PBW Shipset Etiquette

[Deathstalker]

(Hope I spelled that right)...

Anyway, this is a good question for all the artists/shipset 'owners' out there. How do you feel about the shipsets on the PBW site?? By that I mean the ones who have taken a known shipset like the EarthAlliance and just changed the race picture or someone who has posted a 'collection' of their favorite StarTrek ships into one set from many authors to use in PBW games.

The reason is that I too have a shipset myself (not uploaded, just use on my own computer) that is some of my favorite ships from alot of different sets. Now how annoyed do the authors get if a shipset like this is uploaded?? (Kinda a round about way of asking permission I guess....)

Not trying to start any flaming here but I would like your opinions.....

Thanx...

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"We are all...the sum of our scars"....(paraphrased) Matt. R. Stover-'Blade of Tyshalle'.

"Human existance is all imagination...Reality is no more than a simple agreement among its participants that this is where we shall meet, and these are the rules that we shall abide by."- Kevin McCarthy/David Silva "The Family:Special Effects"..

"Long Live the Legion!!"-Comic book fandom...

[dogscoff]

EDIT: Oops - misread question. From the POV of a shipset maker...

I think the only real response to that question is "what are they going to do about it?" I have nearly completed my first shipset and I have found that I am getting very protective of it. However I know that once it is released it is in the public domain and completely out of my control.

All you can realistically do is put some polite Messages in your readme about use of your images, and make the shipset as good as possible so people don't feel the need to modify them.

I've already had someone (from this forum) modifying my vikings. It actually made me very proud that someone had taken such interest, but I did ask them not to release any of their images until the official, complete vikings were completed. Luckily for me that person was polite enough to ask my permission and take notice of what I said, otherwise I might have lost control of the vikings altogether.

There was a long and very informed thread a while back about image copyright, when someone tried to use an image they had found on the web for their shipset and the author refused permission. The bottom line is that this whole copyright / image control business comes down to trust and courtesy. I think you just have to take as little offence as possible- after all, it is really a form of flattery when someone wants to use and personalise your work.

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[This message has been edited by dogscoff (edited 04 November 2001).]

[Andrés]

I personally don't mind people posting modified Versions of my shipsets, as long as my name is mentioned and it's clearly stated in the description that it is a modded Version of this or that shipset.
The same applies to posting them unmodded, plase post the original name and mention my name.
This, of course depend on every aothor, so contacting them is advisable.

[tesco samoa]

I agree with the Last post. If the person is posting them they should mention the source. If they know about it.

But then again. They are creating their own artwork. ( Like DJing) And the source is mentioned in all its glory. Modified but still visable for the author to see how their creation is elvolving.

If the original artist is offened they could contact the person who posted the pictures and ask them to include their name in the history of the pictures. Or something.

But I can see how alot of work needs to have a disclaimer on it. ANd if it does then it should be followed or removed from the site.

But if the files do not mention that these files can be modified if the following section remains in its ..... Author :
then the files are free game. Since the author did not specifically state that these files could not be modified unless the following requirements are met.

So if you finally made it to this part of the post.

If the requirements of the file and author are met then no problem
If the requirements of the file and author are not met then the files should be removed from the server

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Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant!

[zircher]

It's an interesting topic to me. I have access to a dozen or more races and half a dozen 3d modellers as part of the Fire on the Suns universe/team. Greg Ellis, who is the originator of the game, will probably insist on copyright statements and want to include a licensing statement that any given race set can only be distributed as a whole set unless written permission has been granted.

It wouldn't stop casual usage, but it would protect Greg's 'properties' in the case that his races were used for commercial purposes in violation of the copyright or license. [Unlike a trademark, he has the option to pursue or not pursue a violation without losing his rights.]

In case I missed it, does Malfador/Hall have any restrictions or license issues that Greg or should be concerned about?
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TAZ

[AJC]

if someone likes a shipset I create- then I am honored if they find it good enough to use, copy etc...
IMO: If you post images you have to assume and accept that those images may get copied, used, abused etc...Posting images on the web for the world to see and then expecting to keep people from using them is unrealistic, copy right laws or not.

I agree with the comments regarding etiquette , being polite and letting the owner know etc...

[This message has been edited by AJC (edited 05 November 2001).]

[Atrocities]

At first it kinda upset me that images that I had gathered were being used without any credit going to me or the ship set they came from. But ultimately, it was up to me to post my sets, with the information that any of the images used in them that were one of a kind, prior to my public release of those ship sets, came from my set if seen else where. To that end, I also stated that if my ship images were used, IE they came from any of my sets, and yes I will know, then I asked that credit for the image be given to that set. (EXAMPLE: Escort Frigate, and Base ship from Atrocities ship sets: Borg, Dominion, Ferengi. )

Past that, I have no prob. I have no prob if someone emails me and asks if I mind they use the set. That has happened in nearly 80% of the cases were my images, IE Species 8472, the Breen, Dominion, Cardassian, and many others have been used. To those people, I say thank you, and best of luck.

Deathstalker, by all means, you have helped me out so much with tips, ideas, AI, and other that you can use any image in my library without asking.



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New Age Ship Yards

"We've made too many compromises already, too many retreats! They invade our space and we fall back -- they assimilate entire worlds and we fall back! Not again! The line must be drawn here -- this far, no further! And I will make them pay for what they've done!" -- Captain Picard STNG

Borg Breen Species 8472 Cardassian Dominion STNG Ferengi Klingon Romulan
Trek Movie era TOS Illuminati Starwolf Rogue Fleet

[Tricorder]

Well, I haven't played PBW with humans at all yet, and I don't make my own shipset stuff yet. I have one from that Universal Ship Yards on Tripod.com unmodified, and when applicable I fully agree with giving credit to the creator, where ever and whenever you are supposed to do this.

But my 2 cents are this... if you post it anywhere on the web so others have access to it, you are immediately allowing its use in part or whole to anyone else. Password it and/or don't post it if you don't want it used.

Of course, like I said for the one I'm using, the people using it in part/whole still DEFINITELY should give credit to creator/owner of sets/images.

Just my 2 cents.

[President Delerith]

Another problem I find with shipsets in PBW is redundant ones:
Sometimes people use shipsets with only the main color changed or the population portrait. If we don't wan't those players change pics every turn we must install the redundant shipset... and that can be a problem with a 4Gb HDD!

[Master Belisarius]

quote:

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Originally posted by President Delerith:
Another problem I find with shipsets in PBW is redundant ones:
Sometimes people use shipsets with only the main color changed or the population portrait. If we don't wan't those players change pics every turn we must install the redundant shipset... and that can be a problem with a 4Gb HDD!

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Agree.
In my view, the redundancy is the only problem that I can see with the shipsets in PBW.