Bethesda Wants To Protect ‘Fallout 4’ Mod Creations On Xbox One, PC

Now that Fallout 4 mod support has officially released on the Xbox One, Bethesda is trying harder than ever to protect the rights of individual content creators. In an effort to reduce the number of stolen mods found on the BethesdaNet servers, the developer released information on how users can report if their content has been uploaded without permission.

How to officially file a complaint if your own Fallout 4 Mod is uploaded to BethesdaNet w/out permission https://t.co/TUmV4vYTkR

— BethesdaSupport (@BethesdaSupport) June 6, 2016

Details on how to file complaints regarding stolen mod content likely come as a direct result of the recent launch of Fallout 4 mods for Xbox One. Since mods have already been available on the PC version of the game, some users have been taking Fallout 4 mod content that is hosted outside of the BethesaNet servers and passing it off as their own.

Further explaining how Fallout 4 mod authors can help protect their creations, Bethesda has detailed on their official forums exactly how fans can file a complaint if they feel their work has been stolen. Similar to how only the original author of a Fallout 4 mod can upload their creation to the BethesdaNet in the first place, only content creators themselves are allowed to file a legitimate complaint on their behalf.

“A number of you have reported instances of users uploading Mod content that allegedly does not belong to the Mod creator. We take these reports seriously and want to protect copyright holders and authors of the Mod content shared on Bethesda.net. In accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we request that anyone who believes their content was wrongfully uploaded to Bethesda.net formally submit a DMCA takedown request.”

For those wishing to actually make a complaint, the forum post includes details on exactly what information they need to provide to Bethesa’s parent company, ZeniMax. The team has also expressed their desire to continue to make the process easier in the future, so authors can more quickly report instances of stolen property.

In addition to trying to protect the creations of Fallout 4 mod authors, the notice also covers how Intellectual Property holders can file a claim if they discover that their assets have been infringed upon by anything uploaded on the BethesdaNet servers. In the hopes of preventing copyrighted material from being used in Fallout 4 mods, the developer has also reminded fans that using such content could result in having their account banned.

“ZeniMax respects the intellectual property rights of others, and requires that those who use its Services do the same. ZeniMax will terminate the Account of any user who is responsible for any or repeated acts of intellectual property infringement. You may not, and by using the Services You agree not to, use the Services to transmit material: 1) that is copyrighted, unless You are the copyright owner or have obtained the permission of the copyright owner to transmit it; 2) that reveals trade secrets, unless You own them or have the permission of the owner to so transmit them; or 3) that infringes on any Intellectual Property Rights.”

While mods have long been a popular aspect of Bethesda’s PC titles, Fallout 4 is the developer’s first game to offer mod support on console platforms. Fallout 4 mods released first on the Xbox One late last month, and they are expected to launch for the PlayStation 4 in the coming weeks. After Microsoft showed off some of their favorite mods for the Xbox One, the Inquisitr recently reported details on how console users will be presented with a streamlined interface for Fallout 4 mods. This gives players the ability to download, install, and provide feedback on user-generated content directly from inside the game.

What is the best Fallout 4 mod that you’ve tried so far?

[Image via BethesaNet]