News

Posted on: Wed Apr 6, 2016 9:07pm

Mythic (#69505)

This really isn't something you should be addressing (just) me about because I don't make Aywas policy. But I do know if you get silver work done offsite (so you can get crumbs pet or silver species (for sccs) done offsite), the artist has to send an email to the site I think in order for you to be able to make it into an actual pet. So I think it wouldn't matter if people "have permission" or not as someone simply saying they have permission doesn't mean much. and sometimes even "screenies to show proof' could be questionable at best. Also when it comes to textures and stuff regarding images with customs, you are not allowed to use actual photos at all, not even a picture of a rock to make a texture. as even if the person who took the picture gave permission, there is a chance they took a picture of private property or property that does not allow this. like did you know it is illegal for someone to use a picture of the eiffel tower (at night) for commerscial use at all (might even be more strict than that?), not without permission from paris' government.

So yeah, just because the photographer gives permission that it is okay to use, doesn't mean it is 100% okay to use it. there is also the chance that the person that is being taken a picture of, or one or some or all of multiple people if multiple are involved, are unaware that it is being redistributed and stuff. you just never know, i guess.

so the idea of a photo being okay for commercial use should be taken with a grain of salt. It really in the end, is a matter of trusting the photographer uploading it. and for starters, hoping it was the actual photographer in the first place and not some pirate or thief.

There are way to many photos in this world to keep track of after all.

And while many places may not care if you get it 100% correct and close enough is close enough, regarding other types of rules Aywas has, regarding customs and whatnot, are super strict, I feel this would natural effect designs for profiles or petpages that involve graphics. no?

So again. I think you pinging the wrong person. You should probably have pinged Eve. At least as well as me, if not instead of me.

Not to trying to be rude.. I'm just.. not really in any position of power. thoogh, in the end, my idea it is a slippery slope, as you may have noticed, has not changed.

The internet is really not a safe place when it comes to copyright right property or intellectual property or anything. And you can't really afford to truly trust anyone (unless -maybe- if you know them well in real life.. but as we all know, sometimes things end poorly with people irl too, so you just never know in my opinion. So in the end, you have to ask yourself, are you willing to risk things, such as potential legal action, because you assume x and/or y is correct. or do you play it safe. which then , in the end, makes for stuff like, photomanipulation or graphics for profit almost, if not totally, impossible. In the end though, people do risk it all the time. there are companies that literally just make websites (with graphics) for people and stuff.. Even governments sometimes hire these companies. It /probably/ would be too insignificant for anyone to actually go through and prosecute anyways, as it costs money to hire lawyers and take off work for the trials and such. it wouldn't be worth it. then again, it doesn't make it right either, to unlawfully use an image. though in the end, what could any one person do, it happens daily, it would be impossible to stop. that being said, I just don't know if aywas would want to take the risk for being a hub for an individual who is willing to take the risk. If that makes sense.

Though fun fact. copyright law is really super boring and tedious. but a lot of people take a focus on copyright law when becoming a lawyer/in law school, because copyright lawyers make a crapton of money. So, copyright lawsuits do happen. However, usually it is with inventions and stuff like pharmaceutical and mechanical/technological things and what not... with the arts, music is probably were copyright lawsuits happen the most.

Posted on: Thu Apr 7, 2016 9:29am

Apologies, things got a little hectic offline for me =)

Gildawraith (#6513) - From how you've worded it, I would agree that (while having features, and perhaps even colouring, in common with a species you already own) it would be new artwork, and therefore count as a new SCC =)

Arkonsel (#388) - I must admit that writing being sold has been so uncommon that we didn't think of it when we wrote the table =) I think that if the characters are specifically site genera, or in the Aywas world/s, that it would be best to use the Commissions Panel when taking USD (as you're taking the "base" from site creatures and places, and editing it, textually doing the same as artists to do the site bases). If it's wholly original characters and locations then it would be fine to sell it directly for real life currencies.

Posted on: Thu Apr 7, 2016 11:38am

Eve (#2775)

Thanks for the clarification :)

Posted on: Thu Apr 7, 2016 12:05pm

Would it be possible to have an explanation about this 'full rights'-term I see being used again and again? Maybe it's clear and easy for everyone else, but it's not to me. Particularly in case of SCC-Bases. When does a person have the right to sell a Blank Custom PSD (a SCC-Base fpr example) for USD? Is it automatically linked to the species' rights? Sorry if I'm asking something obvious ^^

Posted on: Thu Apr 7, 2016 10:06pm

Eve (#2775) Thanks for the reply! I've been paid only in site currency so far for writing humanized versions of aywas pets in a modern setting, but it's a complicated enough question that I thought I should check just in case I ever decide to go for USD. And I will definitely go through the panel then.

Posted on: Fri Apr 8, 2016 10:16am

Carni (#12344) - We should have a KB article on the way explaining this, we've been working on it for a while but haven't been at a point of publishing it. It will be far more detailed than what's about to be posted, as these are more of the very basics of it.
Buckle in, for a news comment, this is going to get long and winding XD;;
When you purchase a custom pet design or PSD, you are only purchasing the right to make that pet, re-sell the design (if the artist allows it, or within rules they have laid out), breed it (unless rules specify otherwise), and sell the created custom.
Full rights are when you buy the right to do anything you want (within site rules) - so you can make the pet, sell blank PSDs, make premade colours on the lines and sell them, and so on. It's essentially the transfer of the artist's rights to the piece of work.

Usually the issue of rights only really comes about when commissioning an artist, because with full rights you have the opportunity to make money from the work they have done. In all cases, unless you have specifically mentioned purchasing the full rights to the design, and arranged additional payment for it (if the artist requires it) you are only purchasing the right to make the pet. It should be noted that customs made via the GCC panel, commissioned from a site SCC artist via Eri, and by the upcoming SCC panel, come with the full rights to the pet created. This is the same with offspring from Platinum and Sketch Breeding Coins - though they are the only bred pets that do.

Using your SCC example for non-site artists, if you have a Gen1 made for you it's usually polite to mention if you're going to keep it unique, make it a species immediately, or might make it a species later. In most cases I would assume that artists know with SCC commissions it's likely to result in a species, but it's still best to check that it won't be a problem or incur additional fees.

As I said, there really does need to be a KB on this because while it's widely understood, there is always the risk of newer users coming in and not understanding where the lines in the sand are drawn with ownership. I promise it will be a lot more easy to follow than this was ;;

Arkonsel (#388) - My pleasure! I'm just sorry I hadn't thought of it when doing the table. Things have been a little busy so I've not been able to update it yet, but I will get that added as soon as possible for yourself and others to reference to in future ^^

Posted on: Fri Apr 8, 2016 10:59am

Thank you for the explanation, Eve, that helps a lot! - at least my confusion is now lifted ;) I was never quite sure - I think now I do understand. (And I'd rather have it long and winded rather than short and confusing) Thank you! <3