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About stolen sprites...

manuloku

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Well, I have a very singular question about sprites...

I see a lot of servers with stolen sprites, like old medivia, nastarius, and others (including tibia-like games)... Noticed that some of the sprites are made by "important" members of the forum..

The question is: What is possible to do against it? If you, sprite maker, see your sprite being used in an unknown server, without paying for the rights or something, what happen? Because here (in Brazil) I see tons of servers with custom sprites that is literally stolen by that "download packs"...

Just want to open this discussion, because I really want to create a custom server, but by the right side... paying for it. Btw it's very frustating to know that ppl can stole it all and use in another server for free...

Edit: Sorry for bad english..
 
Well, I have a very singular question about sprites...

I see a lot of servers with stolen sprites, like old medivia, nastarius, and others (including tibia-like games)... Noticed that some of the sprites are made by "important" members of the forum..

The question is: What is possible to do against it? If you, sprite maker, see your sprite being used in an unknown server, without paying for the rights or something, what happen? Because here (in Brazil) I see tons of servers with custom sprites that is literally stolen by that "download packs"...

Just want to open this discussion, because I really want to create a custom server, but by the right side... paying for it. Btw it's very frustating to know that ppl can stole it all and use in another server for free...

Edit: Sorry for bad english..
SUE THEM. But if someone is not really going big with it, like making real money, does it really matters? What if you use CIPSoft IP?

Also, this was discussed a lot already. Sprites & Morality (https://otland.net/threads/sprites-morality.255720/)
 
But if someone is not really going big with it, like making real money, does it really matters?
Of course, it matters. Stealing is stealing and it's not okay to do so.
If you cannot afford sprites, do them yourself and don't use them at all.

Some things are opensource and it's a great idea, to create something that others can make use of.
But if someone decides to sell something, instead of giving, you should respect that.
 
@RoyalzBHO Tell us your situation how DBKO owner stole sprite outfits from you and now makes 10k a month
Well, if that's true there's no other option different than sue him.
I'm 100% sure you can find the lawyer that would take payment from winning prize, rather than in advance.
 
That's actually not likely.
I actually used services like those 2 times already, not gaming-related to be honest, but I don't think that matters. And I had like 100% proof (well, I was told that in court nothing is "100% proof", but in our human-terms).
Initial cost + winning prize = still profit
 
@RoyalzBHO Tell us your situation how DBKO owner stole sprite outfits from you and now makes 10k a month

I've talked to them actually and it wasn't their intention to steal anything. Someone else did apparently, his name was Crow and he was supposed to do a bunch of servers with them. He used my sprites, awfully edited it and made his own versions of back/profile looks and then sold them as his own, that's all. This was partly my fault as well, partly 'cause i never thought someone would ever make such a dickmove and because i've uploaded them on my devinatart account. Then brazil folk happened, and after that my old (and ugly btw) sprites were basically everywhere.
 
Well, if that's true there's no other option different than sue him.
I'm 100% sure you can find the lawyer that would take payment from winning prize, rather than in advance.
but dragonball is completely different copyright altogether and im pretty sure DB lawyers would step in then straight up ? you get me? what is the point its openTibia once spriter gets payied once he should request a payment from other Server if sprites are in someway Private or exclusive then copyright them but who do you think will go to court where and how you gonna trace who stole the sprites or ?
I've talked to them actually and it wasn't their intention to steal anything. Someone else did apparently, his name was Crow and he was supposed to do a bunch of servers with them. He used my sprites, awfully edited it and made his own versions of back/profile looks and then sold them as his own, that's all. This was partly my fault as well, partly 'cause i never thought someone would ever make such a dickmove and because i've uploaded them on my devinatart account. Then brazil folk happened, and after that my old (and ugly btw) sprites were basically everywhere.
i mean it kinda sucks that you got "robbed" but you gained recognition and in case of sprites this is kinda like biggest way of appreciating they steal it because it is so good. i think in both way they have more content to customize and you most likely to get more jobs since everyone knows who made the graphics. ( not players but they not ment to know every name hosters are)

**HOT**
best go is probably to put sprites on stutter stock or other websites like this and pay fee then they will probably get lawyers for you?


technically someone maybe wanna create software that will generate random in pixels 32x32 without any information just based on time and see what we get? xD
 
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The question is: What is possible to do against it? If you, sprite maker, see your sprite being used in an unknown server, without paying for the rights or something, what happen? Because here (in Brazil) I see tons of servers with custom sprites that is literally stolen by that "download packs"...

The sad truth is that you can generally do... nothing.

You can contact them and ask them nicely, and you can even send places that publishes or hosts your sprites (filehosts, server hosts, webhosts) DMCA notices, but that's more or less the extent of what you can do. And that generally yields very little result.

Unless you hold a properly registered and recognized copyright or trademark of the artwork (sprite) in both your home country and the country in which the content is being hosted, you'd be hard pressed to find a lawyer willing to take the case unless you have a couple thousand euros for lawyer fees you're willing to sink into the project. And that's assuming the host country even respects your authority, as a lot of them (especially eastern european, asian and south american countries) generally don't give a hoot about intellectual property outside of their own borders.

So long story short; Unless you live in the same country as the host, hold a recognized copyright or trademark, and are willing to pay a lot of money to hire a lawyer and press formal charges, you are S.O.L.
 
Aren't we all technically stealing when hosting servers?... It is what it is, sadly. Fair or not fair.
 
Mmm difficult. ofc those sprites have nothing to do with OpenTibia itself I mean those are 2d creations.. none direct relation with Tibia (a.k.a OT). Ofc OT is an ripoff, and with that story hitting ur back you never going to win anything I suppose.

It's simple, creative work have copyright, always on the creator. If you can prove this that part is done. Simple, other people, company's can't use your work at all, and for comercial use, hell no without an approval.

And yes there are no cure no pay lawyers, had one myself 2 monts ago with good result, for another case. As long as they belive you going to win they will take the case.. because, you already guessing they know what can win and they want to get money :)
 
The question is: What is possible to do against it?
If your files has not already been stolen: encryption. Here's an old thread about the topic.
If your files/sprites has already been stolen you're kinda out of luck, but some of the options available might be: lawsuits, retaliation or social feedback.
I'm working on a website that might be relevant, but it's still in early development.
Also:
YOqwGRN.jpg
 
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