Denied The Use Of a Mod for my Mod

[TomSelleck'sMustache]

So recently, I've been trying to make a mod for fun using an extended map mod for RTW Remastered. My mod was simple, just adding back vanilla factions where they belong. Recently, the creator of the mod insulted me in his discord by saying I should just give up and quit. When I got upset at him for this insult, he said he wouldn't allow me to use his mod anymore and would use the EULA to get my mod taken down if I even uploaded it.

What I want to know is, can he actually take my mod down with the EULA? Can I still make my mod and just say screw him and upload it anyway?

[Ludens]

What I want to know is, can he actually take my mod down with the EULA? Can I still make my mod and just say screw him and upload it anyway?

Hello Tom Selleck's Mustache, welcome to the .Org ~:wave:

To answer your question (and with the caveat that I am not a lawyer): I am afraid he is right. Modifications do count as intellectual property (IP), so you are not allowed to distribute them without permission of the IP owner. This applies even if the modification is based on someone else's IP (in this case: Rome: Total War), and whether or not that person has given permission. There are exceptions to this (if the mod was explicitly released as public domain, or under certain Creative Commons licenses), but you have to check if these apply.

You can, however, modify his work for private use: that's not an IP violation as far as I know. You just cannot release that to others (and uploading it would count as a release).

I am sorry to have to be bearer of bad news.

[TomSelleck'sMustache]

It's all good. I just wanted to be certain. I just want to clarify that he released this map as a modding resource. My mod would only require that his mod also be installed and in use when my mod is running, a dependency/child. I have however found a different map that I could utilize for my mod made by a different creator that is a public modding resource.

But essentially if I just take his map and modify it by adding/removing from it, I can reupload his map for public use and/or use it in my mod?

[Ludens]

But essentially if I just take his map and modify it by adding/removing from it, I can reupload his map for public use and/or use it in my mod?

I don't think you can release it like that. It's based on his work (his IP), so he gets a say into whether you can release it. And he explicitly said no. I strongly recommend you to use the other creator's map (or keep this as private-only project).