Table of Contents
Why we have a eula.
I'm writing this because several people are asking why we need a EULA or trying to make fun of it etc without actually asking or knowing the reasons. So I'm going to explain and give a few examples.
Everything in this EULA exists because of some previous incident or multiple incidents. But lets look at the EULA summary.
END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT
You may:
| DISTRIBUTION: | You may distribute the original .PBO files within this download freely, so long as the PBO files are unmodified and the Readme and EULA files are included. |
| Under the following conditions: | |
| ATTRIBUTION: | You must give the original author credit. The content of this archive is the sole intellectual property of RKSL Studios and its Creators. |
| NO COMMERCIAL USE: | This content is provided free of charge solely for entertainment purposes. You may not use this addon for commercial, military or teaching/training purposes. |
| NO DERIVATIVE WORKS: | You shall in no way modify, repackage or reverse engineer any of the archive's content and PBO files included in this download without first receiving prior permission from RKSL Studios. |
| NO VBS USE: | Use of this SOFTWARE may not be used in the VBS/JCOVE product lines or any other simulator without written authorization from the LICENSOR (RKSL Studios) |
| DO NOT UPLOAD TO STEAM WORKSHOP: | You may not upload to Steam Workshop or any other service that reassigns rights over RKSL Studios Intellectual Property to 3rd Parties. |
| FULL END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT: | Common A3 RKSL Studios EULA https://eula.rkslstudios.info/ |
POLICY ON RE-UPLOADS FOR STEAM: Any uploads will be met with a DMCA takedown request.
DISTRIBUTION
Why make a specific clause about distribution when its on Steam? People repeatedly repackage and modify our (community made) work. This causes problems with compatibility and troubleshooting. This is as much about protecting my time and rep as it is about the addons.
ATTRIBUTION
This exists because of people claiming credit for my work. You may not pay for it. but its not “Free”, its free to use. But not own. Its all licensed to you to use. Its about asserting my moral rights to be acknowledged as the creator and owner of my work. This clause is arguable more for other legal entities to acknowledge during DMCA or Article 14 take down requests. its all to ensure my protection and smooth legal processes.
Why do I feel its necessary? Because more than 4-5 times a month, sometimes a week I deal with someone claiming my work on some platform. I've been doing this 20+ years across a dozen or so games. I have a lot of work out there in use. This legal “jargon” saves my time.
NO COMMERCIAL USE
Just like the VBS/No Training clauses this pops up but typically in different ways. Monetised media, youtube shorts, news show recreations (mostly in Non-EU or US nations) On at least two occasions defence companies using video of in game action in trade show videos and online PR media.
And since I also make part of my living doing commercial 3D work for TV, media and Corporations I use the RKSL stuff as a shop window of sort for my own portfolio and commercial offerings to these same clients. It pays for me to make the “no commercial exploitation” part very clear.
NO DERIVATIVE WORKS
Sounds like a dick move yeah? Well no, not really. I have spent months trying to track down a well documented problem (screenshots + videos) only to find that it was caused by a file someone had modified but kept the same names etc. I wasted a load of time and got attacked for it. Yet it was not my fault.
NO VBS (or training use)
Example one; About 16-17 or so years ago i was working for BISIM. Teaching militaries how to use the VBS2 tools. I walked into a training session for the Bundeswehr. And guess who's addons are being used along with the BWMOD. Something expressly forbidden by BIS and BISIM EULAs.
The coordinator's response: “Well there is nothing in their licenses that stop us”. Hence the need for that clause.
Example two; A private training company was using some of our models to teach people about 3D modelling and game design without a licence. (I actually went on the course and discovered it). They claimed fair-use and it got laughed out of court. (They also had to refund me for the course fees)
Example three: A university lecturer (I have an NDA as part of the settlement) who was passing out some of my models to his class. His students were selling them online.
DO NOT UPLOAD TO STEAM WORKSHOP
This exists because of version mismatch issues and people putting old versions in their own mod packs.
Again, this causes support problems for me and takes time away from making and doing stuff i enjoy. And it damages my rep in the eyes of impatient entitled people that don't and won't take the time to understand.
It happens so often that I still have to do a purge via the Workshop crawler 1 or 2 times a month and still find ~30 reuploads on average.
Conclusion
So yeah, some people say that EULAs on game mods are pointless or unenforceable. But they sadly are necessary.
Everything is there for a reason. Everything is there due to repeated and repeating problems. Everything is there to help me spend less time fighting for ownership of my IP etc.
And its sadly here to stay.
I would LOVE a return to the Arm/OFP community of 20 years ago when everyone was friends. Everyone helped each other and shared models and knowledge freely. Sadly, that world does not exist anymore.
So now we all have EULAs.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Rock
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