ox-skull, on 03 November 2012 - 10:51 PM, said:
If I was to make some simple static models, like various types of rocks, and used certain textures of dukes like the mountain texture in my map,
would that be an infringment on the Eduke32 copyright laws?
Or must I use my own textures?
Short answer: Most likely you'll be fine when re-using such textures for a map meant to be played with the original
duke3d.grp under the terms of the
HRP Art license.
Long answer: You seriously need to get the terms together or you'll put yourself in legal danger when publishing anything.
Law: applies internationally and/or locally in your country and may set the rules how
licenses are to be interpreted/applied.
The EDuke32 source/executable's
licenses (
BUILDLIC and
GPL) have nothing to do with the graphics, sounds and music of the Duke Nukem 3D game which are still property of 3D Realms.
Concerning low resolution art: AFAIK 3D Realms has never complained if someone had bundled a user map with an ART file which contained new art together with original or modified Duke3D art. Bundling third party stuff is a different cup of tea however.
For high resolution art derived from original Duke3D art the HRP Art License applies.
My interpretation is that quite some of the HRP's art does not necessarily have to be put under the HRP Art License by its creator, if:
- it is made from scratch and not by modifying orginal textures
-
and it does not resemble Duke-specific art like, for example, Duke himself, the enemies, fictional weapons like the shrinker, or the Biker Bimbos poster.
Therefore, if you distribute art derived from duke3d.grp or the HRP together with your map, add the HRP Art License to the ZIP and you are fine. If you want to use simple stuff, like the mentioned rock textures, for other purposes than user maps / mods, ask the original author for permission.