG Online. Not to mention than most of those mods have better graphics than BSG Online (Diaspora is a great example).

Now as for the music soundtracks, that is something I haven't considered, and NBC might be right because of that... but as far as I know, Diaspora has made their own music files and the mod was still taken offline. So unless I have missed something, then there might be something else going on here, but I hope that is not the case.

 

[Dominus_Noctis]

They can call it for fan based stuff as far as I know due to derivative claims on mods... as long as it has the BSG name it is considered BSG

I've talked to CBS in the past and the music thing is a separate thing from the Star Trek part - they won't pursue Star Trek infringement, just the music component (unless given permission).

 

[Majestic]

I saw this a few days ago on FO like Adm_Z and I do think this is a rather poor excuse for taking the mods down. Some of these mods have been up for years and years and only now they decide to pull them. I say it has nothing to do with copyright material but due to their own ****py game they are trying to get more players for. But the game is ****py and not what a lot of players like (so many are sick of MMO's all the time, that all companies seem to want to do these days).

If hat's what they want to do, as others have already done, they'll loose players and potential players due to the fact of people boycotting their game as I am now also doing. I mean come on it's free advertising for their game and series, including the up and coming Blood and Chrome. They are really hurting themselves here and they really remind me of the days before Halo Wars but they only targeted ground based RTS games not every game under the darn sun. Even Lucus with all his faults to my knowledge has never done this. This is quite sad and won't stop people making mods, just publicly announcing them. It will be harder to find them that's all.

If by the a small chance it is the soundtracks, we should just remove it and that be that. I am sure someone in the community could do a few BSG like sounding tracks for the BSG mods out there. I would rather no sound than no mod.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
Do you know what is really funny? that some months ago, in may, the BSG Online devs asked the people from Diaspora to help them make some of the 3d models. You can check that on Diaspora's website.

 

[Adm_Z]

Indeed, if someone will do one long soundtrack that is akin to Prelude to War, and then something like the Black Market for the main menu, then I would gladly use it instead of the music I currently have.

If what we have to do is just release the mod without it, then you will just have to email the author for music, then I am also ok with that.


Either way, I doubt that they are taking them down because of music. that BSG music is all over the internet. It would take a lifetime to clear it all off, and a lot of mods like diaspora used their own music.

@ Chile You are right, I remember that.

 

[EAS_Intrepid]

This just proves my general opinion that major companies will do everything if it is about the small printed pieces of paper with numbers on it.
Maybe we can participate in a community effort directed to NBC.
Other than that - as an NBSG fan from the start on I can only agree with Maj here.



@Adm_Z: That is, if you ever get to find a piece of music even on par with "Prelude to War"....

 

[Adm_Z]

@Adm_Z: That is, if you ever get to find a piece of music even on par with "Prelude to War"....

True, but we have some reaally talented people here at MSFC. We might be able to find or create something close. Or we could just force everyone to buy the music to play the mod because it wouldn't be the same without it.

 

[thunderfoot]

So NBC is making BSG content for other games be removed from the Web. How typical. How predictable. And how very sad. Some of the people have worked for years to get this stuff exactly correct down to the last detail as a homage to the show. MMO's suck, no way around it. But they are easy to develop and cost nowhere near as much as more traditional console and PC games. But with 'Blood and Chrome' coming out, you'd think the Marketing Dept would want everyone talking about BSG.

 

[Styer_Crisis]

So NBC is making BSG content for other games be removed from the Web. How typical. How predictable. And how very sad. Some of the people have worked for years to get this stuff exactly correct down to the last detail as a homage to the show. MMO's suck, no way around it. But they are easy to develop and cost nowhere near as much as more traditional console and PC games. But with 'Blood and Chrome' coming out, you'd think the Marketing Dept would want everyone talking about BSG.

Aparently, NBC hates Fans and the revenue they provide.....

And seroiusly, reading some of the comments here and on other sites, the only reaction NBC is getting is hate...... literaly, i have not seen one post that says: Sure,its there Trademark, let them do it...... why? beats me........ oh, maybe its because fans don't support you when you make such asinine moves as, say, shutting dwn innocent fans work that was never meant to do anything against the show it was showing homage to...... WOW, what. a. shocker. Really? i mean, what guy bck at NBC said, oh, lets shut these guys down, just because their free mod is better than our ****py game..... that will make them play ours instead....... Just GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR:x


I better stop now........ talk about stepping on artists rights.


Note, to any corperations that want to destroy their fan base, take a lesson from NBC.....