The Shadowy World of Conversions, Ripping, and Copy-botting: What YOU need to know..
So I wanted to make a kinda "end-all-be-all" post containing info about the legality of conversions, ripping meshes, and those things as they pertain to different sources of content, and what implications this means for sims 4 creators. Here's a cliff notes version that won't involve me lecturing. - It is violating the copyright of IMVU and SecondLife if you use an illegal copybot account to rip meshes from their site and then redistribute them for the sims 4. [PROOF 1, PROOF 2, PROOF #3] - This not only can cause the creators of those meshes to DMCA you or potentially sue you for damages but if those companies find out you violated their policies they will not hesitate to [at the very MINIMUM] ban you from their services. [Same proof as #1] - The creators who create content for those sites (3D modeling sites, IMVU, SL) often require selling those meshes to either greatly supplement or provide the entirety of their income. When you steal from them, you are stealing from their ability to provide for themselves and their families. This is why they take theft seriously, unlike many Sims 4 creators who are doing this as a hobby. - Many 3D modeling sites specifically have rules about what you can and cannot do with their meshes, and have specific rules about 3D worlds such as Secondlife, the Sims, etc. Some allow it, some don't. So check those rules and reach out to their support if you need help. [PROOF] - It is ethically [if not a bit of a gray area legally] irresponsible to use someone's 3D model as a sims 4 conversion without giving the original modeler a heads up about how you're going to use it. Because of how s4s works, there is a risk of people ripping that mesh and reselling it, and the original modeler may not like how you are using their content or have stipulations about how you credit them. Be a decent human and give them a heads up before you convert. [PROOF] - It doesn't matter that Secondlife/IMVU folks take meshes and models from the Sims 4 Game. That's EA's problem to deal with, as they're taking EA's content. If they steal custom content from a sims creator, that creator can file a DMCA with Linden Labs. - Regarding conversions from other sources such as video games, etc it's important to understand that: * Ripping a model for personal use is fine. [I.E learning how a model was constructed, making a 3D printed model for your own use, for personal use in your own sims game] Since you are NOT making money off the end product, the company should have zero beef with you doing this in theory, however, if they CATCH you ripping [ex: you're ripping a model from an online game like GTA online] they may assume you don't have good intentions, so know it's a risk to your standing with them. * Although RISKY, if you are ripping a model from a video game and providing it as part of a free mod/CC, and you are asking for donations/doing early access, MOST video game companies do not seem to have a problem with this. The main evidence for things like this seems to be the amount of cross-over from different games that make their way into games such as fallout 4, minecraft, etc as modded content. [Nintendo is well known for being really stingy with this, so I would recommend NOT fucking around with them. Just FYI.] Again, as long as it's obvious that someone's not trying to PROFIT, it appears that this is okay. It's not exactly kosher, and it's not 100% recommended because legally it's still infringing, BUT, most video game companies do not really see the sense in going after their fans in that way as long as they're not actively trying to profit off the work. [It's kinda in that same gray area as fan art/fan-created crafts. It's a hard line to walk, and you have to be careful doing it.] * If you are ripping from a place that is not a 3D modeling site/video game, and is some other source, it's best to contact the original modeler and get permission. Just to cover your own rear legally.
- Conversions are FINE if they are done LEGALLY and ETHICALLY. There are many simmers (Ex: @syboubou, @joojconverts) who are great at doing ethical conversions. There are people who convert EA's models from one sims game to another or convert someone's cc models from the sims 3 to the sims 4, people who do small conversions from modeling sites as part of a larger work, etc.
But sadly, this conversion frenzy that many "creators" [particularly for the sims 4] have started turning to is not ethical or legal, as some accounts have literally started making absolute BANK off of illegally converting 3D models without remotely checking if they're even allowed to with the original source. This needs to stop BEFORE this becomes a giant legal pain in the ass that ends up hurting ALL simmers (CC creators and users alike). So please, spread the word and help people understand the responsibilities they have when they decide they want to convert content. Again, there's nothing wrong with converting IF you do it right, so please make sure that the "creators" you are subbing to are being ethical about it.
