I am making this special post to notify users of a website that is copying my content. My apologies for wasting your Kindle space with this unrelated post, but I will explain below why I am posting about this.

Nicholas Ambrose, author of A Small Matter of Destiny, notified me of a blogger who has set up his site to automatically copy my posts and take credit for writing them. Therefore, by posting this, I am hoping to make anyone reading my posts on his site aware that he is stealing content.

Here is the site:

http://www.ebooklove.info/

If you are reading this post on the above site, then you are viewing ’stolen’ content. The content on that blog has been copied from at least three different blogs.

My site is http://redadept.wordpress.com/. It is where most, if not all, of the posts under “Kindle” originated.

After some research, I have found that sites like this are not “Blogs,” but instead are referred to as “Splogs.” The picture on this post is linked to another blog that discusses this type of thing.

Perhaps you are wondering what this person has to gain by doing this. Well, he gains visitors to his site for advertising purposes. Also, he can be linked with Amazon so that if you click on any links on his site that take you to Amazon, he gets a percentage of the purchase.

However, as the blogger is from India, perhaps he feels he is doing some kind of service by combining three blogs. I certainly don’t want to tag him as malicious if he did not mean to be so. The ‘theft’ could just be from ignorance.

I have contacted him via e-mail and attempted to post comments on his blog. However, I have received no response.

Just an FYI: I do NOT receive any money when you purchase an Amazon book by clicking a link on my site. There are two reasons for this:

1. I live in a state which does not allow its residents to become affiliates online. I assume because they are concerned we might have an income they can’t tax?

2. I feel it would be a conflict of interest due to the nature of my blog, i.e. book reviewing.

So, if you are reading this post on http://www.ebooklove.info, please do not support this type of behavior by continuing to visit the site.

Come to http://redadept.wordpress.com/

Or…Search Google for some of the Post Titles to find the other blogs that are being copied.

As an aside: Mr. Ambrose found out about this site because he is signed up with Google Alerts. It’s a pretty cool way to keep up with where/when you (or your books,blogs, etc) are mentioned online.

******Edited to add:

This post has been up over two hours and has yet to appear on the other blog.

Hmmmm….

That person has either turned off the feed, which would be great. Or, they actually do read the posts before they go up.

So I wake up this morning to find a post by Yabusaka pointing out that one Enrice Dudek has been selling copybotted, full-perm versions of his boots to the public as building kits. And I happen to be one of those people that bought them. Not only that, I was intent on using them in my free roleplay kits. So, I’m out around at least L$269. Furthermore, now I have to question the one other collar kit I bought from him and have used in the construction of my work. That could be over L$500 of funds wasted, because I sure as hell am not getting my money back because a. the guy won’t admit he copied them, with a bot or otherwise, and b. I bought them before Christmas, and my transaction records won’t go back that far on the SL website. Whether from my pocket or the donations I receive, that’s a fair chunk of change lost. Furthermore, it’s time and effort lost, putting me in a state of not wanting to create.

Warning! A despicable low life named Ryan Nuessly, has been ignoring my copyright notices,  stealing my blog posts from this blog and posting them on his domain.  I’m sending hostgator a raft of DMCA complaints. I’m also warning every blogger I can about this creep’s nefarious way of making a living off stolen blog content.

Spread the word!

Related posts found in this blog:
Copyright basics for bloggers
What is copyright?
How to copyright your digital works
Copyright: Fair Use Limitations
Splog Off! Dealing with content theft
SplogSpot: Dealing with content thieves
Spotting a splog

It’s discouraging, more so than ever before, really.

I was present in the store to actually see this happen.  Point and click thievery – and while watching it, I felt 1) angry and 2) that it’s pointless to feel angry.  (It struck me as a little silly, as LD customers know that when I am present in the store, everything is free of charge!)

And still, there is nothing in place to combat these problems.  These tools are now so easy to find and use, its becoming common to come across those that use them.  Shopping is now a matter of picking out what object you want to raid.  This particular individual appeared to also send the items on to another account, which is another popular way to avoid consequence.  As Linden Labs only penalizes specific accounts, most thieves have numerous decoys set up. 

I am having to do quite a bit of thinking about the upcoming year in Second Life, and in what direction I want to go.  This includes what I will be doing with the store.  No, I do not want to give up on creating, I do enjoy it.  But I am considering all of the pros and cons in all parts of my SL.  Lately, it seems that every time I do log in, or get nostalgic and return to create, visit, shop-I see content theft as often as I see new things.  I hear it being discussed, I hear of the latest run of steals, I hear what/who/where to avoid, and increasing arguments about “knowing better” and not knowing better.  Nothing changes the fact that this is a huge problem.  And for those like me, who are smaller in the SL “design community”, ripping v/s a sale does have a big impact.  And sure, that makes me think – but overall, it’s the theft itself that bothers me.  It’s the casual manner of it all.

Very discouraging.

It is apparent that there will be no resolution for these sort of problems.  There is still the same sort of “process” for handling these thieves (read as:  ZILCH done).

Bearing in mind this fact that drags down the entire experience, and does make me question my time spent here, I am leaning towards a more negative resolution of my own. 

It no longer seems rational to put so much time and effort into something as flawed as this is turning out to be.

About the Copyright Alliance:

The Copyright Alliance believes that copyright law promotes creativity and job creation and strengthens the U.S. economy. Those who create, render, and publish copyrighted works rely on the copyright law and its enforcement, for their creative and financial success. Without it, these creators would likely cease to exist, or at the very least, cease to produce these important works that are enjoyed by billions of people around the world.

————————————

Yes, if you design in Second Life, you are a part of this.  You have a brand, you create an item, you are an artist.  You are just as much a part of this community and world as anyone with a brush and an easel.  Digital art is just as viable.

Be aware.

Take a few moments to check this site, read the petitions, and join.  Voices count.

http://www.copyrightalliance.org/index.php

So okay, that last post hit a raw nerve with some people, so I thought I should clarify a few things that I believe about Second Life.

I believe in paying content creators for their products. I absolutely love the huge range of creativity people show on SL, from the fashions to the builds and the scripting. I believe in supporting the people whose work I like by buying their goods, and tipping their venues. I believe in recommending the best people and places to others, too; and in helping newbies; and tipping performers and hosts.

The creativity is what draws me to Second Life, along with the community. In the wider world, the arts are not sufficiently valued IMO, and it’s hard for many creative types to get by doing the kind of work that brings them fulfillment, let alone joy. If they don’t also happen to have good business and marketing skills, they’re pretty screwed. On SL it helps to have business and marketing skills too of course, but on a smaller scale you can make at least enough money for your SL life without having to put in an investment besides your skill and your time. If you do want to rent, you can find rental space that you can pay for with perhaps an hour’s work at a Second Life job – very much unlike in real life!

There’s no element of force involved in your economic activities in Second Life. You do not have to rent a home. You do not have to buy food or pay heating bills. You can wander and explore and enjoy yourself purely with freebies; or you can put some real money in to it, or you can work or create to raise your lindens. It’s entirely up to you.

It’s a great feeling when someone buys something you’ve made. It’s an affirmation of the time you’ve put in to it, and perhaps of your art. Few of my products sell for a high price, but I also make L$ hosting, and I love being able to support SL’s creators by spending my L$ at their stores.

Pointing out that copyright infringement is not legally theft should not be taken as downplaying the problem of those who infringe copyright for their personal profit by reselling items. It is pointing out a matter of correct legal terms and definitions, not defending a practise. It matters, because the confusion on the question muddies the waters of all kinds of important issues, which go far beyond copying things on SL.

I also believe that although it’s against the terms of service, it is fair use and not unethical to back up your own inventory for your own use.

Content theft on Second Life is something everyone except the people ripping off stores is surely against, and the point of this post isn’t to defend those who make their lindens by selling copies of other people’s work without permission, but to make another point entirely:

It’s not theft.

Theft is a legal term. To be theft – a crime – it must deprive the original owner of use of the stolen item. Copying it does not do this.

Downloading pirated music, copying something without permission on Second Life, neither of them are theft. Neither of them are criminal offenses (though redistribution on a large scale may be). They are breach of copyright, which is in most cases a civil offense.

Why does this matter, and why does it bug me so much every time I read people talking about “content theft” on Second Life?

Every time I watch a DVD that begins with one of those “piracy is theft” trailers, I want to scream and smash the screen. No, it’s not. Even the screens that come up before a film in the cinema warning us of the dire consequences if we should do a bootleg recording of the movie are lies. The movie and music recording industry want us to equate breach of copyright with theft. We should resist this insidious notion. Because it’s just not the same thing at all.

I am not saying it’s okay. I am absolutely not defending anyone who rips off creators on Second Life – I’m just saying we should call it what it is. Infringement of copyright – the right to copy and distribute a work.

We need to get away from this idea of equating intellectual property and ideas with physical property. Copyright is a right granted to creators, at the expense some would say of the public; in the US constitution it’s specified that the purpose of copyright is to encourage innovation and creation (in the arts and sciences) by guaranteeing that creators can make some money from their creations. Second Life content creators are perfectly justified in going after people who infringe their copyright and profit from their hard work – it’s just not theft.

A couple of articles on the topic:

- Legal blooger Jack of Kent on why Copyright Infringement Is NOT Theft

- Editor Russell McOrmond also says Copyright Infringement Does Not Equal Theft

- See also Copying is Theft – and other legal myths.

- And Second Life resident Emily Orr explains how Linden Lab’s new solution to copyright infringing materials on SL screws over the innocent user.

And to quote a case from US law, here’s Dowling v. US:

The infringer invades a statutorily defined province guaranteed to the copyright holder alone. But he does not assume physical control over the copyright; nor does he wholly deprive its owner of its use.

Dowling v. US specfically rejects the concept that infringement of copyright is in any legal sense the same as theft.

There’s another aspect to “property” when it comes to Second Life, which illustrates how different it is to physical property, and that involves permissions. An item can be set not to be copied but to allow transfer between owners, mirroring real life, but it can also be set not to be transferrable. This means that if I buy an expensive item, and later want to replace it with a newer, better model, I can’t sell my old item second-hand.

If I buy a car in real life, I know that if I want a better, newer one in a few years, I can sell this one to help pay for it. If I buy a horse on Second Life, and a few years later find a better horse, I can’t necessarily sell my old horse to help cover the cost. I cannot treat my SL property like real property. Similarly, if I buy clothes IRL I can chop them up, restitch them, and generally do whatever the heck I want with them. RL content producers don’t have any rights to set things no modify, no transfer!

Finally, and along similar lines, in real life wherever I go, I can take my belongings with me. I think there’s a legitimate use for things like Copybot for those who want to take their avatars and SL inventories to other grids. This does not mean they should be able to sell infringing copies of what they’ve copied over, but as the person who bought the items, they should be able to use them.

I’m pleased to announce that Kittylicious! Shapes will be participating in this special event due to begin on Friday 27th November through Monday 30th November. For the event I’ll be discounting some select shapes, and there will also be some nice shiny new shapes on offer for you to enjoy.  The items selected for the sale will also be TRANSFER enabled, should you so wish to buy a shape as a pressie for a mate:) It’s a great idea, and of course raises awareness of content theft in-world.  Check out the Artist’s Voice blog for more details..and I’ll blog more about it when the event approaches, including all the details of the shapes that I’ll be featuring:)

The second in the series by Rezzed.TV entitled ‘Asked & Answered: All you wanted to Know About 3rd Party Viewers and Content Theft’ was held this past friday at the Corona Cay studio.

Panellists this week were:

KirstenLee Cinquetti – Developer of Kirsten’s Viewer

McCabe Maxsted – Developer of Imprudence Viewer

Angela Talamasca – Programmer, Builder, and Blogger

And hosted by me, Arabella Steadham

Live video stream can be found here, thanks to Malburns Writer

Podcast can be found here, thank you to Stuart Warf

This episode showed a lively and spirited interactive discussion. It’s truly worth your while to be there next week, Friday 13th November 3pm SLT, at Rezzed.TV studio

Shadow effects using Kirsten’s Viewer

Arabella Dressed by Royal Blue

A couple days ago I wrote in support of the real life content creators who’s products are being sold illegally in SL.

I was teleporting randomly in Second Life. I do this on occassion, I think it drives Hawk a little crazy. Anyway, I happened on a little shop with a Step Up Campaigne poster outside his/her shop.

The shop owner even has a sign that promotes intellectual property rights. Yay! I’m loving this person already, and want to give him/her a big hug for respecting the rights of real life artists!

“Great!” I thought, because more shops embracing the Step Up Campaign to promote the protection of intellectual property rights is better for all of us.

A closer look, though, quickly dashed any illusions I might have had, and sent my euphoria to a screeching halt.

Ok. Lesson #1: Just because some 11 year who plays RPG’s uploaded a Vallejo/Bell piece to the internet because she wanted a cool picture to represent her fairy character doesn’t mean that it’s free for the taking.

Hello my readers

Welcome to my blog. Lipstick, Blood, and Glamour is my way for sharing my style with all of SL. I am in no way a SL fashionista. This is just me being me.

Please pay attention to this particular post. It is a fixed one with very important information.

A lot of the items I find are hunt items or freebies/dollarbies. Some of them are available for a limited time only, others are in-world ready and waiting to be picked up ALL the time. I honestly could not tell you where I get these freebies all the time but I can tell you to follow these blogs: FabFree, SLGoodDeals, SLHunts, Karla Scorbal, Free*Style.

I will try my best (from now on) to list which item is from which hunt, but most times it’s because of those blogs I listed that I find such freebies. Please do not harass shop owners or other bloggers in order to try and find the freebie. It’s okay to ask, but don’t get upset if it can’t be found.

Also, LadyAnjile Tsunenaga does not support Content Theft! I have made in a post in my second blog LBAG Extras/About Content Theft. Please read it, it is very important we help our SL community!

Happy shopping! See you In-World!

]]> http://shangreloo.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/lets-talk-about-content-theft/ Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:10:22 +0000 Shangreloo http://shangreloo.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/lets-talk-about-content-theft/

Many blogs and groups are discussing the Step-up campaign today.

As a person involved in making art, and selling it, in real life this is a topic very close to my heart. The Step-up campaign, though admirable in it’s intent, misses its mark somewhat.

Content theft is real in Second Life, it hurts people who make a living creating the products we can’t live our second Lives without. It hurts the innocent consumers who purchase this stolen merchandise.

But there is a lot more than content theft going on in second Life, there is real life theft of artwork, logos, cartoon characters, etc. If it can be downloaded from the internet, it is probably on a product somewhere in Second Life.

My first (known) Second Life experience with real life content theft was a sneaker that was promoted through just about every single Second Life freebie blog. These sneakers were very cute, they were pink, they had sweet little pictures of Minnie Mouse on the sides, and they were from :::LINE:::

Yes, if you own a pair of the Minnie Mouse sneaks I’m talking about, you own a product that illegally uses copyrighted material. This includes products with Hello Kitty, Dr. Suess illustrations, super heroes, Pokemon, strawberry Shortcake, Smurfs, Coke (and any other product) logos, and just about any other cute pop icon you can think of.

If you own tee shirts with band logos, automobile logos, or products that show characters from movies and television.. guess what? You own stolen material.

I’ve seen the work of real life artists (dead and living) used and sold in the shops of well-established designers in Second Life — designers who should know better. I wonder if the Second Life designers who have these pirated artworks in their shops will Step-up and take down their stolen works of art or if they’ll pay the real life artists the royalties they deserve? I wonder if they even realise that they are real life content thieves. And I wonder how many bloggers would stop promoting these designers if they knew the designers use stolen content in their shops and products.

The content that artists make, as real life content creators, doesn’t consist of digital textures or tortured prims, it consists of paint, and ink, and sweat, and canvas, and wood.. and countless other raw materials we use to make our art. We are visual artists, craftspeople, weavers, musicians, potters, poets authors, and we deserve recognition for our art too. We deserve to be compensated if our illustration or painting turns up on a gown in Second Life. We deserve to be compensated if our music is played in your shop. We deserve to be compensated if our painting winds up as fabric used for your Second Life furniture.

Support the arts and Step-up to condemn real life content theft.

All of the big stuff is out in the shop, freshly rebranded and available for pick up! The main shop can be found on the mainland of Mooter (111, 159, 700).

A special freebie is available, as well: two skins inspired by V for Vendetta will be available for a limited time to educate people about the Artist’s Voice protest of content theft. Furthermore, starting November 5th, for 48 hours only these skins will be available to pick-up. You can find out more information here on the AV website.

Remember, Remember
The 5th of November…

A few people close to me may remember I offered free fantasy avatar kits in-world. They were confined to XstreetSL for some time, but I have finally rebranded and set-up my shop – .! Chaotic Neutral !. is now open to the public. The classics and a few new products as well, including two free skins to help spread a message: content theft is not acceptable.

The group The Artist’s Voice is urging people to STOP for 48 hours- stop buying, stop selling, stop uploading, stop exchanging linden. The hope is that, if enough people act, it will force Linden Labs to take a serious look at the issue of content violation plaguing the grid.

Understandably, this action will not work for everyone. The biggest complaint I’ve heard is that people cannot forgeo 48 hours without income; whatever your issue may be with it, I urge you to do something. Hand out information about content theft, go to a Linden Lab meeting and make a fuss, have a V for Vendetta night in your RL home while avoiding SL, only do it for 24- just do something. Instead of tearing down those seeking something positive for everyone because what they are offering doesn’t fit your comfort zone, find something that does and act.

For myself, all of my products except my V for Voice skins will not be accessible in-world, and possibly not through XstreetSL. After 48 hours, they will return. If I make an impact, great.; if not, no one can point at me and say I was a lazy ass that did nothing but whine.

One more fine example of content creators shooting themselves in the foot. 

It seems that while Step-Up initiated a “no upload protest”, and Artists Voice has furthered that with a “no transactions” add-on theory, there are some hurt feelings and bruised egos. 

What, so now people are to split up and pick sides and get into a pissing contest over who came up with an idea?  An idea that has been around for years (get with the program) and has been tried once or twice in the past?  An idea that any level of common sense would conjure up?  Is that what is at the heart of this controversy?

Give me a  break people. 

They are both great organizations, and both great initiatives.   I personally support(ed) them both, happily and hopefully.  I fully intend to support both of the proposed boycotts of both groups.  So, one expanded a little more than the other; had their own spin for it:   it was not anything that I read as a slight, an attempt to “out-do”, “show-up”, or “piss-off”.

I am remembering why I early on began to form a dislike for these so-called protection groups.  Before, there was an almost elitist management of content theft groups.  Now, others are emerging that are clear and promotional.  More approachable and accessable to the greater SL.  But if this reaction is typical of any one of them, then it is painfully obvious that those involved are not interested in protecting anyone or anything.  If they were, this childish hair-pulling would not even be an issue.  Groups would work together.  They would support each other.  Perhaps, oh I don’t know, focus on the problem.

If we as creators can not get over these pride pitfalls, then we will never come together as a clear community.  If we can not actually follow through with the understanding that “we must come together to combat this problem”, then no group in the world can truthfully say they are doing good.  Transparent self promotion and back-patting should not be why anyone joins any of these groups or campaigns.  Whether one likes or dislikes another should not even come into the equation – we all share the same feelings on this.  These groups will only be effective for numbers.  The efforts will never be about preventing or protesting theft, but instead about promoting a group and, yes, supporting divisions. 

I am simply disgusted.  It’s bad enough to have thieves at the door, but fights in the house only compound the problem. 

I hope that I am wrong about these things, but suspect that I am not.  But if we can not pull together and get over these self-imposed barriers, then there will never be a true community effort.  I suppose I will still be waiting for the Content Creators to stop strangling themselves and stand up together – or to either wander out to pasture and carry on with more biting.

———–Edited to Add———-

Not accounting for the self-induced drama of ”people not wanting to participate”.  And this goes for anything, be it an upload boycott, a phenom, or a trend.  Anything. 

Okay, so you don’t want to, don’t do it.  That’s not an issue.  Doesn’t mean you’re a prick, or that you don’t care.  It doesn’t mean anything at all.  Your reasons are your reasons, no one honestly is tore up in wondering why you may opt out.  Why is there some supposition that not participating will reflect badly upon them?  Do you honestly need to give a three page essay on your reasons?  (What is that saying about you and your ideas of other people?) 

That being said, your reasons for not participating should not be a reason to discredit the movement. 

My goodness, it’s always something, isn’t it.

*Thumbs another shell into the gun*

Artist’s Voice Group Information

2009-10-25 17:34:43 note card

Authored By:   Tenshi Vielle

————————————————————————

THE ARTIST’S VOICE: Group information

The Artist’s Voice is a group dedicated to educating consumers and content creator’s about intellectual property rights and content theft.  Content Theft has become a gigantic problem in Second Life, people stealing content and giving it away or reselling it.

Don’t know what content theft is? See the attached image for an example.

We are not a witch hunt group, nor do we endorse witch hunts.  We are about open, friendly dialog with an end goal of putting a stop to the madness of content theft.

Content theft hurts everyone:  consumers and content creators.  It doesn’t have a place in our world.   Together, we can end it.

If you would like more information about property rights, content theft and what you can do to help, please feel free to contact an Artist’s Voice Council member.  

Council Members:
Tenshi Vielle
Arabella Steadham
Kat Alderson
Ayumi Shinn
Darkley Aeon
Rebel Hope
Tracy Rubble
Teagan Blackthorne
Arwyn Quandry (who will be working with the Teen Grid, not the Main Grid)

You can find the Artist’s Voice group in Second Life by searching “Artist’s Voice”.

————————————————————————

Visit and Support at:  http://www.theartistsvoice.org

Content theft has become one of the most discussed issues in SL. I have been reading so much about it recently – that something has to be done, that nothing can or should be done about it, that creators only complain when it’s their creations that are being stolen, but that there are a lot of RL items being copied and dragged into SL and no one talks about it (this is a poor and low argument against content creators in SL, btw). Well, this is a tough subject, but if you think it’s time to take action against it, maybe you would be interested in the Step Up! Campaign. I don’t know the organizers of the campaign, what’s the extent of that initiative, but you could give it a try too, if you feel like it. You can read about the Step Up! Campaign here: http://stepupsl.wordpress.com/. The big day is coming on Nov. 5.

I have spent the past week or so arranging a podcast with Rezzed.TV. Stuart Warf has kindly assisted to plan this event. This is a perfect opportunity to ask Emerald Developers their perspective on this topic. Also, Tenshi Vielle and Rebel hope give their views and experience

*** When: – friday 30th October 3pm SLT ***

Where: Rezzed.TV Amphitheatre

This Panel has been convened so that you the user have the opportunity to learn and educate yourself to make an informed decision on whether 3rd party viewers are right for you. The panel will field audience questions as well as Questions on Notice.
We are fortunate to have two of the Emerald Development team to answer questions. Also on the panel is Tenshi Vielle, Spokesperson for Artist’s Voice, an educative and information resource for content creators and users. Tenshi will advise on where you can seek information to ensure you are not trapped in a compromising situation. She will also give her perspective on the realities of content theft. Rebel Hope will be here to give her experiences with content theft and the ensuing issues.

” Asked and Answered – All You Wanted To Know about 3rd Party Viewers and Content Theft”

Panel members

– Fractured Crystal – Emerald Devlopment

– Lonely Bluebird – Emerald Development

– Tenshi Vielle – Council, Artist’s Voice

– Rebel Hope, Owner, Rebel Hope Designs, Inc.® and Council member, Artist’s Voice

This Podcast Panel will operate in voice, moderated by Stuart Warf. Questions will also be quite acceptable in text chat on the day. Please come prepared for interesting discussion!

Stream: Live stream here (thank you Malburns Writer)

Questions on Notice: go here

Yesterday, I attended a Lindenlab Brown Bag event hosted by Blondin Linden. This was an informative Q & A whereby invited attendees could ask Lindens first hand of their issues and concerns.

The audio and local text transcripts can be found here as well as on the original blog.

I suggest you read and listen to this.

A tweet (From a non LL employee of course)

XStreetSL currently unavailable – We’re adding a category for Stolen and Ripped content, labeled “Bargain Bin.”about 6 hours ago from web 

There’s nothing like a good reputation now is there?