Tileset Ownership Question

[bufar]

Recently, I made a map using a tileset. I credited the maker of the tileset and linked to it. However, the owner was somewhat disappointed that I did not ask permission to use his tileset. This brings up a good question; Who owns published tilesets, the community or the publisher? Now legally speaking Metanet is the owner of anything and everything in n, including all of your maps. By that logic, I should be able to take any map, in part or in whole, and submit it. However, this would get me banned for plagiarizing maps. This makes it appear that using other users' tilesets is a form of plagiarism. But most people don't mind so long as you credit them or link to the tileset (or both). Tilesets are a gray area, unless I'm missing something here.
Discuss.

[Condog]

As long as you give credit where it is due, it is okay to use a tileset. That's what they are there for, to help others who are not as talented at creating asthetically pleasing tilesets.

Maps are different, as they are completed. However, if you get permission, you should be able to use a tileset of a completed map.

So, permission is not needed for tilesets. For tiles of completed maps, permission is needed.

[sheganican]

...Tilesets are a gray area...
Discuss.

haha its a pun :D

i think tilesets *belong* to the publishers, but, as Condog said, the sole reason that tilesets were invented were so that others can use them. i think if an author wants other mappers to not use the tiles, then they should make it clear by stating it in the description. if the other mapper ignores this or doesnt see it, i think he should be required to apologize and delist it if the tileset maker requests, but i think most tileset makers wouldn't go to that extent.

[George]

I believe most authors would quite happily let another use their tile sets. It shouldn't really be a problem unless due credit is not given.

[BNW]

One word.

Ignorance.

[a happy song]

I'd rather others didn't use my tilesets unless I've given permission, regardless of whether credit is given or not.

[SkyPanda]

I think it would be polite to delist the map if the author doesn't wish you to use their tiles. :/

[Condog]

I think it would be polite to delist the map if the author doesn't wish you to use their tiles. :/

Actually, the author said "I didn't see you ask, but whatever i don't care," so it looks like it's okay to keep the map.

[Evil_Sire]

Haha, I guessed it was Gods_Reaper before I even searched on NUMA. How can he go "I didn't see you ask" when he ripped off my style, when he didn't ask.

A case of hypocrisy.

[jackass]

Evil - I dont think you can rip off a style ... its more like making a good map using a style ... you should be hounourd if people use your style because thats a good thing? right?

Also I think you should be aloud to use tiles as long as you credit .... but then again it might be different if it was a tileart ... cos i often see tilearts made into maps ... even if the authors ok with it ... but you should have to ask to use tileart because it was made for good looks not as a playable tileset

[Condog]

How can he go "I didn't see you ask" when he ripped off my style, when he didn't ask.

Hey dude, anyone can make sub-par maps if they want. You don't own mediocrity.

[Evil_Sire]

How can he go "I didn't see you ask" when he ripped off my style, when he didn't ask.

Hey dude, anyone can make sub-par maps if they want. You don't own mediocrity.

You aren't funny.

Infact I highly doubt you've actually played one of my good maps, so instead of being a wanker, tell me how to improve.

[Izzy]

We're going to run out of tile combinations eventually.

In a long time.

[LittleViking]

We're going to run out of tile combinations eventually.

In a long time.

Probably not. I know most of the possible tilesets are just random noise, but there are somewhere in the order of 10^96 tilesets that can be made in N. If all 100 billion galaxies in the universe had 100 billion stars in them, and each star had a planet with 10 billion intelligent beings working as fast as they possibly could to put out a trillion new tilesets a second, it would still take 300 million trillion trillion trillion years to use up all the tilesets. The universe as we know it will probably go through some catastrophic changes long before all the N tilesets are made.

[Riobe]

Yeah, and we'll all be dead by then. Some global-warming thing, I watched a film on it where everything froze over and New York got flooded cos the sea swept in on it.

Aaah, funny stuff.

Do you actually know that that's the end of the world?

I will allow anyone to use any tileset of mine as long as they ask, or in the description, it says UAC, or something else like that. Of course, I'd still like a link to the tileset though, and credit.

[bufar]

Well, I'm glad you all confirmed what I previously thought (and that someone caught the pun). On a somewhat related note, I'd appreciate it if the insults were kept to a minimum.

[George]

How can he go "I didn't see you ask" when he ripped off my style, when he didn't ask.

Hey dude, anyone can make sub-par maps if they want. You don't own mediocrity.

You aren't funny.

Infact I highly doubt you've actually played one of my good maps, so instead of being a wanker, tell me how to improve.

Are you actually seeking to improve, or are you merely insulting him?

[29403]

We're going to run out of tile combinations eventually.

In a long time.

Probably not. I know most of the possible tilesets are just random noise, but there are somewhere in the order of 10^96 tilesets that can be made in N. If all 100 billion galaxies in the universe had 100 billion stars in them, and each star had a planet with 10 billion intelligent beings working as fast as they possibly could to put out a trillion new tilesets a second, it would still take 300 million trillion trillion trillion years to use up all the tilesets. The universe as we know it will probably go through some catastrophic changes long before all the N tilesets are made.

Just remember that some of these tile combinations are terrible ;)

[fingersonthefrets]

How can he go "I didn't see you ask" when he ripped off my style, when he didn't ask.

Hey dude, anyone can make sub-par maps if they want. You don't own mediocrity.

You aren't funny.

Infact I highly doubt you've actually played one of my good maps, so instead of being a wanker, tell me how to improve.

haha really? i laughed.

[Nexx]

I'd rather others didn't use my tilesets unless I've given permission, regardless of whether credit is given or not.

I hate that attitude. Why are people like that? If you simply want to keep track of who you're inspiring or what's been done with your tiles, say that. But if you actually mean that you prefer asking permission over taking and crediting (which I assume you do), I can only think of one reason why that would be: so you have the option of denying the person the use of your tiles. But why would you want that? You're afraid they'll make a bad map out of them, and that people will link that bad map to you in their minds despite any attempts to distance yourself from it?

I just don't get it.

[Condog]

I'd rather others didn't use my tilesets unless I've given permission, regardless of whether credit is given or not.

I hate that attitude. Why are people like that? If you simply want to keep track of who you're inspiring or what's been done with your tiles, say that. But if you actually mean that you prefer asking permission over taking and crediting (which I assume you do), I can only think of one reason why that would be: so you have the option of denying the person the use of your tiles. But why would you want that? You're afraid they'll make a bad map out of them, and that people will link that bad map to you in their minds despite any attempts to distance yourself from it?

I just don't get it.

I think he's talking about tilesets from completed maps.

[a happy song]

I'd rather others didn't use my tilesets unless I've given permission, regardless of whether credit is given or not.

I hate that attitude. Why are people like that? If you simply want to keep track of who you're inspiring or what's been done with your tiles, say that. But if you actually mean that you prefer asking permission over taking and crediting (which I assume you do), I can only think of one reason why that would be: so you have the option of denying the person the use of your tiles. But why would you want that? You're afraid they'll make a bad map out of them, and that people will link that bad map to you in their minds despite any attempts to distance yourself from it?

I just don't get it.

I like to keep the things I create separate, that's all. I've nothing against people running with one of my ideas, or taking direct inspiration.

And I'm talking about any map that I haven't given direct permission to use.

There's no need for the hate, dude.

[Nexx]

And I'm talking about any map that I haven't given direct permission to use.

Of course, of course.

I like to keep the things I create separate, that's all. I've nothing against people running with one of my ideas, or taking direct inspiration.

I don't know what you're trying to say here. So you wouldn't deny anyone permission, you just want to be able to keep tabs? Because I responded to that case already. But I'll assume you mean something else, in which case my response is: I don't know what you mean.

There's no need for the hate, dude.

None intended. Well, not really. I was hating against a possibility.

[a happy song]

I like to keep the things I create separate, that's all. I've nothing against people running with one of my ideas, or taking direct inspiration.

I don't know what you're trying to say here. So you wouldn't deny anyone permission, you just want to be able to keep tabs? Because I responded to that case already. But I'll assume you mean something else, in which case my response is: I don't know what you mean.

I'll elaborate:

Unless I've given direct explicit permission, then I'd rather my tiles were not used by others.

If an author were to message me and ask to use my tiles, chances are I'd ask them not to. Take direct inspiration or lift aspects if you have to (the whole tree thing is getting a little tired, though), but I'd like to keep my whole tilesets separate. It might seem a little precious (and perhaps it is), but I find such obvious repetitions boring.

If an author is having trouble with tilesets and I'd rather they ask for advice, I'm always happy to help there. If an author is just heavily inspired by the look, then I'd rather they put their own stamp on the entire design.

[乳头的早餐谷物]

I'd rather others didn't use my tilesets unless I've given permission, regardless of whether credit is given or not.

I hate that attitude. Why are people like that? If you simply want to keep track of who you're inspiring or what's been done with your tiles, say that. But if you actually mean that you prefer asking permission over taking and crediting (which I assume you do), I can only think of one reason why that would be: so you have the option of denying the person the use of your tiles. But why would you want that? You're afraid they'll make a bad map out of them, and that people will link that bad map to you in their minds despite any attempts to distance yourself from it?

I just don't get it.

Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean you have been given carte blanche to do whatever you want with it. It's not plagiarism, it's not the end of the world, but it is common courtesy.

Personally, I'd be chuffed to see one of my tilesets on NUMA (even if I hadn't explicitly said anyone can do whatever they want with my maps). But, it's perfectly reasonable for an author to expect to be asked first. It's not about denying use of your tiles, it's about politeness and respect for intellectual property (here I find myself surprised to be supporting intellectual property rights, but then again we're not talking about legislation, just etiquette).

I now provide some suggestions.
For tileset creators: if you want to, give permission to everyone ahead of time when you post a tileset.
For would-be editors: if the creator has not already given permission, just ask. It certainly cannot hurt.