LMAO, you guys make it sound like he's pushing drugs or something.

Allow me to play devil's advocate, if you will...everyone has seen these sites and perused the forums.  Want to know what two of the biggest complaints in regards to paying for content and software in general?

1.  It's too expensive to spend money on something that you didn't get to atleast test drive first before committing to the purchase.

2.  Lack of continued support of the product, even after the vendor has moved on to another version.  Basically, the general feeling is if you bought one version and the vendor comes out with a later version, but you want to continue using the version you have, there is no support ofr it.

Both of these arguments have more to deal with software than content; however, there are several vendors who do charge a lot of money for their content.  Some of it is justified (and you know who you are), some after a while you can tell that the vendor basically used a template from something previous, with little to no obvious modification and then sell it for the same price.  I can name atleast five vendors here where mostly all of the custom characters look the same with the exception of makeup and how it's presented.  And if you support a vendor, like most of us do, and you start noticing this...that kinda pisses you off because it feels like the vendor has gotten lazy and taken your patronage for granted.

Software companies have gotten a lot better in allowing trial versions, but there are always going to those who want something for free, regardless.

But, from experience, you make quality stuff, even if someone downloads it for free, that someone will comeback and buy it or most definitive by your next product.  And if they are planning to use it commercially, they most assuredly will buy it then.

Speaking from my own experiences, I sure everyone has download a ware or two.  But I can also say that the minute, the absolute second I was in a position to pay for it and wanted to use it commercial as well as give credit and support the vendor's hard work, you better believe I did.  Carrara, Poser, and Photoshop are my main examples for myself.  I had used those products as an enthusiast for years until 2005, when I finally took myself more seriously as an artist and paid for everything.

As a counterpoint, I spent over $200 for a plugin from Reiss Studio to import Poser models into Cinema4D.  When they closed up shop after selling the source code to Smith Micro, they brought down their servers which was the only to authorize the plugin, don't respond to emails or snail mails, and their support number is basically a fax machine.  $200 flushed down the toilet.  Doesn't matter if there are better products out there, that's not the point.

Throw stones if you will, but it's a known fact that most do not want to part with hard earned cash over crap.

I realize that a lot of you may not necessary like what I'm saying and you might even demonize me a bit.  Well, so be it.  I don't think it's good at all that sites like this exist.  As someone who is doing their first indie film using a lot of the software purchased and content purchase from here as well as Daz, RDNA and others, I'm fully aware that this can and will happen to me.

But, before we truly oustercize websites like this, let's keep a few things in mind....

1.)  Remember my Hydra analogy.

2.)  Also keep in mind that you are dealing with a very small percentage of people who will not EVER PAY FOR ANYTHING!!!

3.)  Quality, Quality, Quality...I can't tell you how many times I've seen DM Productions content on these sites and ran back to Renderosity or Daz to not only add them as one of my favorite vendors, but to also buy anything they put out, even poses which is something I rarely buy because poses are so easy to do.  But, it's all about quality.  And I do report these things because if I'm willingly to catch something on sale and pay for it, others should be to.  If you can't afford $5 or $10, how the HELL did you get a computer?

4.)  Constantly patrolling these sites until they do something significant enough or the content provider industry as a WHOLE come together to take these down is the best way to slow this practice down.  Less sites availables will definitely send those with the inclination to pay to the pay window.

5.)  Serious artist will pay, regardless.

Just my two (more like twenty) cents.

We content collectors basically fall into two categories:

The Haves:
Those that buy content or willing to buy content.

The If-Its-Free-Its-4-Me Group:
No matter what, they will never pay for the content.