As one of the biggest zealots in anti-plagiarism mapping, I'm aware that my opinion may be considered a bit extreme by others.
There are 2 significant points that devious creators use to justify tweaking the content of others and releasing it as their own. In short terms:
- Mapping does not profit
- Maps do not have security
Now in detail:
- Mappers do not make profit directly from mapping. This isn't like Youtube or Twitch where creators get commissions and paychecks. HOWEVER, this allows mappers to justify the creation of Patreon/Paypal accounts to take donations. The idea of taking donations was not big in SCBW's prime years, but it has become huge in SC2's recent years.
- The SCBW developers never intended the map editor (and UMS mode) to be used to the professional degree that is commonplace today... a big reason why map security is non-existent in the original software. Although it was improved in SC2, I don't consider that to be enough.
Map "locking" is an invaluable technique that I wish the community had better knowledge of. I've often heard the complaint that it is a selfish practice, but I strongly disagree. It is vital in preserving the experience of the map and the creator's vision of it. We absolutely cannot have trolls hosting versions with subtle tweaks that rig the map in a certain way, and to prevent this, we unfortunately also have to lock out good-intentioned people wanting to improve (or even bug fix) said map.
Last thing I want to address is less important (giving proper credits):
- When permission is acquired to tweak a map, ensure that the original author's name is noted as the creator, and list the specific parts that you've changed.
- When building a map from scratch that is inspired or has strong resemblance to another, adding "Inspired by (map) by (author)" is always a good idea.
"It takes far more than a simple ideology to map amazing things. Mapping requires a strong passion for SC as well as an even stronger devotion to your work. Avoid instant gratification. Set directions/goals for the map, and stick to them. Take pride in the work, be patient with it, and never settle for less."
-Tiger