People reupload my sims to the Gallery and put CC on..:-/(still with my name on it!)

I believe that sometimes it isn't really intentional. Like someone might have a sim from the gallery then decide to rebuild it into a completely new sim but because it was done from your sim as the base it lists you as the creator even if in reality it is nothing like your sim. I had this happen with a lot, I had DL'd a lot from the gallery a while back, I deleted everything later and decided to rebuild my own completely different and new house. 1 worked hard on it to make it an original concept. I loved how it turned out, uploaded it and low and behold it had someone elses name as the creator. I contacted that person to tell them it wasn't intentional and that I wasn't sure why it happened, they took a look and explained to me why it said that.
Now if I build to upload I only use a fresh unused lot.
You could just contact the person and explain that to them.

Years ago, when I was a newbie to this game, I created a Sim of my own, using cc I had added to my game. I didn't even give it a second thought. I had no clue who the originators of said cc were, nor where I had gotten it. It was only after reading a thread similar to this, that I recognized my error. I fessed up right there on the thread. I felt terrible. Had I realized what I had done, or would do unconsciously just using others' cc, I would have taken better care to note the creator and just where I'd gotten the cc, to give them their fair due. I'm not even sure if I realized while in CAS that the items I used were cc. We always got new hair, etc. with SPs, EPs, etc.. I should have paid more careful attention.

Instead of being upset, try to put a positive spin on what happened to you. Yes, it's terrible, but on the flip side somebody liked your work enough to download it, make a few tweaks to their own liking and then was happy enough with the results to share.

On the Sims3 forums, for the first time, we were able to create our Simsselves to be our avatars. Originally, we were told nobody else could download them. So, I decided to give it a whirl. Later on, I saw my Simself had indeed been downloaded. :open_mouth: I was offended, when I should have been flattered. Took me awhile to come around to that. Somebodies like my avatar enough to want her in their game. I just hope they treated her/me nicely and didn't burn her at the stake!

Another reason you might find your somewhat altered creations uploaded is that people like me make backup copies of sims and lots. This allows me to move sims between different saved games, and it protects my most beloved sims and builds if my game crashes.

Once you upload to the Gallery, it is no longer yours; it is the property of Maxis.

Anything you upload to the Gallery automatically becomes the property of Maxis; uploading custom content on the Gallery, even though it does not transfer (unless you have the same piece in your Mods folder), technically becomes the property of Maxis and is no longer the property of the person who has created the piece of custom content.

What is really worse is when your creation is reuploaded and Maxis features it. That's always fun.

Is there a feature to report it? It used to be possible on TS2/3 Exchange. Not that it always worked but it was something. :)

"plopppo;14602302" wrote:
I wonder how Trademark holders will feel about that. That's like YouTube saying we own the videos you upload.

Can someone upload branded content to the gallery? If so, then good luck with that one EA.

They will still be able to own the branded content, but they do not directly own that company. They own the content that the person created and if they upload to the Gallery.

In terms of YouTube, Google does own the video; they are able to do whatever they please with the videos - they could block it, remove it, etc. They also own the accounts, and can do anything to the accounts (banning them, etc.), but Google is not however in charge of the company in any way though.

I'm pretty sure that it's in the TOS.

Back when a lot of people were leveling toons in World of Warcraft and selling those accounts then for a few thousand dollars on ebay it raised a big stink if they got caught because blizzard would hit them with the ban hammer. The reason being is that even though WoW players pay for the use of an account, the account and anything related to the WoW game belongs soley to blizzard entertainment. It is stated in the TOS so anyone then laying claim of ownership was actually guilty of theft.

I'm near certain that TS has a similar clause but I can't be bothered to look for it at the moment. Ultimately its intended to protect the rights of the franchise.

"plopppo;14602302" wrote:

"Colton147147;14602271" wrote:
Once you upload to the Gallery, it is no longer yours; it is the property of Maxis.

Anything you upload to the Gallery automatically becomes the property of Maxis; uploading custom content on the Gallery, even though it does not transfer (unless you have the same piece in your Mods folder), technically becomes the property of Maxis and is no longer the property of the person who has created the piece of custom content.

I wonder how Trademark holders will feel about that. That's like YouTube saying we own the videos you upload.

Can someone upload branded content to the gallery? If so, then good luck with that one EA.

Taken from http://www.ea.com/terms-of-service#section6
EA does not pre-screen all UGC and does not endorse or approve any UGC that you and other users may contribute to EA Services. You are solely responsible for your UGC and may be held liable for UGC that you post.

EA respects the intellectual property rights of others. You must have the legal right to upload UGC to EA Services. You may not upload or post any UGC on EA Services that infringes the copyright, trademark or other intellectual property rights of a third party nor may you upload UGC that violates the law, this Terms of Service and/or any third party's right of privacy or right of publicity. You may upload only UGC that you are permitted to upload by the owner or by law. EA may, without prior notice to you and in its sole judgment, remove UGC that may infringe the intellectual property or other rights of a third party. If you are a repeat infringer of EA's or a third party's intellectual property or other rights, EA may terminate your Account without notice to you. If your Account(s) is/are terminated under this paragraph, you are not entitled to a refund for any fees you have paid, and you will lose access to Entitlements associated with your Account.

EA reserves the right (but has no obligation except as required by law) to remove, block, edit, move or disable UGC for any reason, including when EA determines that UGC violates these terms. The decision to remove UGC or other Content at any time is in EA's sole and final discretion. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, EA does not assume any responsibility or liability for UGC or for removal of, UGC or any failure to or delay in removing, UGC or other Content.



ETA:
So in retrospect this section relieves EA of any liability and drops infringement cases at the feet of the offender.

It's not about owning the game codes nor selling their upload- this always goes round and round. The game belongs to EA, the code belongs to EA, yet creativity belongs to the person. It's why EA trys with the hash tags on the uploads and why they will delete or used to delete reuploaded/plagiarized creations if there's a reason.

This always happens and it's going to always happen. Telling someone what they make isn't theirs is true and yet false. If I draw something it doesn't belong to the paper company nor the pencil company. EA can use, everyone can use if uploaded- that's what the upload is about. REuploading with credit is what everyone hopes for in this game- and not to see Maxis favoriting what was reuploaded by someone else. :lol:

This is mostly what I've observed from other iterations of the game. Not necessarily what the lawyers would say.

"Kariussa;879279" wrote:
I went inn to the Sims 4 gallery website and # my name, and I found out that some of my sims where re uploaded,changed, but still had my name on,and my text, where I always write no cc, because I don't use cc .I guess it is not possible to stop people from re uploading others and my creations sins it is there on the internet, but I should at least be able to delete it when it is there with my name on it!!! :s

I actually take them as a compliment. My sims are being reuploaded every single day (literally, they don't even bother changing the hashtags) I used to get annoyed but in some way, they like my sims enough to do so :)