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MOD SELLING?

TecnojiGamer 10/11/21 1:57 pm
3.8k
10/18/2021 12:41 pm
Is selling mods illegal? well i am selling one mod but i am also giving FREE VERSION TO PLAY WHERE AS A PAID VERSION FOR A SUPPORT FOR MYSELF

Is it okay to do so as Minecrafts EULA???

pls help
Posted by
TecnojiGamer
Level 4 : Apprentice Herobrine
126

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39

Pleasenotme
10/18/2021 2:30 am
Level 59 : Grandmaster Nerd
"Any Mods you create for the Game from scratch belong to you (including pre-run Mods and in-memory Mods) and you can do whatever you want with them, as long as you don't sell them for money / try to make money from them"

I'm not a legal expert or anything, so I can't tell if this is technically illegal, but it's explicitly stated not to sell them for money or try to make money for them, so as far as I understand selling them probably breaks the EULA, and so I doubt PMC would support this.
1
GGEZ111Game
10/17/2021 11:36 pm
Level 1 : New Miner
I think that you should upload in Minecraft marketplace it will be not also illegal
1
Theotmt
10/17/2021 11:13 pm
He/Him • Level 37 : Artisan Architect Fish
Illegal on terms of EULA, mods can NOT be sold for profit.

Things that take a looong time to create, like maps or skins however, can be sold for a minimal profit.
1
TimeWarpDrive
10/18/2021 12:25 am
Level 53 : Grandmaster Architect
Skins don't take a long time to create... and i'd argue that some mods definitely take a long time to create.

And why would the eula allow you to sells maps/skins, but not mods? That doesn't make sense.
2
Toma400
10/18/2021 12:32 pm
Level 23 : Expert Modder
history
In this case, I fully agree. I'd say only super simple mods are quick to make, especially with software like MCreator, and most of other mods take longer than doing skin.

I doubt that EULA allow selling maps/skins, it just doesn't state about that behaviour being illegal.
1
star_weaver
10/17/2021 11:22 pm
She/Her • Level 27 : Expert Princess Button Pusher
wait mods dont take a long time to create?
2
Theotmt
10/17/2021 11:43 pm
He/Him • Level 37 : Artisan Architect Fish
not really if you have a development team
1
Toma400
10/18/2021 12:36 pm
Level 23 : Expert Modder
You don't really know how it is to make mod, don't you? Even with development team, it usually takes a lot of time (and still can be like 1-2 years to develop mod being huge enough).

Also, development team still not need to be paid, it is not like people are doing that for money. All modders should to it from passion, this is the core of modding. As a member of one of modding teams, I know that if we start earning something, it will be just by Patreon money split up. But Patreon will not give us money for downloading mods, but to support us to not end with modding (because, well, people can start looking for job - voluntary payments are helpful in that case).
1
TimeWarpDrive
10/18/2021 12:26 am
Level 53 : Grandmaster Architect
1. If you've got a dev team, then you've got to pay them; So i think thats a +1 for being able to sell the mod'

2. The same could be said for maps
2
Theotmt
10/18/2021 2:46 am
He/Him • Level 37 : Artisan Architect Fish
well, guess that's right :/
1
star_weaver
10/17/2021 11:46 pm
She/Her • Level 27 : Expert Princess Button Pusher
same can be said for maps
1
anonpmc3750024
10/17/2021 8:32 pm
Level 18 : Journeyman Miner
[deleted]
2
Toma400
10/17/2021 7:07 pm
Level 23 : Expert Modder
history
It is illegal, look at: https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/eula ("Ownership of our game and other things" section). Please don't ask people for such things via surveys, since it is evident people will vote how they think, not how it is in EULA - yet it is more official and it's needed to just make small research.

As stated, it is illegal to sell it in any way, even offering free version. You are totally free to create Patreon/PayPal, so people can support you for Discord roles, earlier previews, but not for selling the mod itself.
1
Toma400
10/17/2021 7:09 pm
Level 23 : Expert Modder
history
Also, legal things aside, it is against modding culture, since modding is meant to be "from player to players" and making it requiring payment is just making fricking DLC from mod (which is only developers' property to do so). I'm pretty sure all modders look down on such behaviour and it will cost you bad fame, which I do not recommend.
1
TimeWarpDrive
10/18/2021 12:30 am
Level 53 : Grandmaster Architect
Why should it be the devs property to make dlc? that just seems like gatekeeping and prevents people from actually make expansive mobs in a short time extent.
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Toma400
10/18/2021 12:29 pm
Level 23 : Expert Modder
DLC is usually paid content, and by definition made by developers (this is differentia specifica between DLC and mods). These two are different things, and DLC being restricted to devs doesn't mean not allowing mods to be created, you misunderstood me.

Bedrock Marketplace is kinda specific condition, because it's mods, but sold with approval - but in terms of most games, mods are either seen as free from definition, or them being paid is forbidden by EULA (as with Minecraft Java).
1
Draakie
10/11/2021 2:41 pm
Level 7 : Apprentice Ranger
I dont see why it would be illegal. many artists sell actual texurepacks. best example is the lego texturepack
1
Toma400
10/17/2021 7:21 pm
Level 23 : Expert Modder
It depends on how much it interacts with the game. Skins, for example, are purely creation of an artist and can be seen as such without Minecraft. Mods, in the other hand, relies on Minecraft code, which is Mojang intellectual property. Therefore anything that is dependent on it or changes it, is considered differently.
1
TimeWarpDrive
10/18/2021 12:32 am
Level 53 : Grandmaster Architect
"Mods, in the other hand, relies on Minecraft code" so do skins.. for them to functional in any capasity, they have to be combined with "da sacred minecraft code"
1
Toma400
10/18/2021 12:30 pm
Level 23 : Expert Modder
There's difference: mods are actually using code within themselves - skins rely on code only by them not making sense without Minecraft. But they do not import any Minecraft packages, classes or other elements, as mods do.
1
TecnojiGamer
10/11/2021 2:49 pm
Level 4 : Apprentice Herobrine
i saw that they would ban me from game if i do so : /
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TecnojiGamer
10/11/2021 2:49 pm
Level 4 : Apprentice Herobrine
yeah bro i think its okay well do you have any idea what Minecraft can do to me? Like FINE OR SMT Or legal action court or police?
1
Draakie
10/11/2021 3:18 pm
Level 7 : Apprentice Ranger
i think that a fine is the most that they can do to you. you have not misbehaved in game and by just your social media and the site that you use to sell the mod they cant delete your mc account. Though i think its true what garlic said down below
1
gentra
10/11/2021 4:48 pm
Level 15 : Journeyman Modder
anyway nobody would buy it
1
Papa Enny
10/11/2021 2:18 pm
Level 62 : High Grandmaster Answer Dwarf
1
TecnojiGamer
10/11/2021 2:33 pm
Level 4 : Apprentice Herobrine
  1. Okay so far I was selling a paid mod (Custom Hearts) on my Patreon as Minecraft's EULA selling mod is illegal but the didn't mentioned that Giving a Free Version And Paid version is okay. My question is like as Planets Minecraft's Rule we can Give a Free and Paid version also PMC has to follow EULA of minecraft so should i continue what I am doing or I shouldn't do this. I am confused because Minecraft EULA didn't said a premium and free mod is okay whereas PMC rules saying its okay, as PMC has to follow minecraft EULA. You are the right person to clear my doubt. I would appreciate it if you...
    https://www.planetminecraft.com/mod/custom-hearts/
1
Papa Enny
10/11/2021 2:36 pm
Level 62 : High Grandmaster Answer Dwarf
I don't think it's legal, it's like selling access and better hope for the reaction of mods
1
TecnojiGamer
10/11/2021 2:37 pm
Level 4 : Apprentice Herobrine
okay bro D: can you tell what they can excalty do to me any case?
1
Papa Enny
10/11/2021 3:51 pm
Level 62 : High Grandmaster Answer Dwarf
I will just ping one and we will wait for their response


dreamCritting could you please appear, we need some help
1
TecnojiGamer
10/11/2021 2:31 pm
Level 4 : Apprentice Herobrine
bro what should i do and what would Minecraft do if i break their EULA
1
Papa Enny
10/11/2021 2:33 pm
Level 62 : High Grandmaster Answer Dwarf
Avoid selling them and make the patreon optional(like support me)
2
TecnojiGamer
10/11/2021 2:34 pm
Level 4 : Apprentice Herobrine
check the msg i am very tensed tho D:
1
garlicbreathinator
10/11/2021 2:07 pm
Level 33 : Artisan Loremaster owo
history
A mod itself is not part of Minecraft and does not use any Minecraft code in any way, so you can do whatever you want with it.



Treat the mod as if it were an independent program. If it contains copyrighted Minecraft assets (like vanilla textures or sounds) that would be illegal. If it tells the game to play its own copies of those sounds or use its own copies of those textures, that is legal (like a music player playing your library of songs).

The one exception to this is server mods or plugins that have some kind of pay to win system. If money can give a player an in-game advantage, the server is breaking the EULA. These mods are not illegal to make or to sell, but are illegal to use on a server and thus should not be made.

Edit: There is a line in the EULA saying you are not allowed to sell or make money from mods. However, doing so is not actually illegal as long as you follow the rules mentioned above. Minecraft could revoke your license if you do sell mods, but this is rather unlikely.

One last thing: PMC and some other sites have rules against selling content through them. If you sell your mod alongside a free lite or sample version, that would not be allowed on this site. You are allowed to solicit donations on your mod page though.
1
Toma400
10/17/2021 7:28 pm
Level 23 : Expert Modder
history
Mod does use Minecraft code. All elements that are not in .jsons import Java code from Minecraft (you can see such as "import net.minecraft.item.BlockItem; " part of code). So your opinion here is invalid strongly.

The only things that are "yours" are: assets (textures/music/models) and idea you came up with (including authorship of mod). If mod would not use Minecraft code, it would not be a mod. Also, mod is not separate software, since it is not possible to run it without game and API (Forge/Fabric). It is basically a plug-in, this is term explaining roots of modding the best.

And Minecraft EULA directly says that selling mods is illegal. Therefore no excuse makes it legal by any means.
1
garlicbreathinator
10/17/2021 8:11 pm
Level 33 : Artisan Loremaster owo
history
Mods INTERACT with the code, they do not CONTAIN it. This is why mods of copyrighted works are not taken down for copyright infringement by the owner of the original program. Saying you can not sell a mod because it references minecraft code is, essentially, the same as "you can not sell a photo editor because it references a photo file and you don't own that photo".

Your list of "things you own as a mod creator" is partially correct. You own the assets and the IP, but you also own the code that can be run alongside a (non included) copy of Minecraft and interact with it to implement that idea using those assets. The one thing you do not own is the modded version of the game loaded into a computer's memory when the modloader integrates your mod into the vanilla game.

Again, a mod IS its own separate piece of software (legally speaking) because it does not come with any non-mod code. What it CAN BE USED FOR is separate from what it IS. This next argument about not being able to sell it because it can not run on its own is equivalent to saying you can not sell a digital image file because it can not be viewed on its own and instead needs a photo viewing application to open it.

The EULA does not say that selling a mod is ILLEGAL, it says that it is AGAINST THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT, which is very different. First, this only applies to people who have agreed to the contract. I will assume the contract is valid and legally binding (which it may not be), and that you have agreed to it (which you have implicitly by purchasing the game). Breaking this clause means that Mojang is allowed to terminate the contract, which allows them to revoke your license to play the game (delete your account).

This is a much bigger hassle than it's worth for them, and if they mess up and delete an account wrongly they could get sued for it. This does not mean that selling mods is ethical, just that it is not illegal to do so.
2
Toma400
10/18/2021 12:41 pm
Level 23 : Expert Modder
history
Dude, open up any mod and try finding out how many code is inside the code. You need to extend Minecraft code, such as Block, ItemEntity and Entity classes, basically using them as your background. It is code that is fully reliable on Minecraft one (and also API one, in most cases).

Read EULA again and try to make it without your own bias, because it clearly states that selling mods is forbidden. It doesn't even say anything about the code within EULA mod definition.

I can agree that it is against terms of the contract, in this part I could be more precise indeed. Although breaking EULA is something any modder should care about, since it will not leave his reputation without stain. Modding community look down on such behaviour and it is right thing to do.
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TecnojiGamer
10/11/2021 2:29 pm
Level 4 : Apprentice Herobrine
also PMC has a rule to give a FREE and PREMIUM version check in rules
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TecnojiGamer
10/11/2021 2:28 pm
Level 4 : Apprentice Herobrine
well can you tell what action Minecraft would take if i do so?
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TecnojiGamer
10/11/2021 2:26 pm
Level 4 : Apprentice Herobrine
okay you genius i wanna chat in DMS may i?
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