The Exchange says no to custom content that breaks copyrights

[Jojoba]

So I've not seen this already posted, and thought this would interest many of you..

Hey Simmers, 
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but copyrighted material is not allowed in the exchange. I see many awesome creations everyday, but certain characters or designs are actually owned by other companies. Unfortunately I'm going to have to hide those creations.

I just wanted to let you know, it's not because it wasn't cool, it's just because we want to be sure we don't step on any toes.

-Keep on Creating!

Stupidly long BBS thread link here

So, custom content that uses copyrighted material is being booted of the Exchange. And if you read down the thread (from xxxSpaceLlamaxxx's first post and from there onwards), people do ask about this issue regarding pay items and paysites: as of yet there is no reply to this from a Maxoid, but would be interesting to see if someone does reply to it. But this seems to cry out EAxis' take on it, even if they are only inforcing this on the Exchange..it does show they dont want copyrighted custom content going on

Mm so what do you think? I just thought this was rather interesting..

[dietofworms]

This is going to be interesting.  I wonder if EA will force TSR's hand on this, too--there's an awful lot of Disney stuff on there.  But even more, what will constitute a "derivative" work and thus be allowed? Will people be able to post a set of Subway and change the logos to Flubway?  Or use Ikea images and call them Idea ? And jumping way ahead, many of the FA's at TSR copy their stuff from real designer objects and clothing.  Is that going to be a problem for them (I hope, I hope .)

ETA:  But it also occurs to me that this policy is nuts.  It's not just Disney and the big companies that copyright stuff, it's also painters, photographers, wall paper designers, architects, etc.  How can this be enforced?

[Titan]

Logically, this is going to be really hard to enforce and if they do manage to enforce it to some degree, they really won't have alot left over because alot of people do tend to create things that have some type of characterization on it.  This new rule is going to get rid of alot of cc on the exchange and if the paysites end up being forced to listen to it, alot of them are going to really hurt. 

Note:  I really hope that I'm making sense here, stupid cold and sinus medication is making me feel really light headed today.

[rome_raven]

That thread is from 2007.  Has anyone noticed a change yet?

[JFederated]

Heeyar.

From just a random Exchange search.  Uploaded a few days ago.  It's merely the tip of the recently uploaded iceberg (not picking on this uploader at all, just an example, she/he is definitely not the only one and most likely unaware of the post Capn Jo linked to - if yer gonna report this child, get settled in for a long haul reporting everyone else below her for years - and that's just for Disney sims).

I remember this post tho.  It was a bit after H&M came out and all of a sudden EA was cognizant of trademark infringement in their uploads.    I dunno.  They're all for free on the Exchange.  I'd think it's the sites that are charging for such infringement that would get the pointy ends first.

[Twiki]

Oh, how lovely. Did anyone take a closer look at copyrighted part in question in that example exchange upload?

"Full Body   LianaSims2 - Donation 13 - Kid036" - the Minnie Mouse dress. Copyrighted stuff on paysites is FUN!

[glasscigarette]

Considering the age of the thread, if nothing has changed yet, it's not likely to any time soon. Unless, of course, community pressure continues to mount, which is certainly possible.

The use of copyrighted material is mind-boggling to me, particularly in pay content. In some twisted version of reality occupied by pay creators, it's apparently logical to pay for pixels, even when it blatantly violates the rules. But what logic allows that to extend to objects that display RL copyrighted items? It honestly doesn't bother me when it involves free content because nobody is gaining anything off of it except the joy of injecting a little realism into the game. But when you charge for these items, you're circumventing more than one law.

And why don't more companies crack down on this? Free publicity is the best publicity, I guess, but why would you want to allow someone to make money off of a trademark that you own?

I think I may be rambling a little incoherently, but you know what I mean.

[Renegade]

From what I've heard, Disney is pretty anal regarding their Intellectual Property.  If LianaSims is charging money for something with Disney's character on it, then someone should give them a little tip

Some companies DO crack down on it.  I think RetailSims had made a Subway set (it may have been pay) - and they had to remove it.  Then someone made a Starbuck's set and that was also removed.

What I don't get is why nobody complained about Exnem Sims, or whatever their name is.  They constantly made objects of Disney characters, but I'm not sure if Disney knew about it, or if they knew and just did nothing.

[Redikolous]

I think it's the latter, Renegade.  Disney is truly anal about their copyright.  A tip would be a very good thing to do.

[Zazazu]

I reported it as inappropriate content. They don't have an option for copyrighted content, but then they never meant to follow that policy anyways. It was obviously CYA.

[Renegade]

"CYA"?

[alia]

CYA=Cover Your Ass?

I don't know, just guessing.

[Jojoba]

That thread is from 2007.  Has anyone noticed a change yet?

Ah, I only looked at the month date (May3rd, figured that was only a few weeks ago..) and not the year date. So thats me being stupid lol sorry about that.

Considering the age of the thread, if nothing has changed yet, it's not likely to any time soon. Unless, of course, community pressure continues to mount, which is certainly possible.

Would have to agree on that. And huzzah for community pressure 

[Hecubus]

Every time I see the subject line of this thread, I think of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOdjCb4LwQY

[Zazazu]

CYA=Cover Your Ass?

I don't know, just guessing.

Yup.