Removal of Mod downloads

[gearwhine]

Could someone explain to me on AC download section why Le Mans 1967 with a mild update got removed from the downloads section and maybe also explain why a 7 year old mod Ile of Man can be updated by someone else and actually have an editorial feature to add to the download? Original author recognition was clarified for both mods by the way.

 

[Neilski]

From what I can see, the mod was uploaded with a declaration that the uploader wasn't the creator.

This appears to have fallen foul of our rule: "Do not hotlink, post, attach, or upload other peoples content unless you have permission to do so."

 

[gearwhine]

He only posted it because i asked him to. As a racing club member using AC it can be a little tiresome having to use old versions of tracks when we have much more advanced versions available in the wider world. All i have tried to do is improve the expierience for everyone involved including staff organisers who are fighting with dwindeling grid numbers. His post was honest and got pulled for it including informing the original modder he would pull it if he was unhappy. It was basically only a new skin which by the way are listed all over the download section. I see many mods that get past the inspection system that are blatent copyright infringments. The amount of mods for AC has dwindled down to a trickle over the last year or so yet there are plenty of new mods still published elseware. I wonder why? There appears to not be a level playing field for modders with very little consistancy on the issue. Frankly, as the sim evolves we on Overtake can only use mostly old replaced mods with cartoon trees etc. Not good as we go forward in my opinion. Surely it needs to change.

 

[Neilski]

Yeah I feel your pain. However, many mods that aren't here on OT/RD are not here because they aren't legit (e.g. rips from other games). As I understand it, that's the reason why we have for a long time had the approach that club races should only use content from our own download pool.
@Bram Hengeveld will remember the full history of this approach of course.

Meanwhile, there isn't really an inspection system per se; content gets uploaded and is generally immediately available for download unless it triggers something to bump it into the moderation queue. After that, it's available until deleted, which could happen when a moderator spots an issue with it, or when a member reports a problem and then a moderator takes a closer look, or simply because the author requests deletion.

 

[gearwhine]

Yes, i do get it and fully understand the problem. I think the moderators have become more zealous with there aproach over time.
An example that i could never understand was an outstanding scratch built rare car that no one had even known about never mind modded. A certain De Tomaso P40. It got pulled from the section in hours for maybe an honest mention of how he had to use a little amount of Kunos in the mod although when i inspected it there was nothing i could find.
Two points, if he had not been honest i think it would still be available plus ALL mods for AC must contain some original data or they simply would not work. Result, many members are missing out on some great legit mods i feel.

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

We never pull legit mods that are compliant with our terms of service. If that car was pulled for the use of Kunos materials which is classed as sharing game assets in our TOS which isn't allowed.

There is no reason why people have to miss out on "legit" mods. We never reject or will reject legit mods but I have the feeling we have a different understanding about the word legit. Our legit means the mod doesn't conflict in ANY way with our Terms of Service.

Regarding the Racing Club, of course they have to adhere to the same ToS as all of our other users. We can't run content that is deemed illegal. There should be plenty of content (ten thousands of mods) that still can be used. Content enough.