Hello. I would like to gain some proper insight into the way I should go around my work when dealing with branding. Copyright etc and terms of use. I did do some research myself and would do again but due to my situation. Meds health then I do struggle to understand it all. Basically learning difficulties,,and others that prevent me from learning as a normal adult would. Mood swings etc. obviously to someone in my condition I would worry endlessly about it all..which did impact me work and my conduct in general. But I’d like to change that,,and get some more information for myself and for others as I have noticed a few struggles when posting a livery up. Being banned or blocked. So what is the best solution and right way to go around the legal side and branding as not to break any rules. Are making live harder because some may not fully understand what needs to be done to be safe, comfortable working on a livery without fearing it will be stopped. Any advice would be greatly welcomed just anything that would give me or any other users thinking the same as me. I have reached out to a few companies in the past for authorised use but you never here back from most. TfW was absolutely fantastic as they allowed me to replicate work,,and fictional work using there brand. So I have done what I feel is right asking for permission. Thank you in advance to anyone that responds.
You are doing the correct thing. Ask for permission, and if you don't get it, don't use it. Here's a list of allowed brands https://dovetailgames.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/80001032492-creators-club-faq
Thanks,,,but within this list there are many brands not covered for use but still are. If I follow outside rule,,such as mixing of works or fair use. There are set rules and guidelines which to be fair I don’t see many refs to original work content mentioned in the livery descriptions. I feel I would have to cover myself due to the nature of the work I done, or do. Fictional and what if. So I am mixing work up IE changing the LNER logo. I get punished heavily where as other seem to get away with it. Again suggesting to me there is a grey area when it comes to what CC users do and if they are working outside of DTG brands terms then where is the information about this on livery descriptions. Not to fit into DTG rules but the rules of fair use and use of other creative works. I don’t mind getting all the right permissions but most of time it’s not needed. Even tho it’s not on DTG brands list. So would this mean I would endlessly have to communicate with DTG to give permission evidence or even approach DTG because the work banned is a defunct company. You see I can understand some stuff but I do struggle,,,I don’t want to go over my health here. But it’s hard for me. I tried to reach out to DTG and see if they could help or assist. But nothing. I tried for weeks with LNER and nothing. It got to much and all I want to do is make liveries be fair to all and hopefully someone could assist me in continuing my passion. It’s all I want to do is create liveries again,,but feel I can’t because I do struggle with this side of things at times. It why I did try and ask for DTG assistance due to my circumstances well more so now. Because all emailing and that and forms I’m not good at. Anyway nothing I’m saying is in a nasty tone. I’m trying to get my head around what I’ve seen or what goes on. I would like to return to CC but if I find this getting to much then I guess the game doesn’t counter for everyone one. Thank you for responding tho. TSLP.
No, I completely understand. That list is old, and I'm not sure if it is up to date. As I understand it as a lay person, general legal advice is to ask and get written permission. Obviously, very few people do that, since the damage done is negligible, and as far as I am aware, the only repercussion is that the upload gets taken down. You can simply make the livery, though. Even if it is removed from Creator's Club, you'll still be able to have it locally. If you want, you can make an unbranded version instead (like DTG did with the 350). For liveries that need the brand to look similar, it may not work, but for liveries like LNER or BR blue, it's just some extra text that doesn't really add much.
Oh thank you so much for your kind response. I don’t want to bring my Mental Health in to this but really effects my mood. ADHD Anxiety. And others,,so as much as I have my logic side it can be ruined by my Moods. And those moods are dictated by what goes on. So for me when working it’s a constant battle trying to decide wether to do the work or not. Posting up is a traumatic experience as I worry it would be taken down. So all I’m trying to do is make work mix up work and create fictional liveries. But avoid that stress which can overwhelm me then spill out on to here. I don’t want to be like that so again it’s why I’m trying to come back but sadly this side of it all breaks me. Meaning I go a bit loopy and leave TSW and the community here. So I know it’s a lot and me being open but I’m trying to be honest with you man to man that’s all. For me creating work helps me it always has. It just this side of it that gets me as I say. The list I used to go off but again I’d see so many users uploading and getting away with it. Some I may add was quite rude but hey. It this when I looked up the legal side etc and what is deemed fair use etc. And what are the terms outlined as fair use. Ie I can’t make a T-shirt with BNSF on as I’d be making money and that’s not fair use. But I could do a livery of a standard BNSF train. Fair use. But then when mixing work up like I have with so many I have tried to be fair to the company. Ie not putting a Big Willy next to BNSF,,I’m still mixing work up but keeping the brand logo as original. But soon as I alter a logo then that’s a different matter and so would need permissions. And this livery I will show you is what broken me. Took a week to do and over the New Year (2023). DTG must have sent a file to my console as it was completely blanked out I couldn’t even use for my own personal use. As I do understand you here and agree that if some are out right banned then the user can still personally use them. It’s in FAQ. It was the logo that did it but why did they have to do what they did and then ignore me when I email DTG Matt?. It’s this side that as you can see anyone in my position it hit me very hard indeed. And so I know your trying to assist the best you can. But when I reached out to those that could offer that assistance just left me too it. Just look what they did. As you can it’s blanked out. I don’t want this to happen again,,,even if I get all the permission etc myself would DTG care if they never gave me the opportunity to change this situation. I’d like to continue work fairly and give credit where credit is due. But even when I do that in the livery description it can be blocked. Delete the description and then I can post. But no indication of original work or creator. Again trying to work to the rules of fair use. So I don’t know which way to turn. When asking the one in the know DTG I hear nothing. So unfortunately that why where having this discussion. And I know I can raffle,,so I will end now. I get where you coming from and I think you do too,,which again I really appreciate. I don’t want to be moaning or being disrespectful to anyone. I’m just trying to learn the best way I can without feeling I was bullied in some ways by DTG. I am not even asking anyone to hold me hands. I’m just asking for help and guidance as being the way I am I find it all hard. Which then stops me from doing what I love. Train liveries. Anyway again I appreciate your time and comments. Hopefully I can catch up with after the New Year. Thank you so so much. All the best for tonight and 2025
It was quite a nice read. You've successfully been able to express your feelings in a pleasant manner. That livery looks beautiful, and it is awful to have it removed from your system. I suspect that is a bug, rather than DTG since the coaches seem to have remained intact, but it is an awful experience. You also appear to have done quite a lot of research as well, so it is unfair. Especially when you consider the rule breakers that don't get taken down. If you would like to express more of your feelings, I am all ears. Since this thread appears to just be us two, I doubt anyone would mind. Alternatively, you can message me directly if you wish. Happy new year.
