Legalities and Copyright information, please

[Roadmaster259]

PREAMBLE:
For many years I have wanted to author a Canadian rail route. I began this project initially in MSTS, but later abandoned it due to marital breakdown. I have a much more understanding wife now, so I have rekindled the route project in TS2017, having invested over 1500 hours into it so far. At this point, however, I am still reluctant to disclose the route location save to say that it is a CPR route located in British Columbia. Of course, I couldn't start small. The track is completely laid and it comes in at a whopping 406 miles! Thousands of miles of roads and most of the water is also in place, at present. There is much more to do.
Needless to say, I think it only fair and reasonable to realize a monetary return for the several thousand hours that will ultimately go into the finished product. So, it would appear that I will have to pursue the avenue of releasing it as a payware route.

Now, my friends, this is where I need some guidance, if you please? Since I intend to release the route as payware, it obviously changes the picture of legalities and intellectual ownership entirely. Since I am not proficient at creating and painting my own shapes, textures and rolling stock (not as yet, anyway), I need to confirm what I can, and cannot do with respect to the use of said items within the ton of DLC that I have purchased over the years.

QUESTION 1: Short of producing or commissioning the production of my own shapes and textures, am I limited to using only those shapes, texztures and rolling stock that come with the Railworks core program? Can I repaint those core items or am I stuck with what they already look like?

QUESTION 2: It is my understanding that any DLC that I might want to use in my route can be "referenced only" to the original DLC. In other words, the end user must own the DLC that I have referenced in my route. I cannot just copy the shape and texture files from other DLC into my own assets folder. Do I understand this correctly?

QUESTION 3: Who might I contact about obtaining (or purchasing) the rights to use the assets from the Canadian Mountain Passes DLC? I sent an e-mail to RSC/Dovetail Games and they couldn't see their way clear to even respond to my inquiry. Needless to say, I was rather put off by their apparent lack of interest. Yet, the route I am producing is the perfect compliment to the CMP route, and it is consistent with the shapes and textures used therein. I've reached an impasse here and I don't know how to pursue this idea any further.

I would be most grateful if someone would be so kind as to assist me, and/or steer me in the right direction, so I can complete this route for the enjoyment of my fellow rail fans. Ideally, I would like to find a tutor in the area of shape creation and texturing. Failing that, I am even willing to commission a modeller to produce a number of items specific to this route. Alternatively, I would be receptive to the idea of collaborating with another commercial third-party provider on this project.

In any case, I would like to move forward with this project. If you wish to reply to my questions above, please "reply with quote" in this thread. Should you wish to offer your assistance as a tutor, modeller, or potential collaborator, please PM me. Let us see what can be done to make this project a worthwhile reality.

Many thanks,

[buzz456]

PREAMBLE:
For many years I have wanted to author a Canadian rail route. I began this project initially in MSTS, but later abandoned it due to marital breakdown. I have a much more understanding wife now, so I have rekindled the route project in TS2017, having invested over 1500 hours into it so far. At this point, however, I am still reluctant to disclose the route location save to say that it is a CPR route located in British Columbia. Of course, I couldn't start small. The track is completely laid and it comes in at a whopping 406 miles! Thousands of miles of roads and most of the water is also in place, at present. There is much more to do.
Needless to say, I think it only fair and reasonable to realize a monetary return for the several thousand hours that will ultimately go into the finished product. So, it would appear that I will have to pursue the avenue of releasing it as a payware route.

Now, my friends, this is where I need some guidance, if you please? Since I intend to release the route as payware, it obviously changes the picture of legalities and intellectual ownership entirely. Since I am not proficient at creating and painting my own shapes, textures and rolling stock (not as yet, anyway), I need to confirm what I can, and cannot do with respect to the use of said items within the ton of DLC that I have purchased over the years.

Disclaimer I am not a lawyer

QUESTION 1: Short of producing or commissioning the production of my own shapes and textures, am I limited to using only those shapes, texztures and rolling stock that come with the Railworks core program? Can I repaint those core items or am I stuck with what they already look like?

Yes you can re-paint default items however if you do you cannot supply the GeoPcDx file if this is payware.

QUESTION 2: It is my understanding that any DLC that I might want to use in my route can be "referenced only" to the original DLC. In other words, the end user must own the DLC that I have referenced in my route. I cannot just copy the shape and texture files from other DLC into my own assets folder. Do I understand this correctly?

Yes.

QUESTION 3: Who might I contact about obtaining (or purchasing) the rights to use the assets from the Canadian Mountain Passes DLC? I sent an e-mail to RSC/Dovetail Games and they couldn't see their way clear to even respond to my inquiry. Needless to say, I was rather put off by their apparent lack of interest. Yet, the route I am producing is the perfect compliment to the CMP route, and it is consistent with the shapes and textures used therein. I've reached an impasse here and I don't know how to pursue this idea any further.

Jonathan Lewis was the author. I'm sure someone on here can direct you to him however he may have sold his rights with the route.

I would be most grateful if someone would be so kind as to assist me, and/or steer me in the right direction, so I can complete this route for the enjoyment of my fellow rail fans. Ideally, I would like to find a tutor in the area of shape creation and texturing. Failing that, I am even willing to commission a modeller to produce a number of items specific to this route. Alternatively, I would be receptive to the idea of collaborating with another commercial third-party provider on this project.

In any case, I would like to move forward with this project. If you wish to reply to my questions above, please "reply with quote" in this thread. Should you wish to offer your assistance as a tutor, modeller, or potential collaborator, please PM me. Let us see what can be done to make this project a worthwhile reality.

Many thanks,

[Overshoe]

The place to get started with answers is here: http://milepostsimulations.com/index.html

[Roadmaster259]

Thank you for the information, gentlemen. You have most certainly pointed me in the right direction. I am very excited about the potential continuance of this project.