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Abuse of power, can it really be stopped?

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Abuse of power, can it really be stopped?

from WinCustomize Forums
Abuse of power, can it really be stopped?

A screenshot is a screenshot. Nothing is more innocent than that. I have made a windowblinds skin based on Nvidia Reactor Windows Media Player by TSF. The skin turned out as if the great Pixtudio group made it. People loved the screenshot and have shown love toward it. I have updated many skins that are available to the publics, yet I never shared them because I know the authors still have full right over them. I'm good at respecting people's work. The Skins Factory hated the fact that the skin has a premium feels and started to threat me. Now the screenshot is disappeared. What TSF wants, TSF gets. How can a screenshot become so controversial?

Mike Bryant was one of the main reasons I have subscribed to WC ‘cause I’ve learn so much through his works, but...
35,879 views 84 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Maybe WC should come up with a system that lets the user know why something was deleted off the website like maybe…………..an E-Mail….. might could avoid some hurt feeling or something
Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It is outrageous that a contribution was removed without any reason provided. Worse than when the WC site was down, and Frogboy failed even to apologize to users for lost postings. If WC wants subscribers, it will have to become less arrogant.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It is outrageous that a contribution was removed without any reason provided. Worse than when the WC site was down, and Frogboy failed even to apologize to users for lost postings. If WC wants subscribers, it will have to become less arrogant.


Whoa.........Dude.........don't hold back or anything..........don't sugar coat it.........just let it out and tell us how u realy feel..................
Reply #29 from WinCustomize Forums Top
don't hold back or anything


Amazing how much emotion can come from text!

SIXX: BTW, I do like your political statement link...
Reply #30 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I shall hunt down comment #51 on the screenshot in question [yes, I even remember the number] and post it here.
Reply #31 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Comment# 51  By Admin Jafo  - 10/31/2005 7:44:30 PM

Distribution of another's works, or works derived from and/or using parts of another's works, without prior consent is a violation of inherent copyright.

It is also against Wincustomize.com policy, established by and for the skinners of this [and other] online communities.  All abide by these same tenets.

If a person chooses to defy accepted policy, here or anywhere else he runs the very real risk of being removed from this community [and others].

This is particularly an issue when the chosen 'nick' is taken into account,...as any 'issue' has the potential to reflect upon this site, whether warranted or, as in this case, not.

Please heed the requests of The Skins Factory, and/or Pixtudio.  Neither is a good choice of opponent....

Reply #32 from WinCustomize Forums Top
SIXX: BTW, I do like your political statement link...


Thanx scorpio....
Reply #33 from WinCustomize Forums Top
All the posted email adresses were deleted to remove temptation, following a silly thread posting a few days ago, likewise removed....
Reply #34 from WinCustomize Forums Top
if I modify CopperDeck2, and then upload a SCREENSHOT of my modifications...you gonna tell me I'm doing something wrong?


Hus,
Without having read more past your post..
If you MODIFY Copperdeck2 then yes, you are using someone elses work in your modification. This directly subjects the original author to perceptions which he/she/they did not intend to project. In TSF's case, they earn a living doing this and would thus be entitled to damages incurred by said mis-perceptions.

If you create your own graphics which were inspired by Copperdeck2 then no harm, no foul.
Reply #35 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I support the 1st Amendment completely. Also I believe that a business has the right to set guidelines or limits regarding what is shown on its website.


WC is a private website. 1st Admendment dosen't apply here.

I'm glad this SS stuff got dealt with as it should but why is it when I think of TSF I see the words "arrogant" and "self rightous jerk" appear in my head?
Reply #36 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Kona0197 ....let's refrain from name-calling, thankyou.
Reply #37 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Power has nothing to do with it. WinCustomize protects your copyrights and it protects my copyrights. If my work was being distributed without permission via screenshot comments, I would want to put a stop to it, as would anyone else. This isn't some meaningless formality that you should try to circumvent by posting a screenshot and taking email addresses. Copyrights are serious and important to all of us who have put countless hours of careful thought and labor into creating skins.

I can get behind that.....

Well put, Mike.

Reply #38 from WinCustomize Forums Top
if I modify CopperDeck2, and then upload a SCREENSHOT of my modifications...you gonna tell me I'm doing something wrong?


If you MODIFY Copperdeck2 then yes, you are using someone elses work in your modification. This directly subjects the original author to perceptions which he/she/they did not intend to project.


Now I'm getting confused. I thought the focus of screenshots was to portray what you have on your desktop. No more, no less. Whether what you used was changed or not. Depending on the definition, tweaking the color would be a modification. Does this mean that all those screenshots with color tweaking need permission first? Does this mean we can't show any blinds in a screenshot if we changed the toolbars because the artist didn't create any? If I post a screen shot, do I have to hide my throbber because one wasn't skinned?

I do agree with not giving out modded skins, by email or any other means, without permission. It's just now I getting confused about the actual screenie itself.
Reply #39 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Now I'm getting confused. I thought the focus of screenshots was to portray what you have on your desktop. No more, no less. Whether what you used was changed or not. Depending on the definition, tweaking the color would be a modification. Does this mean that all those screenshots with color tweaking need permission first? Does this mean we can't show any blinds in a screenshot if we changed the toolbars because the artist didn't create any? If I post a screen shot, do I have to hide my throbber because one wasn't skinned?

Anything goes in screenshots....except...

Porn

Racial Vilification/personal attack

distributable content...eg unobscured walls created by another person.

An intention to unlawfully distribute another's property via posted email links.

The determination of what does or does not 'fit' within those limitations is the responsibility of the Site's moderators....

Reply #40 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What TSF wants, TSF gets.

yeah i guess thats how it is here...
Reply #41 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WC is a private website. 1st Admendment dosen't apply here.


There is no basis for thinking that 'anything goes' at WC-- that people can post anything they want. There are limits. People are going to hit them. So, someone ran up against one of the limits established by the site ownership. WC dealt with it. BFD-- What is the problem here?
Reply #42 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Anything goes in screenshots....except...


So - the exceptions aside (no argument with them by the way) - the answer to this:

if I modify CopperDeck2, and then upload a SCREENSHOT of my modifications...you gonna tell me I'm doing something wrong?


would be: No.

correct?
Reply #43 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Correct.  It's considered to be 'fair use'.

Creating a port is fine.....showing it as a WIP screenie, whatever is fine.

The line is definitely overstepped when you take orders to distribute the ported skin.

Wincustomize.com should not be used to facilitate unlawful property distribution.  This site is intended FOR the skinners, with their interests at heart.  Anyone abusing the rights of another will find themselves in an untenable situation...

Reply #44 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Got it - that's what I originally thought.
Thanks Jafo.
Reply #45 from WinCustomize Forums Top

So, what is this screenshot we are talking about...

...answers on a postcard to...

Reply #46 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Anything goes in screenshots....except...
Porn
Racial Vilification/personal attack
distributable content...eg unobscured walls created by another person.
An intention to unlawfully distribute another's property via posted email links.
The determination of what does or does not 'fit' within those limitations is the responsibility of the Site's moderators


So Jafo, I stand corrected. That's okay with me. If I were never wrong I would never learn anything.
Now, If I stand corrected then TSF has no business at all trying to bully and threaten people any longer if they modify their work and post it as a screenshot. I've seen them do it in the past quite a bit and it was justified by the reasons I stated earlier.

In this instance, if the author of the SS was insinuating that he would distribute the works which were the result of plagiarism, then that is a different case.
Reply #47 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If I post a screen shot, do I have to hide my throbber


Bichur likes his throbbers.....
So, what is this screenshot we are talking about...


WCAmbass posted a screenshot of an nVidia Reactor ported WB skin. I must say it was a very fine job, if I could get it I would; I don't have the ability (yet) to do a modification/port like he did. The nVidia Reactor Media Player skin by The Skin Factory. I won't post a link, just cause I am a little scare-dee-cat.

Jafo: Thanks for clearing some things up, without me having to ask. I have been working on some skins, and I posted one in a screenshot in these very forums. I think it was the "show us your november desktop" or something.

Did I miss something a while ago, because this thread was locked for a minute..?
Reply #48 from WinCustomize Forums Top
it has always been to my understanding that a screen shot falls under fair use, hence not really necesetating a "permission". as most screen shots are used to show off the uploaders "cool" desktops, the uploader isnt trying to depict the skins author in a bad light...so there has never been a problem with Screen shots ...even modified ones... but i also know TSF's feelings on upping screen shots with their works modified.. so I out of respect for their wishes ask permission before I upload.If i get "no" then it dont get uploaded...sure i may not have to...but the idea is respect .....

as for encouraging peeps to send emails .. (wether or not they actually got the skin sent to them).. is basically offering "copywrighted" goods with no permission... WC had to remove the screeny and the comments to stop possible use of the WC site to distribute such goods...
Reply #49 from WinCustomize Forums Top
what a shame....woulda been a great skin/windowblinds. i guess its not ok unless he takes credit for it?
Reply #50 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I dont quite get why its TSF that has the rights to the skins, when they were made specifically for the other companies. In my opinion, that would mean that TSF would have NO control over who gets to make more skins, since it would be up to those companies to give permission. Thats my interpretation anyways...