Well, I don't know how much clearer it can get...

[HystericalParoxysm]

I have some plans to send a little something along to some of the "less evil" paysites like ATS, Holy Simoly, and Rensim.  I'd personally prefer they not be shitstirred at, as they're not near as bad as some of the others and could probably be swayed to fully free, but I won't tell ya what to do.  

[Hecubus]

I was thinking more of the real thieves, as opposed to the 'misguided'.

I would love to help the ones we love find ways of increasing donations and get them to remove the pay items.

[Deckhand Dollface]

i say go for it hecubus

[HideTheRum]

Huzzah, this is awesome news HP!    No shades, no fuckin greys, just something so crystal clear that no one could whine about it and making it pro-pay without making a complete fool out of themselves

I'd so join Navigator's piratey celebration now if only that Not-Apsalar entity didn't insist on speaking for her all the time  :roll: ...

[Hecubus]

So...yesterday afternoon I sent a letter to MOST of the paysite owners (HP will be writing to a few of them):

Please see the linked exchange between HystericalParoxysm from Mod The Sims 2 and EA: (link to image, from my photobucket acct.)

I would encourage you to make all of your custom content free for all downloaders as soon as possible, as it is becoming very clear that EA will no longer tolerate paysites.

There are many ways to raise money for bandwidth costs – charging money for pixels, in violation of EA’s End User License Agreement and copyrights is NOT the way to do it.  

Please know that the free sims community will respond with great jubilation and financial support should you decide to go free. Consider following in the footsteps of Mdlein Designs, Retail Sims, and Sim-Placement: go free.

I do not want you to close your site. I want you to honor EA’s copyrights and let your creations be free for ALL players. EA clearly wants to you to do this. Please comply, and bring harmony back to the community.

So far, the responses have been....interesting.

From Alice Fashion:

well thanks, so this email isn't for me. AliceFashion is on the point 2, we accept voluntary donations, we're not a paysite.

Right. So this is free? http://www.alicefashion.com/donation_center.htm

-----

From M&M Needful Things:

And in doing so, I (and you) enable all children under the age of 18 to have completely free access to ALL of my XXX Adult content.
Please read this
http://www.mandmneedfulthings.ca//Forum/viewtopic.php?t=3663
 
Please do not contact me about this privately again. You are more than welcome to discuss it with us on our forum.

So...paying is okay if it keeps the kiddies out? Um...interesting excuse.

-----

And more from M&M (because he couldn't let it go)

People.  We are not a PAY site.  We charge a minimal charge to gain access to a portion of our site.  We do not charge for product on a piece by piece basis...
 
Basically, it is not the product we are charging for, it is the service.  One of the reasons we charge for this 'service' is to keep a tighter reign on the age range of the folks able to download the adult items.  I myself am not comfortable with personally allowing minors an easier time of obtaining obviously adult material.  Have I mentioned that we do not make a profit on the site?  Interesting, eh?
 
Now.  Certain others have told us, "There are other ways of obtaining funds to pay for your costs.  You could advertise like we do."  In answer to that, I have gone to those sites, and I am not comfortable having mass quantities of extreme pornographic and sex ads on my site.  It just ain't gonna happen.  The amount of advertising one would need on a site the size of ours in order to pay for our costs, would be more of a detriment and hinderance, than any good it would do.
 
Finally, I do not SPAM you telling you, "quit this, because it makes you a better...whatever"  SO, please kindly get it through your thick skulls and pester and annoy someone else.  Don't email us again unless it is for friendly conversation or advice, on a subject other than this one.  If EA has a problem with what we do, then they can contact us.  YOU are neither their legal department, nor a representative of theirs.
 
FInal thought; Think about why it bothers you so much...And then deal with it like a big person.
 
Regards, MIKEY!!!

Hmm. Paying for a service? Right. The service of getting pay items. GAH.

I love how I'm being told to handle this like a 'big person'....um, golly. Was there even a HINT of 12ness in my email?

----

And from my dearest friend and favorite Teutonic Twat, Marilu (TSR, Sims2 Studio):

Was DU willst, interessiert mich nicht!!!

Which, roughly translated, means 'kiss my shiny metal ass'. (It actually says something closer to "like i care what YOU want."(

I expected as much from Marilu...I've been a thorn in her side for a little while now.

-----

I think the funniest thing is that these people only want friendly conversation or advice. God forbid they entertain an ALTERNATIVE (and right) opinion! They clearly can't argue the FACTS, so they come up with other bullshit.

More as I get it.

[calalily]

Well the "good" people at M&M didn't worry about access to 18+ content in sims 1 did they?  I know I downloaded some extremely explicit and free animations from them.

But it's all about the chilluns isn't it?

[Yaardarm Monkey]

Which, roughly translated, means 'kiss my shiny metal ass'. (It actually says something closer to "like i care what YOU want.")

well thats a mature and reasoned reply   :roll:

[Apsalar]

Oh my *sigh* I actually feel disappointed, because I was hoping for better replies. *goes off and cries into a corner with a bottle of rum*

[Feverish]

I can't believe those stupid replies. Having proof and being civil accomplishes nothing with these people. I was going to say that they are in denial, but that's not true at all. The simple truth is that they are greedy bastards, and I applaud your patience in emailing them. I don't think I could deal with their bullshit long enough to reply to them.  There's a special place in Sims hell for these folks. Where you're only allowed to wear Niven clothes, Peggy hair, and live in a house "decorated" by Atwa. And Openhouse Jack is your roomate.

[OneEyedWillie]

:shock: Remind me to always be on the good side of the sim gods....just remind me of sacrifice days cause I'm bad with dates

[Gwendolyne]

Well, I just read a discussion on a German board about this (Your caonfirmation from EA, HP)
And they are laughing out loud! They all got the email with the link to the exchange between HP and EA. And the comments:

Marilu (TSR) I am sad there is no smiley that gives them the bird (followed by laughing smiley)
Teko/Murano: Laughable, as if EA would force the best Fansites to go free!
(followed by laughing smiley)

[obscurity]

Well, I just read a discussion on a German board about this (Your caonfirmation from EA, HP)
And they are laughing out loud! They all got the email with the link to the exchange between HP and EA. And the comments:

Marilu (TSR) I am sad there is no smiley that gives them the bird (followed by laughing smiley)
Teko/Murano: Laughable, as if EA would force the best Fansites to go free!
(followed by laughing smiley)

Who do they think they are - wonderful creators sent by the sim gods who should be worshipped? what sad sad pathetic people  :roll:  :lol:

[Ash Redfern]

I don't think I could deal with their bullshit long enough to reply to them.  There's a special place in Sims hell for these folks. Where you're only allowed to wear Niven clothes, Peggy hair, and live in a house "decorated" by Atwa. And Openhouse Jack is your roomate.

That is such a frightening and yet just punishment. I applaud you for that.

[missangelica]

For those that are still insistent that their pay items are donation gifts, ask them for their tax id and business information.

The responses you have received so far really disgust me.  I want violence but I will settle for shaming them and waking them up to their boneheaded-ness instead.

ETA:  For the longest time I could download the Sims 1 adult stuff from M&M from their main site.. there was no restrictions.  They moved it to a yahoo group where you can lie there about your age if you want.  So now the strategy is that you have to "prove your age" through the credit card?  Um, kids use their parent's credit cards all the time..

[AW]

Mikey??  Runs an adult website for sims?  Seriously, what adult goes by Mikey?  That is fucking classic.