copyright headache

[ailmanki]

the copyright question makes me headache since long,
for example mlb_egypt, I fixed that map so that we could play it without peopel using the backdoor.
idk if anyone knows what I mean..
so:
in that map are 3 big doors, which get destroyed at same time, this make it possible for the attacking team to win the map in a way that deffenders cannot even reach the attacker.. so I changed the bsp with a hexeditor, so that the gates had different names, so that 2 gates got destroyed a bit later in the game.

or for example, the etpromapscripts,
again mlb maps, they all got a nasty roof where you can walk on, well that is no prob, but in mlb_daybreak it causes a bug.. well that is fixed by many people I guess, in either a mapscript in the pk3 or as etpro mapscript in a folder..


there are many ways to alter a map.. I allready used lots of em..
now I got the feeling if a mapper really doesnt want to have he's map modified.. then I feel bad.. but what about such bugs?
or even complete buggy maps, which cant be played .. and the mapper got borred of et - can't be contacted ..

I would like to get an advice, so that I either stop fixing maps.. or that I continue like I did,
or to waht degree Im 'allowed' to alter maps..

[kamikazee]

As you said, fixing a map with permission from the author is not a problem and should always be your first choice.

The problem with other options is that the author may have it's own view on the issue. ETPro-mapscripts hosted on the server are mostly not a problem if it's only for fixing bugs like you say, spawning func_fakebrushes and the like. Changing the gameplay will be slightly worse, but it may be ok as long as you clearly state somewhere that it is a custom script.

Problems start when you start packaging or spreading your mods. I know Mortis has successfully made numerous ETPro scripts, but other scripters have received a lot of complaints as soon as the gameplay was touched.
Stuffing it into a pk3 is even less of an option seeing how clients will download the script. As soon as they play it off-line, your script will affect the map and they will think the map has bugs whilst it could have been your script.
The worst you can do is to release your new script together with the map file in one single pk3. That would result in mass confusion when map hosting sites pick it up.