Formula 1 Cracks down on modding community

  • Thread starter Snaeper
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Stiggy
Interesting to note that there were a number of F1 based mods that were not deleted, all of which did not include explicit references to F1 in the title of the mod thread and description - which could very likely mean that the copyright claims on these mods were done through an automated system.
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Indeed; take a look on this screenshot from PRC, which originally reported it (and gets picked up by the press):
mods1.jpg


The Haas and Renault F1 2014 mods, as you mentioned, did not explicitly say F1 in the title. ;)
 
Ok, now I'm confused. I thought it was FOM that was doing all this but now there is FOWC? :confused:
 
Because most of the people in this thread have been talking in terms of US copyright law. United States case law being used as precedent, the term "fair use" being used to describe it, most of the members being American, etc.


US Fair Use laws are also (on paper at least) seemingly the least restrictive of the lot, so while I'm not as aware of EU or UK equivalents I can't think of any context offhand that US case would disallow something but a different country would. Believe me, I know it's not ideal by any means.,
 
Stiggy
The plot thickens: Automobilista has been completely removed from the Steam store, presumably because of issues relating to these copyright claims. Perhaps the generic open-wheel cars and their liveries were deemed too close to the real thing by FOM/FOWC?
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This reminds me of Crave being forced to rename the chassis codes for the Hondas (except for the Stepwgn, oddly) in TXR0. 💡
 
Now that is just getting ridiculous. Might as well sue SMS and PCARS for having the Formula A, Sector 3 for having Formula Raceroom, Gran Turismo for having Formula GT and every single sim racing game that has an F1 mod for the last 10 years. This has the potential to turn the sim racing landscape very very ugly.

I've been getting less and less interested in F1 over the last few years, but this is going to be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Front page news, maybe @Jordan ?
 
tankuroded
Indeed; take a look on this screenshot from PRC, which originally reported it (and gets picked up by the press):
mods1.jpg


The Haas and Renault F1 2014 mods, as you mentioned, did not explicitly say F1 in the title. ;)
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Almost as if you build a open wheel formula esque car in a mod, despite what anyone claims it takes likeness after you can be in the clear, so long as you don't make any reference to Formula One. Hmmm

Also thanks for your updates on the topic as well.

LeGeNd-1
Now that is just getting ridiculous. Might as well sue SMS and PCARS for having the Formula A, Sector 3 for having Formula Raceroom, Gran Turismo for having Formula GT and every single sim racing game that has an F1 mod for the last 10 years. This has the potential to turn the sim racing landscape very very ugly.

I've been getting less and less interested in F1 over the last few years, but this is going to be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Front page news, maybe @Jordan ?
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Exactly what I've been saying.
 
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Don't get all melodramatic, this will have zero impact on the scene as a whole. PD, SMS and Sector 3 went through great lengths to differentiate their 'Formula' series (not just the cars or looks) from the real thing. (Same with race tracks, e.g. SMS made all those changes to Suzuka/Sakkitto just to make sure there are no issues with the license holder, there's no other reason) Unlike Reiza, who decided to mimic F1 as close as possible without actually calling it F1. Big, big difference. Same applies to modders, they should know/keep in mind this stuff is risky, it always has been. And not just with F1 IP, but any IP. E.g. Porsche is also known for enforcing their IP rather strictly, and I'm sure there are several more.
 
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NLxAROSA
Don't get all melodramatic, this will have zero impact on the scene as a whole. PD, SMS and Sector 3 went through great lengths to differentiate their 'Formula' series (not just the cars or looks) from the real thing. (Same with race tracks, e.g. SMS made all those changes to Suzuka/Sakkitto just to make sure there are no issues with the license holder, there's no other reason) Unlike Reiza, who decided to mimic F1 as close as possible without actually calling it F1. Big, big difference.
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SMS's F1 were designed to mimic 2010 F1. PD did the same with the 2003 F1 though in PD's defence it doesn't have the F1 Handling.
 
RESHIRAM5
PD did the same with the 2003 F1 though in PD's defence it doesn't have the F1 Handling.
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The same applies to SMS's Formula series. And from the latter I know the difference is definitely not by accident, but by design. And those are not the only deliberate differences, there's a lot more (not just the cars, but also the tracks).
 
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This whole discussion is about the companies using real F1 cars without a licence. Tracks doesn't need to be discuss especially since F1 don't own the track licences, each track has a different way of handling there licence and it is obvious different than F1.
 
Tracks definitely come into play when a developer decides to put a whole grid of Formula-lookalikes on the same tracks as the F1 series (not when used with road or other cars). It's why starting lines and other items are moved to (slightly or not so slightly) different places on the track or changed/removed, despite having the license for the track itself. Though I agree that the most trouble a dev can get is from the cars. But neither SMS or PD are taking any chances here, as is demonstrated.
 
Those changes to the track have nothing to do with F1 and their licence. Those revolve around the track licence holder themselves.

Also, I don't think any game with a track licence tweaks the track on purpose just to avoid an F1 sue, F1 can't do a thing about F1 tracks, they don't own the licence.
 

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