Replicating or remaking another game's map in CS:GO, any legal trouble?

[lutze BRA]

Hi, directly to the point: would there be any legal problems I should worry about if I wanted to make a replica or remake another game's map in CS:GO and publish it in the Steam Workshop?
Supposing the map fits CS:GO meta or whatever, would there be a problem, legally speaking, for Valve or me, to use it in competitive CS? Do you guys know anything or know of somebody in Valve to contact?

Thanks!



Sorry if england not best.

[RoboitoAM]

Nope, go crazy. You should see all the Mario themed items for Valve's games on the workshop.

[lutze BRA]

Hey RoboitoAM, thanks for the reply!
Well, that crossed my mind, but aren't those just themed maps?
Would a replica have copyright issues? Well, mine isn't an exact replica though. I think it is a replica in its sizes and proportions (well almost, 95%), scaled down to better fit CS:GO's world, but will not have the same theme as the original map as it wont fit CS:GO's modern story.
So, any problems with that? Specifically, if the map replica/remake is good enough, would it be eligible to be played in competitive CS despite being a replica/remake of another game's map? Would I have to make adaptions for that to happen?

It is my favorite map, I would really love to see this map being played in competitive CS, if it fits the game style and meta. Hopefully its good enough, but being able to play it again, and in Counter Strike, is really rewarding anyways =)

Thanks once again.

[アゼム]

I've seen so many map remakes in CS over the years that I am sure it would be no issue for you to do it. Don't sweat it, create to your heart's content :)

[Mino]

Competitive is sort of a weird issue. Most of the time, they're going to be valve maps.
However, in the Bravo update, you could play community maps on competitive.
A replica cannot get into the next version of Bravo, because ValvE markets it, and then it would infringe copyright. ValvE CAN however, market any custom maps entirely community made.

[アゼム]

The chances of getting into one of these Valve map things is extremely slim. You could be an amazing map maker for all I know, but you will still probably not end up being selected. HOWEVER keep in mind that a map remake from CoD was in the Operation Payback playlist. It's not impossible.

[RoboitoAM]

Originally posted by uhul:

Hey RoboitoAM, thanks for the reply!
Well, that crossed my mind, but aren't those just themed maps?
Would a replica have copyright issues? Well, mine isn't an exact replica though. I think it is a replica in its sizes and proportions (well almost, 95%), scaled down to better fit CS:GO's world, but will not have the same theme as the original map as it wont fit CS:GO's modern story.
So, any problems with that? Specifically, if the map replica/remake is good enough, would it be eligible to be played in competitive CS despite being a replica/remake of another game's map? Would I have to make adaptions for that to happen?

It is my favorite map, I would really love to see this map being played in competitive CS, if it fits the game style and meta. Hopefully its good enough, but being able to play it again, and in Counter Strike, is really rewarding anyways =)

Thanks once again.

No problem! A remake probably wouldn't be featured in official Valve servers but you can always host a server with your maps and have fun there.

[lutze BRA]

Thanks guys.

Rubi-K, thats the point, thanks. I am guessing then that it's fine to make a replica/remake and publish here on the Steam Workshop, but Valve would not be able to include it as a competitive map.
Then the question is, to what extent it would be considered copyright infringement? I will make the replica eitherway, but if needed I would be willing to make an adapted version so it would not infringe any copyright, making it eligible for competitive. Isn't it a little subjective? It would be then more like a map inspired on my favorite map, I guess.

Paco, thanks for the info man. Thats nice to hear. There is hope then, haha. Would you please tell me the name of the map you referred to? I couldn't find it :(
About the chances being slim, the map layout itself is really good, was a really good map on that game, it was the Dust2 of that game's bomb maps. Hopefully it will fit in Counter Strike. How good it will be compared to the original will depend, I think, on how much I will have to adapt the map, if at all, mainly to be eligible for competitive, and on how I will do that. Making good decisions, learning with the community about what make good maps, particularly in CS, as I am relatively new to CS, but not to FPS. I really do trust the community to help me with whatever I might need plus I am really looking forward to make this remake a really good one and be able to play it myself and with friends, seeing fans of both games playing it, and hopefully, have the opportunity to watch the pros playing on it too.


Do you guys know who to ask for that info? Perhaps someone in Valve who could give me a certainty on that? Would help a lot!


Thanks again guys, much apreciated!

[アゼム]

Originally posted by uhul:

Thanks guys.

Rubi-K, thats the point, thanks. I am guessing then that it's fine to make a replica/remake and publish here on the Steam Workshop, but Valve would not be able to include it as a competitive map.
Then the question is, to what extent it would be considered copyright infringement? I will make the replica eitherway, but if needed I would be willing to make an adapted version so it would not infringe any copyright, making it eligible for competitive. Isn't it a little subjective? It would be then more like a map inspired on my favorite map, I guess.

Paco, thanks for the info man. Thats nice to hear. There is hope then, haha. Would you please tell me the name of the map you referred to? I couldn't find it :(
About the chances being slim, the map layout itself is really good, was a really good map on that game, it was the Dust2 of that game's bomb maps. Hopefully it will fit in Counter Strike. How good it will be compared to the original will depend, I think, on how much I will have to adapt the map, if at all, mainly to be eligible for competitive, and on how I will do that. Making good decisions, learning with the community about what make good maps, particularly in CS, as I am relatively new to CS, but not to FPS. I really do trust the community to help me with whatever I might need plus I am really looking forward to make this remake a really good one and be able to play it myself and with friends, seeing fans of both games playing it, and hopefully, have the opportunity to watch the pros playing on it too.


Do you guys know who to ask for that info? Perhaps someone in Valve who could give me a certainty on that? Would help a lot!


Thanks again guys, much apreciated!

Map name Favela. Straight copy from CoD and was in the Operation Payback map pack.

[僕の名前 (仮)]

Ask the author permission to remake map.

cs_motel is a remake from CS1.6 (layout is almost the same with some changes), not sure is both are same authors.

UT2004 had custom map from Quake 3, almost exact copy (except textures and size) and it was played competitively and one of most popular maps overall.

But with map workshop, it is much democratic than skin workshop. McDonalnds map was always super popular map in CS:S and CS:GO and it uses McDonalds logo and real life location.

Originally posted by PacotheFriendlyTaco:

Map name Favela. Straight copy from CoD and was in the Operation Payback map pack.

Totally different map. And why do you quote long message with one-liner reply?

[アゼム]

Originally posted by Hipster:

Ask the author permission to remake map.

cs_motel is a remake from CS1.6 (layout is almost the same with some changes), not sure is both are same authors.

Originally posted by PacotheFriendlyTaco:

Map name Favela. Straight copy from CoD and was in the Operation Payback map pack.

Totally different map. And why do you quote long message with one-liner reply?

... Because I was answering a direct question that he asked me. Why do you reply without reading long message?

[僕の名前 (仮)]

You can delete most the quote manually.

[アゼム]

I'm sorry? Have I offended you by not snipping the quote? I'll keep you specifically in mind next time I try to help someone so that I don't push your buttons. God knows the last thing I want to do is upset you.

[lutze BRA]

Don't fight over almost nothing guys, please, lol


Hipster, I don't know if that's possible. A big company made the game, I don't know the people who actually created the map, and don't know how I could possibly contact them :(
And that might not work as they are such a big company. Unless its the studio who holds the rights of the map and not the publisher...

Paco, I can't know for sure to what extent the Favela maps are similar, gameplay footage wasn't very helpful and I do not have MW2 and can't play the CS:GO's Favela, but that's okay.


Thanks again for the help!

[僕の名前 (仮)]

You can make map "inspired" by their layout (taking some parts and replacing others with your own), not copy-paste using map decomplile. And with your own textures / models (or the ones from CS:GO)