Rebel Hope and RH Engle woke up today to find that their Woodshed sims, all three of them in their entirety, had been copied by an avatar named “Queef Solo” just yesterday.
The Woodshed sims were started in 2005 by Rebel and RH. All textures were made by RH himself. Aurorra Ashbourne, another Second Life avatar, has apparently obtained these copied pieces by Queef Solo and is passing them out to anyone and everyone they can find.
Rebel and RH are obviously distraught about this. Four years of their work is now absolutely down the tubes, passed out like freebie merchandise across the grid and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it. Rebel immediately called Linden Lab and got Charlene Linden on the phone, who began cleanup procedures, the quickest action I’ve ever heard of from Linden Lab in terms of content theft. Thus, kudos go out to Charlene.
In this case, with a profile-less avatar doing the copying and another avatar passing it out full perm to whomever they can find without benefiting, a DMCA is instantly useless, even more so than it has become. Rebel took her best and only course of action.
The trouble with content theft is that it’s becoming a when for content creators, not an if. When I spoke with Rebel, she said this was not the first time she had been copied – there have been at least two other major incidents, and several texture thefts, all in the past year with one incident in 2007. Content theft is at a frantic pace in Second Life.
The last time Rebel had to deal with a major theft was in 2007. Since that time, viewers like Meerkat, Emerald, and Cryolife have been developed… all which include features that would absolutely devastate anyone’s business if put in the wrong hands. As a community, we are still awaiting the release of Builderbot, which claims to have developed ways to prevent copying on this scale, but I am a skeptic of this claim.
Is there any point in building in Second Life any more? Linden Lab has used our creations to promote Second Life for years. Second Life would not look how it does today if not for the residents. Yes, the residents benefit if they choose to sell, but not everyone cashes out of Second Life. Many of them keep the money in-world.
Stroker’s lawsuit against Linden Lab for their lack of control on content theft will develop into a class action lawsuit. I spoke with Stroker’s lawyer from KamberEdelson LLC in the lawsuit, and he did give me some information about the possibility of other creators getting involved:
“You don’t need to do anything to get “in” on the lawsuit. Basically, anyone who will eventually qualify as a” class member” will get in on it when the Court gives the OK. Until then, there isn’t much you can do. Kevin and Shannon are serving as the “class reps,” which means they will represent all parties in their respective positions. They are not only suing for themselves, but for others like them, such as you, perhaps. I hope that makes sense.
As for having your content recognized. It’s too early to say exactly how that will work out for sure. For trademarks, the likely answer is that you’ll need to have a trademark registered with the USPTO in order to be a class member. For copyright-holders, it’s a little different. It may work out that you won’t need to have your copyright registered with the copyright office, though that would certainly make you a stronger candidate.
It’s very early, so it’s impossible to know how things will work out in the end. But for now, that’s the word.”
In other words, if you want to get involved — keep abreast of the situation and make sure you have some kind of legal claim (trademark, copyright, etc) on your store for a stronger case. I’ll announce on Shopping Cart Disco as soon as I hear from Stroker that other creators are in the clear to participate.
Yet another sad day for content creation in Second Life.
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About copyright registration – I was under the impression that you hold copyright on a creation from the moment it exists until you decide (if you do) to give it away, or until it lapses decades later. I'm pretty certain that's the case in the UK, isn't it true worldwide?
Sympathy to Rebel and RH.
Polero – Yes, but you can also register it with your country's official office for copyright to make it a bit more official and much easier to defend if it ever comes into question. Same goes with Trademarks for brands.
Many sim owners who run shopping sims have chosen to restrict access to avatars who have payment info on file with LL. Obviously, this would prevent this kind of anonymous copying from happening. Sure, it's not ideal, you'd lose some sales and traffic, but it would prevent these catastrophes too. Sim owners who choose not to do this are accepting the risk of a mass sim copy like this one outlined here. The choice is yours.
You can't have it both ways, not right now. So use the tools that are available, like restricting access to on file residents, until LL is able to get the situation under control. If not, the risk is on your shoulders, and you can't expect us to lend you a new shoulder to cry on when your sims are harvested.
Bravo. You have my nomination for Unfeeling Cunt of the Month! Do I hear a second?
Second.
Look, I'm not saying that bellyaching isn't allowed. This is a sucky problem. I'm simply advocating some self-protective action in addition to the bellyaching.
If in your country the military and police systems broke down, would you just sit around holding hands while malcontents rape and stole from you? Or would you try to protect yourself until the government got their act together?
The shame in on LL for this, but the responsibility is yours to do what you can until they fix it. If you can, you must.
Actually, what you said was, "If not, the risk is on your shoulders, and you can't expect us to lend you a new shoulder to cry on when your sims are harvested."
Advocating would be saying, "Have you considered setting your sims to payment verified? That might prevent future theft."
What you're doing is giving an ultimatum. "Either you do what I advise you or stop whining." What makes it worse is what you're "simply advocating" isn't a viable solution.
What a douchey sentiment.
What's next? We could tell RH wanted it, just look at what their sim was wearing?
yes this would be a great idea uh if only you couldn't buy prepaid visa cards to be whoever you want! the real issue is if you act like a fkn asshole be expected to be treated like one!
A LOT of my customers have NO payment info on file, that wouldn't be the ideal solution I guess…
Emerald is not a Malicious Viewer. view this site to allay concerns http://modularsystems.sl/index.php?option=com_myb...
Yeah, neither is Meerkat as far as I know. And Emerald actually hired the one who made the Cryolife viewer to specifically create ways to prevent it's use. Also, Emerald, by default, includes clothing layer protection. Yay research.
It also includes some features that can be misused. All of the viewers do, actually.
And the fun part about it is, LL can't do anything to firmly control any of this unless they cut third party viewer support.
Why not then write "all the viewers" instead of making scary noises about third-party viewers?
I can grab UUIDs of skin and clothing textures using the bog standard official viewer, and certain other content is totally exposed with it. No one complains. Emerald doesn't really do anything more (but certainly doesn't do less) in regards to content.
You can't cut third party support- the client is open source- the cat is already out of the bag, basically.
(— end reply to Tenshi, start regular commenting)
I know developers on Meerkat only but most of the 3rd party viewers have resources that have been available either probably since libsecondlife or have been developed through the opensourcing of the client. You can call me a fan-girl or whatever but you have to hold people responsible for their actions regardless of what they use.
Are you going to claim I am a thief just b/c I own an application someone made me that backs up my content to my harddrive because I've lost a lot of crap due to LL when, in theory, I could use it for evil? That application is not responsible for the theft, I am (If I did, I'm not. I respect people's hard work).
I am very sorry this happened, this is a tragedy for someone who has always been kind to me when I was a young whippersnapper and I won't forget that. I hope LL removed everything from the asset server rather than just inworld.
Restricting access to NPOF is neither effective not in the slightest practical.
The sort of people stealing content aren't going to balk at stealing credit card numbers.
I agree. If they're willing to steal three sims' worth of content, they wouldn't hesitate to falsify or steal payment information.
not really. 1) it's much easier to steal SL content than it is to steal RL credit card numbers, and 2) the potential punishment for being caught using stolen credit cards are much graver, hence people are much less likely to do it.
part of the problem here is that content security is considered a joke by many – it's not thought of in the same realm as other kinds of theft at all.
You have no clue what you're talking about.
Setting aside the fact that somehow you believe that it's harder to get CC numbers than hack copies of sims, or that there is nearly the interest in copying sims as there is in stealing credit card numbers, it just plain doesn't make sense to say that somehow the penalty is what keeps people from doing it.
Identity theft is a massive phenomenon that our legal system can barely contain. There are plenty of people who think that lifting someone's CC# is not a big deal and who get away with it, just as with content thieves. A number of those doing these things are small-time criminals who do it for a lark because they can and because they simply have no principles. I wouldn't count on your hypothesis being totally sound.
GreenLife EMERALD does NOT have anything to do with theft and there is NO copyright infringing tools within it. CRYOLIFE certainly does though and I cannot speak to MEERKAT.
But before pointing fingers in articles, it might be nice if the author would CHECK THE SOURCE, Anything else is bad reporting.
Yeah, I use Emerald. It's great that you're a fanboy and all that, but all these third party viewers include features that can be used maliciously if someone is truly determined – especially in conjunction with other third party programs.
Look if you're determined enough to use Emerald that way, then you're determined enough to use the "official" SL viewer that way as well.
So if you think Emerald is a threat, then take the damned thing off and STFU because it seems like you're wearing it because you think it gives you some kind of "power" and intend to use it "maliciously" yourself.
There's not a damned thing wrong with Emerald and it does not have evil, copyright grabbing magical powers. So spout your paranoid BS at somebody who cares.
I am flattered a whole web page is made about lil old me! However let me make some corrections. For one, 3 sims is a bit far fetched I only did Woodshed and yes some demo dresses of rebels skirts! The other furniture is another favorite of mine Ramos! mystery solved.. I figured I would give a nice going away present to my two favorite creators. See RH is a jerkoff and Rebel is whiny twot. (mostly was after Rh though) As for what i have read let me tell you I have passed this out to as many groups, resale FP places and random av's as possible. I would say I at least sent it out to 6k of av's actually maybe more one group had 5k of ppl in it. Maybe next time RH will learn not to be such a asshole and Susan will not attack before figuring shit out. Pay back sucks, sorry was so harsh but seemed to be a fitting punishment. Have a great SL day!!!
Dear Queef Solo, you're a dirty ranging cunt with a reserved sign next to Rasputin in Hell xoxo Emleigh Westland.
Dear Queef Solo, you're a dirty ranging cunt with a reserved sign next to Rasputin in Hell xoxo Emleigh Westland.
I'm sorry, is this your pathetic justification?
Wow you're a pathetic excuse of a human being…. a waste of space
Nyet! I don't need to justify shit, it is what it is. What goes around comes around" & everything happens for a reason, I gave you my REASON my justification is revenge loll I satisfied me and isn't that who really matters…me me me me
Revenge for WHAT?
Sighs, I told you because hes an asshole! I obviously cannot get into detail but I will say he better get his facts straight b4 he accuses ppl of shit otherwise they just might do it. Same with the others, now this is all i have to say about this. whats done is done, right or wrong its over. Least for me. you get what you reap
STATE YOUR CASE! no one understands why this happened not even RH himself I am sure. Hes to arrogant to see why and Rebel when shes not crying over it she has her head so far up his ass her head is brown. As for Ramos, she is the one who actually taught me to steal not even knowing it! kudos to her, another ignorant "top designer" who thinks sl revolves around them. So now all of you can bend over and kiss my ass bye now
Ok, well. Observation on dirty revenge. I'm going to go out on a limb and say if you feel screwed over, and this is your idea of a clean revenge, then it's possible you did something to deserve whatever you got. I'm as vengeful as the next person, possibly more, but I get more joy out of a straight, clean "getting somebody on something dirty" that they did, rather than being an evil idiot, aka 'a boil on the butt of humanity'.
So, turning it around. You're the ass? Just guessing….
Scumbag!
Blah blah blah all I keep reading from you is "durrrr i'm a raging bitch who has nothing better to do with life than create ignorant drama on a virtual world because I'm too disgusting to have any actual friends blah blah i've been wronged blah blah blah i want attention blah blah blah let me steal some prims and make people disgusted by me blah blah blah i will call this revenge blah blah blah. this is my biggest accomplishment in my life blah blah."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
DON'T call Queef a bitch! He's obviously a guy! What self respecting woman would name herself "queef"? And most women know it's not spelled "twot". BTW Queef, you numb skull, the quote is "you reap what you sow" not "you get what you reap"
All these things point to a 15 year old MALE script kiddie
So, NOT a bitch…. but can think of a few other choice descriptors, can't you?
Well, if he is a boy, then I'd say "punk-ass bitch" is quite appropriate.
I doubt Queef is the real ripper, more likely to be someone rarking you all up IMO.
Re the credit card comment, I don’t think people who rip in SL necessarily steal credit cards ( some might)or are thieves in RL. I say this because of the reasons stated above, mainly consequence and also perception of value.
Sometimes we forget that no one outside of SL could actually care less, most would consider it petty, some would not even consider it theft.
Just trying telling someone about it, someone who is not involved in SL and see their reaction, I bet they laugh.
Well he is right, you DO get what you reap.
You know, I'm sure that karmically that'll be a pleasure for him.
We all know how nothing ever goes wrong when you steal from others!
So, taking your 'revenge' is worth opening yourself up to real life prosecution, is it? Of course, you feel you're untouchable because you like to think you're protected by anonymity. Wouldn't be too sure about that. Hope the satisfaction is worth that little nagging doubt that will be with you for a few months. And you are a douche. Really.
Hey there, it seems like quite a few of the comments have already shed light on this… but yeah. I do not really appreciate Emerald being labeled as a copyright infringement tool. We have worked very hard to ensure that all content information, including the creator, is backed up in our export tool, and that it is completely disabled for objects you do not have full permissions to.
If you have any questions or concerns about this, you are more than welcome to speak with me personally. (I don't always have the time to check up on the news). Inworld -> LordGregGreg Back
This is an important point:" In this case, with a profile-less avatar doing the copying and another avatar passing it out full perm to whomever they can find without benefiting, a DMCA is instantly useless, even more so than it has become. Rebel took her best and only course of action."
A friend of mine had a copybot issue, where the copy was seen, then deleted, we took a photo, with all the creation details showing, and confronted the person who rezzed the copy – meanwhile the copybotter (we are almost 100% sure it was the rezzers alt) quietly removed themselves from all groups that identified themselves with the rezzer, and the account was deleted.
All of this was reported in an AR, but nothing has been done. I understand big creators have more pull, but what about the small time creator, who doesn't have concierge access, what about the fact that there is no route for someone not profitting from a copy – where there is no way for a DMCA to be applicable.
My friend's creations are going to be copybotted – the pieces have already been copied, but we have caught this person and others, but without proof of the items being sold, this is a grey area.
I bet Rebel and RH have an idea who did this. Because it sounds like someone who has known them for many years. He/she knows Rebel's rl name… and knew Rebel before she was with RH. Just my observances from the comments.
Lay off of Emerald will ya? Can you, with out a doubt, prove that it was made with content theft in mind? And IF yes, then can you duplicate the same content theft in the regular SL viewer? A person hellbent on stealing is going to find ways no matter what viewer they use. A car is a mode of transportation, but in the wrong hands, can be made a weapon. People can be sued for libel, take care with your words.
You lose all credibility as a news source if you post hearsay. Have evidence on what you post or don't post it at all. Otherwise everything else you write is suspect. I am referring to the comment about Emerald, of course. Also, posts made by the owners of Woodshed do not support the "all three SIMs" statement either.
Don't blame Emerald Life. There are far, far worse things coming down the pike very soon.
Like this: http://www.sluniverse.com/php/vb/general-sl-discu...
All this ridiculous posturing in defense of Emerald isn't credible. Emerald indeed eases content theft, and has helped spawn even more abusive viewers off its open-source code. No, you dont' get to throw up your hands and cry "I can't do anything" about opensource just because it's copyable, not when you brag to everybody that your viewer helps stop copyright theft for users — a claim that in fact you can't really make as good little Stallmanite tekkies, so it's hilarious that you make the claim for your users about texture layers, and yet then turn around and claim well, nothing can be done about copying — total hypocrisy!
Prokofy Neva
Dear Prok.
Meerkats open source code, libsls open source code, prim mirrors open source code, all existed Before emerald released our backup feature. We understand the issues with releasing potentially dangerous code, but in this case, the cat was well out of the bag and keeping that feature out of emerald would do nothing but hurt the people who would use it legitimately. If scum bags use the code to steal with, at least legitimate people should have the option to use a legitimate viewer to back up and preserve their own creations.
Also, you have somehow confused what has been said because you don't tend to read correctly. Let me clarify. The emerald team ddoes everything we can to stop copybotting. Granted, this is not much, as there are fundamental issues about preventing the copy of information already sent to anothers computer, however, as seen with the texture layers, we do try to stop as much of it as we can. The clothing layer protection forces copybotter to only get the backed layer, which is often times much less use full. We have never claimed that this will completely fix the problem, but it is definatly a start. LL viewers will soon be implementing this as well and so in a small way we can help make copybotting harder. We are also working on a asset compare system which can eventually be used to auto-file dmca reports. Although its impossible to claim that we have solved the issue of copybotting, we sure have done a hell of alot more than you ever have against it.
tl;dr; Don't let prok shove words in our mouth, get them from the source.
You can see some nice examples of content theft here:
http://www.koinup.com/OriolusOliva/works/