Copyright/distribution policy?
 

Hello,

I'm curious about what stance vb.org takes with members using other peoples graphics in the styles they submit here without the permission of the author?

Is there a 1 week ban (I'm sure I read paul saying something about this) for members who have infringed on these rules. :D

Infact, I'm quite sure I read this in the "official explanatory infraction thread from paul", I would need to check but would like to hear a response from the staff.

banning is an absolute useless act... they will continue doing their job elsewhere anyway...

if your style contain .jpg or .psd sources, you can always integrate your copyright and author infos inside the file, which are coded and encrypted inside the image so they can not be deleted by hackers -- or they have your password.

hello nexy,

I was hoping for an official response unless i'm mistaken and your an undercover vbulletin thread responder. :rolleyes:

but your nearly as good nexy, though it does contradict partially what paul said which leaves this thread still open to a response from a staff member. :D

ps. you totally misunderstood the question nexy aswell.

Members are given a 40 point infraction for distributing copyright material. To receive and enforce this, it is usually brought to our attention through reported posts; and proof usually needs to be provided or some way to verify ownership of the images - which is usually the harder part.

If you know of any, please report them - with proof if possible.

Which leads me to my next statement. Vb.org may be guilty of overlooking copywrited images and images with the styles submitted here. I could report them but this isn't my job to report copyright ed content (which you do have in your database).

A suggestion, and I'm sure this will ensure that you have zero copyrighted content submitted within your image database or atleast copyrighted images at a minimum is by enforcing a rule that only image sets that have been designed by the author can be submitted? and maybe graphics that the author as allowed other people to freely distribute with the member having to link back to the source.

Anyway, I'm quite "positive" this suggestion is very sound and should be discussed and the good thing about this suggestion is that you don't have to wait for 3.8 to come along. :)

That rule is in place - hence our copyright rule. I know your all tired of hearing it - but we don't have the time to check every single image, style, and modification for copyright infringement. Especially when the original is not as easy to find. Members usually come across these much easier because a) they are using it and know the original source, b) know of the original source, but aren't using it, and c) they are the original authors.

If vB.org were to check every single modification for copyright infringement before it was 'submitted', I guarantee that many users would be feed up as it would take so long.

Excuse the lack of communication, I'm primarly referring to the image database. Without directly telling you which sets which are clearly breaking the rules there are sets within the database which exceed the talents of anyone that submits here but yet the submissions are here and is material that hasn't been authorised for distribution.

There are comments from the submitter(s) in various threads "I found them on my computer" a sure sign that the set is copyrighted and it takes only 30 minutes to scour the image database to remove suspect submissions. I don't have to say that it's shouldn't boil down to a case of members getting tired but rather protecting other peoples work which should be paramount?

Anyway, the copyrighted material is there and rules should be enforced despite what time restrictions you have or how members feel.

Feel free to close the thread my question has been answered. :up:

It happens and unless your the owner of the images in question there is nothing you can do....

Dear, if you want official answer ONLY, PM Marco, Princeton or Paul M... this is Community Central, and my only fun on this forum is to answer threads in this forum.. lol

and no, i did not mistaken your post, i just did not have the official side of the answer, suggested something else on the "designer side of things"

Your allowed to be wrong which is best to leave it for the staff to respond. we're all human nexy. ;)