Is it LEGAL or ILLEGAL to Install Content for Garry's Mod Textures off the Internet and NOT Through Valve?

[CaliberPlex]

Introduction

I've been doing a bit of research so I could point this out. This is just for the people who NEVER listen to the... well I don't know... PINNED Discussions, possibly? This is just me looking through some past Guides and Discussions and finding some clear evidence to prove this answer is true: It IS ILLEGAL to install content off the internet instead of through the store. It counts as Pirating.

Here's What I Found

So I started by looking up guides on how to fix missing textures. I looked through some guides so I could find answers. Most I found didn't get any attention or just didn't have any discussions over the topic. The one I found was a very simple guide that all it was was a five step guide with literally three words each. Very simple, easy to follow. When I looked in the comments, there was a discussion shot down by just two people.

The author of the guide has a VAC ban.

The guide "Texture Fix!" is one of those guides that is listed under EVERY SINGLE TAG so it gets attention so I had my reasons to wonder if this ended well... Stefan Stepanov said that the author wasn't allowed to post guides like this on pirating things for games. The author replied that he really wasn't sure about it either. ("Idk." - Author) ThatTF2Fan21 then gave a link explaining what was wrong with the guide. And just after his comment was the author stating that he got VAC banned and tried to make a joke about it.

Honestly the author of the guide, xDARKx, probably has no clue what he was doing and doesn't know he did anything wrong.

The link led to a Discussion posted by Stitch asking if it was Legal to Install CS:S textures off the internet. When I read the comments, I found a FREAKING FLAME WAR GOING ON. There were over 30 comments arguing against one another over if it was legal or not to have pirated textures. Alot of them were very, VERY descriptive and very, Very LARGE Arguments. This is where my evidence comes into play. The Moderator Tito Shivan finally posted the 34th comment that ended the discussion:

Originally posted by Tito Shivan:

"FYI
Distributing in-game assets IS illegal. Said assets belong to the developer and only they can distribute them.
Linking to said content on the forums WILL cause a permanent ban from the discussions.

Piracy discussion isn't allowed either and can also grant a permanent ban. So I'm closing this topic now.

You want the CS textures? Buy the game. No other way around."

Conclusion

Putting it short, Garry's Mod runs Valve Games, but isn't owned by VALVE. Garry's Mod is owned by someone else (Thus the name " Garry's Mod") in which any textures from Valve Games ported from that BOUGHT game to Garry's Mod without the permission of the developers is ILLEGAL and counts as piracy.

I hope this solves the question that alot of people proceed to find unanswered.

Work Cited

Discussions/Guides Cited:

How to Eliminate Most Errors and Missing Textures:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=187406051

Texture Fix!:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=788619228&searchtext=Textures

Is it legal to download CS:S textures?:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/4000/discussions/1/540744475546063223/#c540744934707837575

Users Cited:

Tito Shivan - Steam Community Moderator:
http://steamcommunity.com/id/titoshivan

The other users I will cite, but I'm just citing where I found my information. I'm not giving you this information for you to make fun of because they did something bad or to congratulate because they were bold. Please don't do anything stupid with these next few links:

xDARCKx - Author of "Texture Fix!":
http://steamcommunity.com/id/xDARCKx

Stitch - Posted the Discussion "Is it legal to download CS:S textures?:
http://steamcommunity.com/id/Stitchik

ThatTF2Fan21 - Linked Stitch's Discussion:
http://steamcommunity.com/id/McPro611


Note to Steam Community Moderation/Administration:

Originally posted by GryphonKingBros:

I am aware that the Moderator I quoted in the quote I mentioned did say that discussions over piracy can grant a permanent ban. I do realize this, but I created this as an informative discussion and not one to promote the act of piracy. If I am to be punished for this discussion I accept the concequences and will accept if you wish to delete this discussion; No questions asked.

[Kobuchizawa *Suspended*]

Originally posted by GryphonKingBros:

Introduction

I've been doing a bit of research so I could point this out. This is just for the people who NEVER listen to the... well I don't know... PINNED Discussions, possibly? This is just me looking through some past Guides and Discussions and finding some clear evidence to prove this answer is true: It IS ILLEGAL to install content off the internet instead of through the store. It counts as Pirating.

Here's What I Found

So I started by looking up guides on how to fix missing textures. I looked through some guides so I could find answers. Most I found didn't get any attention or just didn't have any discussions over the topic. The one I found was a very simple guide that all it was was a five step guide with literally three words each. Very simple, easy to follow. When I looked in the comments, there was a discussion shot down by just two people.

The author of the guide has a VAC ban.

The guide "Texture Fix!" is one of those guides that is listed under EVERY SINGLE TAG so it gets attention so I had my reasons to wonder if this ended well... Stefan Stepanov said that the author wasn't allowed to post guides like this on pirating things for games. The author replied that he really wasn't sure about it either. ("Idk." - Author) ThatTF2Fan21 then gave a link explaining what was wrong with the guide. And just after his comment was the author stating that he got VAC banned and tried to make a joke about it.

Honestly the author of the guide, xDARKx, probably has no clue what he was doing and doesn't know he did anything wrong.

The link led to a Discussion posted by Stitch asking if it was Legal to Install CS:S textures off the internet. When I read the comments, I found a FREAKING FLAME WAR GOING ON. There were over 30 comments arguing against one another over if it was legal or not to have pirated textures. Alot of them were very, VERY descriptive and very, Very LARGE Arguments. This is where my evidence comes into play. The Moderator Tito Shivan finally posted the 34th comment that ended the discussion:

Originally posted by Tito Shivan:

"FYI
Distributing in-game assets IS illegal. Said assets belong to the developer and only they can distribute them.
Linking to said content on the forums WILL cause a permanent ban from the discussions.

Piracy discussion isn't allowed either and can also grant a permanent ban. So I'm closing this topic now.

You want the CS textures? Buy the game. No other way around."

Conclusion

Putting it short, Garry's Mod runs Valve Games, but isn't owned by VALVE. Garry's Mod is owned by someone else (Thus the name " Garry's Mod") in which any textures from Valve Games ported from that BOUGHT game to Garry's Mod without the permission of the developers is ILLEGAL and counts as piracy.

I hope this solves the question that alot of people proceed to find unanswered.

Work Cited

Discussions/Guides Cited:

How to Eliminate Most Errors and Missing Textures:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=187406051

Texture Fix!:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=788619228&searchtext=Textures

Is it legal to download CS:S textures?:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/4000/discussions/1/540744475546063223/#c540744934707837575

Users Cited:

Tito Shivan - Steam Community Moderator:
http://steamcommunity.com/id/titoshivan

The other users I will cite, but I'm just citing where I found my information. I'm not giving you this information for you to make fun of because they did something bad or to congratulate because they were bold. Please don't do anything stupid with these next few links:

xDARCKx - Author of "Texture Fix!":
http://steamcommunity.com/id/xDARCKx

Stitch - Posted the Discussion "Is it legal to download CS:S textures?:
http://steamcommunity.com/id/Stitchik

ThatTF2Fan21 - Linked Stitch's Discussion:
http://steamcommunity.com/id/McPro611


Note to Steam Community Moderation/Administration:

Originally posted by GryphonKingBros:

I am aware that the Moderator I quoted in the quote I mentioned did say that discussions over piracy can grant a permanent ban. I do realize this, but I created this as an informative discussion and not one to promote the act of piracy. If I am to be punished for this discussion I accept the concequences and will accept if you wish to delete this discussion; No questions asked.

It cant be that hard
To just buy the game

[CaliberPlex]

To some people, it is. I don't understand either...

[Eleven]

Please mods, pin this.

[❥𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐢]

@_@

[Dexious Emera]

Look at these too.


https://steamcommunity.com/app/4000/discussions/1/624075036453294488/#c624075036463641026


http://steamcommunity.com/app/4000/discussions/1/364039785163097039/#c364039785166285461

[Mechanite]

I mean it seemed like an obvious answer, but at any rate props for doing all that work with sources.

[Sigfig]

Why put so much effort into this just dont do it or do it

[CaliberPlex]

Originally posted by Dexious:

Look at these too.


https://steamcommunity.com/app/4000/discussions/1/624075036453294488/#c624075036463641026


http://steamcommunity.com/app/4000/discussions/1/364039785163097039/#c364039785166285461

More evidence to prove my case :3

[Skinny buggo]

who cares tbh

[Kobuchizawa *Suspended*]

Originally posted by skinny buggo:

who cares tbh

Obviosly you, replying 2 years after to this

[Kat]

:|

[buny]

yes, noob

[CaliberPlex]

Originally posted by smoothiekid203:

yes, noob

This post wasn't itself a question, it was answering the question. I'm already aware that it's illegal, hence why I made the post. And you're 7 years late to answer this lol

[Nattie98]

The Short answer is yes
The Long answer to me is no because no one in there right mind will get on you for grabbing textures from another valve title to mount to Gmod unless there intentionally being overly pedantic to tease you over it. Especially CSS being its one of the more essential games to mount to Gmod for its textures.

And that's because Gmods reliance on those textures means to see user created content you need CSS but that makes Gmod a $20 package doubling the price cause of CSSs reliance. People just want Gmod and for it to work without paying more then they have already for the game and I can understand that.

My suggestion is to wishlist CSS it goes on heavy sale in every major sale because its a 1st party Valve title then youll be paying little for it if the $10 is a bit steep (And I know that its not steep given the game your getting but for only using it for textures like what I do with my copy imo it is given the use case.) if your only use for it is to mount it to Gmod.

[Steven]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.