dunno what happened there

To forgive is to forget. Pfffftttt

To forgive is to suffer the same consequences over and over. 

Wow! If that is the case I expect the forums to become much more "interesting" in the future.

I am kinda baffled by the whole ordeal, TSF legally is right, but, its just a screenshot, if i did something similar, i would give TSF credit, and say in my screenshot, i liked this skin but customized it to my personal preference, but give everyone credit, and the alterations were for personal preference, but thats just me

I'm getting really tired of this nonsense.  It's a screenshot, and this thread doesn't in any way imply that Elsius is the creator.  There is no point in bringing back a thread from 2008 just to get some attention.  Everyone needs to stop the attacks going on.

If anybody has a problem with something posted on this site in regards to copyright, contact the administrators!

There is nothing wrong here, and as Zubaz said, the screenshot stays.

There's nothing wrong with this forum post.  Problem solved.

I dunno what to say if you all can't see that the OP is vague for a specific reason.

8 years ago I designed , built, and sold a house in an  old fashioned New England neighborhood. When finished a contractor came to our company and asked to purchase the plans so they could duplicate the house because it was so cute. I denied because it would ruin the neighborhood to have the same house next door. Well, he went ahead and had an architect duplicate the house which he buitl 3 all side by side. It ruined the neighborhood.

Yes, I take  intellectual property very serious.

If you people are getting sick of this nonsense then...

1. Don't release stolen art as master skins

and

2. Learn about copyrights

It doesn't matter if this moron claims he owns the hyperdesk theme, it matters that he could have stolen it in the first place since i have no record of his name buyin it and he altered it without permission while putting it on display. The lack of respect for artist's rights is amazing.

Now since the screenshot is staying there's no reason to take this private. I don't give a s**t if this thread was 10 years old when it pertains to our products and copyrights. Let's get that straight. You guys are in the wrong not me. I'm getting sick of this nonsense.

Well TSF, I don't frequent your site enough to examine the graphics and compare to each and every skin that comes into WinCustomize.  Once again, take it to PM and it will be dealt with.

Oh I know plenty about copyrights.  Posting a screenshot doesn't violate a copyright in this case.  If you feel it does, please file a DMCA request and it will be looked into. 

First of all, don't start with the personal attacks.  Second, don't accuse someone of stealing in public unless you can verify it.  That would once again.......go to PM.  "Lack of respect" is not a copyright violation.

I wonder if you guys would feel the same if someone took a Demigod character, changed him to look like total crap and then released screenshots of the game on a gaming site. After "allegedly" pirating the game. Now I imagine most of you wouldn't care because let's face it you really don't have anything invested in the game. Not like Brad does. Brad's devoted his time and money into that game. I see him on Facebook up late hours posting. Much like I do. I doubt he would be cool with someone ruining the look of those awesome characters and making his game look bad. That's pure assumption on my part. It could be it wouldn't bother Brad. But he and I are a lot alike so i'm assuming he would see it in thesame way i do. You guys can diminish this all you want and say its just a theme who cares but it represents 2 months of my life and 5 figures (dollars) to make, so I do care.

Now put yourselves in our place. You spend 2 months on a Master Skin and someone allegedly pirates your skin and changes it without your permission, ruins the intent of your art and uploads it here. Ya'll going to be cool with that? I'm just curious.

But whatever. I don't have the luxury of time to argue these points all day.

We're talking about a *screenshot* ... not a released skin .. a *screenshot* I sense the fail is strong in this one....

Jeff .... there are two specific identifiable issues with this statement/query.

1. No-one uploaded your product here, only a screenshot of it.  If I simply commented... "I loaded a TSF Hyperdesk theme on my machine and made it look sillybetter/odd/quaint by setting absurdly huge fonts" would you demand the comment be wiped because it describes an altered skin theme?  Somewhat draconian at best.

and

2. Any suggestion/determination/question as to whether an individual is or is not a legitimate customer of yours is not of any relevance to any persons other than the parties involved.

I have no doubt in my mind that if Brad believed his copyrights were infinged, first, he would privately contact the gaming sight, and then he would get a lawyer and begin suit.  He wouldn't post in the gaming sight forum like a squealing hall monitor.  Brad's a businessman, and he knows what power he has and how to use it effectively.

A screenshot is not a downloadable skin, and frankly, the screenshot looks nice, and it's probably bringing more attention to it than it would otherwise. 

If someone posts it as their skin, or as a downloadable mod then it's a different story.  There are actually a bunch of skins out there, both master and premium, that people mod and post screenshots about.

Karen.. its site.. not sight (sorry, had to)

Jafo: Talking about it and showing it are different. And the answer is no I wouldn't say that. That would be ridiculous. Showing an altered version of our work in any form is a little different.

K10w3: I'm glad you know Brad so well having been a member here at WC for a whole year and a half.

Dog: That's up to the copyright holder if that practice is allowed for a theme, not a website. And i think it looks like crap. And i own the images. Now you can tell me you know something about copyrights but I live with a trial lawyer and my company's attorney is an Intellectual Property attorney. I ask questions and get answers about these things. It's not worth suing over but its worth "preaching" about.

Jeff... my PM describes how an EULA 'might' be worded to attempt to prohibit screenshot distribution....but if no-one can post screenshots in fear of censuring then no-one is likely to ever 'inadvertently' [or otherwise] promote a product via such posting.

Just food for thought...

Jafo you're allowed to post a screenshot, you're not allowed to convert the theme to a different format first of all and second you are not allowed to alter the graphics. My EULA was looked over by a prominent south Florida IP attorney.

I think the point being made here is that a copyrighted skin has been altered and is being publicly displayed in a way other than designed/intended by the artist/copyright holder.

The question here should not be about whether it is a rip, modification or merely a  screenshot, but about whether any of us would want our 'for sale' works modified in such a way that detracted from the original, then have it publicly displayed and lose potential customers due to its misrepresentation.

OK, hands up all those who wouldn't care if you lost sales/customers due to having your work modded and displayed in a way that ruined the look you worked so hard to achieve.  Go on, tell me you wouldn't be pissed if your livelihood was threatened by an unauthorised mod that spoiled your intended look.

Jeff makes a pertinent point here and does not deserve the contempt being shown towards him... but I suppose, the boot's not on the other foot, is it?

You obviously know little about PC gaming then. Game modification is an accepted ( in some cases even very actively encouraged ) practice .  I play UT2004 , and I don't think I've played a unmodified game since shortly after I discovered online play. In my experience , the feedback given on the mods refects on the mod more than the game.

I would think that Brad would be happy that someone bought the game and cared enough to make the mod , if that's what you're doing.Or at worst , he'd be angry if this was deliberate trashing of Demigod.

If it's a screenshot , it's a screenshot. Your example, If it were like any gaming fora , your posted screenshots would be flamebait at best.