Of Modding, Plagiarism and Nazi Artists

[Gilrandir]

Being about two decades younger than the notorious Axalon vs Tyberius feud I have no intention to further it by taking sides. For once, I don't know the true facts (I think no one does nor ever will) to judge and all the evidence I possess is hearsay. On the contrary, by this post I will try pour some oil on troubled waters (I hope not add oil into the fire). I see no sense in flinging at each other charges of plagiarism and trying to dodge them in matters of modding.
Modding is essentially plagiarism. Modders take a finished and complete product, change it to fit their shifting purposes and designs and present the result as their own creation. To illustrate my point I would like to draw upon Axalon's "Art Metaphor"© which he introduced in his "Hitler as a post-impressionist" post©. (I put here copyright slugs to avoid possible charges of being a plagiarist, thankless fosterling, outlaw, thief of love, usurper of glory, captain foolhardy, slayer of kin and betrayer of kin unrepentant).
Imagine that I bought the original of La Gioconda. I bring it home, take a brush and paints and set to work. I change the lady's color of the hair, add a scorpion tattoo on her wrist, put an ice cream cone into her hand and paint Eiffel tower in the background. Then I call the picture La Gilranconda or La Gioconda - The Gilrandirmod or just La Gioconda 2.0 and claim that I'm the author of this picture. The same with mods. You cannot claim to be the author of what was started by others.