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 @翠星石 

>But, Rockstar can authorize such modifications and they have for their own distribution.

ofc they can but they do not own the modifications made by somebody else. it depends on the country but you can own the rights to derivative work. 
 @DarkMahesvara >they do not own the modifications made by somebody else
A government monopoly can only be held - not owned, no matter what the confidence tricksters known as lawyers say.

In this case, such modifications weren't originally permitted, thus the author didn't gain copyright restrictions.

A copyright holder can later decide to authorize previously illegal modifications under terms that suit them (even if it's not in the author's interest) and rockstar did just that.

>it depends on the country but you can own the rights to derivative work.
In most countries, the original copyright holder can authorize that derivative works can be under different terms.