One of my mod's users recently donated a model purchased from TurboSquid, a 3D model resource site. Given the Nexus' strict copyright enforcement policies, I wanted to be on the safe side and make sure I'd be able to use it (I thought it might not be ok for the original purchaser to transfer ownership like that.) The site's response was a bit of a surprise - turns out I can't upload the file unless I can somehow guarantee it cannot be taken and used for other purposes. I'm seriously doubting there's any way to encrypt or otherwise protect .nif files, but I figured I'd at least ask, and while I'm at it provide a warning to anyone else to not try to use that site as a resource.

BEst bet would be to contact the modellor that made the content and see if he will give permission for it's use in the game and have him send you an e-mail confirming the permission. Without permission from the original maker reusing it for private use would be fine but reusing for public distribution would be problematic

I have done this before with Oblivion for my http://tes.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=11212 which used a model made by a member of DAZ Studios that I contacted and was given permission to use in a mod for Oblivion so doesn't hurt to attempt to get permission.

Thanks, that was my first thought, but from what I can see the site doesn't offer any way to get in contact with the original artists, just a button to contact customer support. No comments section for the files, and no dedicated thread on the site's forums.

Ahh -- then that would make things a bit more difficult -- is it a complex model or would it be something that could be reproduced fairly easily from scratch ? - best bet might be to find someone that could remake the model for you using the original as a reference only so that the new item could be used.

It's a http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/games-3d-model/574846, a very basic mesh but reproducing the texture is a bit beyond me. I have a hunger/thirst/sleep mod and a number of people have requested some sort of refillable water skin, so anything along those lines would do.

*Edit - On the up side, I learned enough about nifskope during this process that I was able to separate out a waterskin mesh from another mod somebody pointed out to me - the author ok'd me to use it a while ago, but didn't have the time to create a separate .nif out of it. So, problem solved.