The modders may not profit, but if WOTC were to lose profits as a result of free content elswhere, they would have every right to issue a cease and desist.
Not really. In the US, the Supreme Court affirmed the First Sale Doctrine applies to software. You don't own the right to that software. As in, you can't resell it as BG3 and steal profits from Larian and Wizards. But, you do own your own individual copy. What you do to your own copy of the game is none of their business. (Almost) zero. (Obvious caveats, such as not doing illegal stuff such as using it to hack their servers, etc.) Further you have every right to form relationships with others. This means it's your right to share the modifications you made to your game with other like-minded people. AFAIK, that's the latest state of things with regards to rights and software. There's been no big case to push ownership rights of individual copies back towards companies.
thanks for the insight - as someone who isnt familiar with the legal details of video game sales and post sale modding, its much appreciated and largely allays the fears i initially had. admittingly, my concerns were primarily stemming from wotc's history of issues with contracted third-parties taking liberties with the IP or outside companies creating content too closely related to the IPs (mtg v hex), so heres to hoping there are no such concerns here related to software rights.
Last edited by nation; 25/10/2002:45 PM. Reason: sp
