Ea makes statement March 2 making paysites ok?

[elencha]

Sorry I'm a bit late to the party on this. I had around eight pages to read through by the time I got home from work,. But I would so love to be of help on any proof of concept/EA butthurt project. I can't make quality content or anything,, but if money is needed, I can do that... Or hmm.. writing, Careers, I guess I could do. Whatever, the point is I love the idea and want to help.

[Moune]

Just popping in quickly to say:

I'm very sorry, but I'm going to have to leave this discussion. The father of my son arrived from France to visit for the first time yesterday, and the situation is demanding a lot more of my attention that I expected. I don't really have time or energy to concentrate on anything else.

Just wanted to let you know that I haven't turned my back because of anger or grudge or anything else negative. 

[MamaKitty]

@Devilfish.  I'm willing to help in the project.  I don't have much experience making sim movies.  But I do have mod/hacks that work fairly well with each other, in my game anyway.  Expansion packs I've got are nightlife, pets, seasons.

[Devilfish]

Thanks to anyone who wants to help. I've never been offered smut so eagerly before

I can do a lot of it myself, the only thing I've got no talent for is editing movies, so if there's anyone brave enough (and in possesion of enough eye bleach) to do that, that'd be awesome. If you've got any movies that'd fit the... um... 'theme', feel free to put them on Mediafryer. (Promise I won't as any questions.)

I don't know what your thoughts are, but maybe it'd be best to keep this as 'Maxis' as possible, not too much cc. Because this is sticking it to EA and not paysites. On the other hand, an army of butthurt paysite peeps would be pretty sweet. Thoughts?

(Also, make new thread, y/n?)

[elencha]

I think a new thread is a good idea.

As far as keeping it as Maxis as possible, I'm rather torn myself. On the one hand I think the point is more precise that way,  being in keeping with their respect the creator's policy "statement". On the other hand, paysite butthurt is what we're all about, not to mention I foresee many opportunities to P&L at the ensuing writhing and gnashing of paysite teeth.

For the record, I've never tried editing a movie but I'd certainly be willing to try and learn. Also, I've got no movies made yet, but I've got more woohoo related hacks in my game than I can count and would totally love something to do with them other than proving to the BF that the Sims isn't corny.



Edited because my grammar isn't actually that bad.

[Eskimo Pie]

You can do one with nothing but EA stuff to stick it to them and then one with a bunch of TSR crap to make them pissy too. Share the love I say!

[SoggyFox]

Understood, Moune.  Good luck with the visit.

[dusdeedawn]

@ Moune: Good luck and happy trails!

@ Yous Movies Guys: Sick! I love you.

[Scurvy Cat]

OK, this is a reply by EA to an email by someone on another site--N99--, asking about paysites.

Screenie: http://picasaweb.google.com/cb1803.1817/MISC?feat=directlink+#5309506514794942210

For those with old eyes, relevant portions:

we support customers adhering to the request of another customer regarding if they are allowed to distribute custom content they have made. Essentially, if I had made a couch you also wanted to distribute, I would expect you to request permission from me to do so.

****
Also, subscription fees are to be a member of the site itself. Membership allows you to fully use the site, but you are not paying for the items themselves, simply the use of the site. If you wish to use a site that charges a fee for use (whether related to the sims or not), you have to pay the fee in order to use the service. Some of our fans go to great lengths to create sites that were not cheap to design. If they feel that it is fair to charge an amount to use their site, that is up to them and will only limit traffic to their site if other users don't want to pay the fees. So, it's up to you on whether or not you want to pay the fee for site access. But, again, this is not the same as paying per download for items (which is what you would do on our site).

If this is official it does change the discussion.  I'm too wiped to consider ramifications.

And if I don't get back to this thread with answers right away it's because I'll be gone for a couple of days on a family outing, not cause I'm ignoring anyone.

[Jonesi]

Except that they don't charge just to use the site, they're charging for downloads.

[dusdeedawn]

Take, for instance, Rose. She charges per item. And Peggy doesn't charge you to use the site. She charges you to DOWNLOAD THE ITEMS. Same as T$R. I don't have to pay to view the items or use the search function, etc. but if I want AN ITEM, I have to BUY a subscription. I don't have to pay to log in, mind you.

[eternal_darkness]

If this was an e-mail response to someONE then I highly doubt it is official. If someone else sent in the same question they would probably get a different reply. Also, if you read closely enough, he didn't really answer the question.

Edit: Afterthought

[siberiansunset]

It's as official as Maxoiddrea saying it. Without an actual EULA change you can't convince me otherwise.

[justso]

Even if TSR could get round this subscription rule they cannot get around the FAs charging or being paid to produce custom content, that is definitely commercial enterprise.

[Darqstar]

Is it me, or does that statement sound utterly and completely full of a warm, brown substance?

Not to defend TSR, but in the old days, I would have understood this logic saving them. Back when TSR did the "Only so much is free, and it rotates."  Because then, you could say that you bought a subscription to have the right to download whenever you wanted, whatever you wanted.  While it would still be wrong to pay the "artists", it would be pretty easy to claim that you weren't paying for the items, you were paying for the convenience of the items availibility.  But, once they decided that the FA items were pay only, then they began charging for items.  And, no matter how they do it, if they are paying "artists" to produce this stuff, then it is a commercial enterprise.  Someone is making money off Sim content and sim content alone.

Some sites have had dedicated,  faster servers which are only for people who donate.  In that case, yes, you are paying for the site, not the item.  You can get the item another way, that might be more annoying, but it is possible. 

However, no matter how you slice it, if you have to pay to gain access to certain items, and that is the only way to get access to those items, then the items are pay, not the site.  I can't even see how you could claim it was the site.  Otherwise, then these so-called "Pay for my site, not my stuff" places couldn't have free items. 

Food for thought... if this really is the legal loophole that EA games is going to jump through to be able to protect and worship TSR's and other paysites asses, the booty might end up making paysites legal.  Follow me on this one, I know that sounds strange, but, techically, someone charging for content could say, "I'm only charging you for the convenience of downloading my stuff from my website.  If you want my stuff for free, go to the booty." 

Edit for: Clarification.