Hi again @cipcip wrote: ↑08 Jan 2020 23:05 However SCS gave to us the ok to edit SCS content and release as a mod and respect basic rules, that if that content comes from a DLC not to jeopardize that DLC, that's it. oh, and one more rule, the distribution must be free for all players, if a mod is paid and include SCC edited content, that's where problems start.
I've no idea about what exactly does SCS Edit tool. Looking at @Madkine answer, I could suppose it's a tool to generate text files with "code" values ans descriptions needed to make the mod works. Let's suppose its that case (correct me if I'm wrong); the the question is a bit (not too much) more complicated.
First things first, Madkine is wrong in one detail: EVERYTHING that is part of the game installation is copyrighted CONTENT (either of SCS of or other companies if SCS requires also the installation of third party libraries). Not only textures, sounds, 3D models... copyright covers EVERYTHYNG, because the copyright is protecting the game as a whole complete creation. So, you could assume that any file on the installation directory of the game (or in the installation media) is copyrighted unless expressly stated the contrary, .sii files included.
With that base in mind, SCS provide us a tool to help modify content of .sii files in order to make mods. They also provide us some general directives about what we can do with those mods. So, regarding copyright laws, that's an specific and explicit authorization for other people to manipulate part of their copyrighted work. In that case, the permission implies they allow us to copy the content of those configuration files and add it to new mods, also edit those files to adapt to the function we want to change on those mods. All of this while we also follow the rule that any mod resulting on this work can't be marketed. Last but not least, that those .sii should declare LINKS to original files when they are part of DLC, fo force the need of those DLC in order to access that content (thus, it's not allowed to use a mod to circumvent the necessity to purchase a DLC in order to get any kind of SCS original content)
Resuming, while you keep your mods following those rules, you will not be breaking copyright laws because we have an express consent to do some very specific things that basic copyright law wouldn't allow. What we can't still do is the example I told you about to take textures of theirs and modify them. SCS has provided no tools neither instructions with explicit permissions for us to modify their textures. So, modders that include textures in their mods have to create by themselves from scratch (or to acquire them from copyleft sources). That, or to make sure the mod uses SCS textures by the LINK procedure to original already present files; never copying them to the mod content.
Regards