IceEmpress posted at 11:10PM Sun, 21 February 2016 - #4256633

I understand exactly what my rights with any software licence I purchase regardless of the company: Adobe, Marvelous, Pixologic, Luxology and DAZ. You can't pass those programs around either legally because they have that stated in their EULAs as well. If you want your family to use a program or content, you have to buy for each or purchase a licence that covers multiple users. When you buy a product you agree to that licence.

If these negotiations exist, then where is the "Nonprofit" vendor license at the Daz store, where is it here on Renderosity? On software sites like Adobe, they state straight up what the price is for schools. Why is it held secret so that few even know that it exists, esp. those for whom English is not their first language and therefore can't even understand the EULA? (Hell, I have trouble understanding it as well in some areas but thought I thoguht sure I understood everything relevant.) This is especially true for non-Daz originals since there is no way to contact a PA directly for a non-profit license. It also makes it easy for a company to cheat non-profits since there is no transparency of transactions or set prices.

For organizations they usually have a person that does purchases. If that person doesn't see educational prices, they usually can contact the company for information on pricing. Sometimes it's not posted or available from the webpage because it may be priced by number of seats, and you have to contact the company directly. This is only way you would get around the public EULA. Either way, you can't buy a product then alter the terms of the EULA afterwards.

When exactly did this start? The EULA that I have ever fully read for any program is that it is for either 1 residential household/apartment room or (usually) a max of 3-4 computers at a single business. (I rarely read the EULA because it's alway so damn long and I never imagined it would include anything like this. Usually I just read the privacy statement. I've read the EULA on the old DAZ exes several times and don't remember reading anything like that.)

For most of the brokerages, the licenses are for one person only and it's been that way for years. My other software licenses vary where it's per person or per OS (my zbrush license 2 machines for only one OS.. so I have a cross license for my PC and Mac machines). My modo license is for one person and one install on a mac and a PC, but they have floating licenses for multiple people too. The point is, each piece of software you purchase has a license that you need to be aware of how it should be used.

Well considering that it is a International business, allot of things may vary as Federal laws of contracts may vary in different countries. here what has been purchased digitally automatically applies for households every thing purchased within that household can be used by any in the whole property of that household even if there are multiple houses. you can see this especially in you tube things you upload may be locked in certain countries and in others not even if it is third party copyright music integrated in a clip you made. this is a verry sensitive sector , one in the Us may have one law that differs to the European one accusing them but caused damage to the other thinking it is Ilegal based on there Law. so it may end that even that there contract said you may not do will have to cover the whole damage.

these laws can even Varry if you pass one state border to another meaning the village you live in is not the world ! if you live near a borderline and have a dog in one state the dog will need a muzzle in the other not if you walk across that border from the state that is free of muzzle to the one that has that obligation you will get punished for the dog not to have had that muzzle, even if you did not realize that you passed the Borderline as there was no sign that you are in another state.

I checked a little that encryption stuff , actually for geometric stuff it should not make any differences as for if one wants to decrypt the stuff he will just decrypt em by export in OBJ same like decrypting files from DS to external apps or just generate CR2 files in case they are rigged for Poser, I never use DS so just checking the options also it seems if generating a saving as new assets it should build up a new Directory that might kill The encryption in no time.

well as far as I just could figure out in the past half hour. so at the end it seems whether encrypted or not the ones who will like to have the files saved as Zip backups without encryption will not have allot of work to get em this way , but if this would work as easy as I think it will then why the trouble and all the unnecessary work for the customers?

As Sidenote: Assuming that even I that has absolutely no interest in DS starts to check on how and why just because I read Encryption. Takes time to check if there would be alternatives is it just because it challenges ? I guess it is human to get challenged no matter what it is it makes one feel alive ! but now I as a non interest DS user feel challenged what do you thing the Pros will do ? they will jump on it like starving Wolf's ! and for sure things in Daz communities will not get better. well ok , if when , the positive side is People communicate and have something to talk about , Dramatics is also a sort of challenge :)

gate posted at 1:20PM Mon, 22 February 2016 - #4256690

I checked a little that encryption stuff , actually for geometric stuff it should not make any differences as for if one wants to decrypt the stuff he will just decrypt em by export in OBJ same like decrypting files from DS to external apps or just generate CR2 files in case they are rigged for Poser, I never use DS so just checking the options also it seems if generating a saving as new assets it should build up a new Directory that might kill The encryption in no time.

If a product consists of JCMs, ERC, correctives and HD you can't simply export and put it back together. Someone already tried with a figure and made a mess of the shared file.

I wonder how it would work for one that peferes to use an older version of DS how will he be able to get a purchased product from Daz latest version into an older one he needs to use, when I work with poser I use P6 up all the way to the latest version and also using different Library setups to work on the Files not one combined librarie meaning that files have to be installed individually for every work

Version user fragmentation is very low with DS, mainly due to their being no cost to upgrade. And on the the flip side version fragmentation is one of the biggest issues with creating for the Poser market.

I wonder how it would work for one that peferes to use an older version of DS how will he be able to get a purchased product from Daz latest version into an older one he needs to use, when I work with poser I use P6 up all the way to the latest version and also using different Library setups to work on the Files not one combined librarie meaning that files have to be installed individually for every work

Yup, that's a problem too (I still prefer 4.5, and I'd use non-beta newer versions were it possible to have two versions of DAZ on the same computer). Also not compatible with DSON since no version of Poser can read encrypted files. So unlike what MaleM3dia said, it's not just a minor inconvenience to workflow. Genesis 3 may be entirely incompatible with Poser, but the new props sold at DAZ are not, not to mention that some of the encrypted products are for Genesis 2, which IS compatible with Poser.

it really seems that there is a Marketing War who gets the larger Piece of the Cake , Amazing strategy you addict people on one Program then just adapt it on the actual Income, if income shrinks then you frow out an update that cuts the comp-ability with the older one and force costumers to fallow or just stand in the desert with the old stuff Encryption will even enforce that strategy. just like the Daz team said ! a laser-focused vision of where we are going. After a few tests actually 90 Percent of DS products are fully compatible with Poser without any need of Dyson or whatever that pyton is called to convert into 100% compatible files. all based on Geometry texturing just needs slight adjustments , in some cases there could be issues when DS files have errors in the Bones or the polygons of the geometry are reversed but that just means that the Mesh is crap as Poser does not fix issues by making one sided polygons two sided. I even assume that allot of DS File creators rigged there stuff in poser and just convert em to DS to sell as DS only. naturally G3 is not compatible to Poser at the moment guess because none really sat on that issue to make it compatible . But nothing is really impossible just a question of patience and time.

@ Male_M3dia just stumbled on your Vendor account at Daz , it seemed to me that you are not a 3D mesh creator but rather 2D as the Products are based on texturing and morphing , do you also create or sell 3D meshes ? I think there is a Huuge difference on the creation of 3D and Texturing 3D creation needs allot of experience , to make morphs or textures for the Meshes is the Basics of creation or well you always depend on one who Creates a mesh I am just asking because after looking at your store I just saw add ons for Figures but could not find any 3D meshes , and I thought you were a 3D model creator.

I use the latest Beta of 4.9 and 4.9 side by side with little issue. It gives me the functionality of two versions of Studio with all of the latest compatibility and functions. I can't really see any advantage of running 4.9 and 4.5 side by side other than personal preference. I'm honestly glad that DS product development isn't focused on keeping old version functionality as core. A stance that successfully drives innovation and progress within the platform and content. Sure keep old content functionality with new platform versions. But restricting new content to old version capability, because of a fractured market, is in fact more of a ball and chain then anything positive.

As far as DSON/Poser issues go it's really the thin edge of a wedge of changes that began a long time ago now. SM made it clear that there position was not to optimise Poser to increase support for third party development, this is the ultimate realisation of that stance. The choice of 3rd party developers to not hamstring their own content development or security simply to fit Poser compatibility is an extension of that same concept initiated by SM. That was the point that SM chose to dig its heels in and say you either chose to create content for Poser or you're on your own with your content. Unfortunately Poser users are now experiencing the other side of that double edged blade of a decision by SM. A fact that numerous people pointed out at the time, only to be branded derogatively as "Daz Fanboys". It makes you wonder if at that point SM had chosen a policy of collaboration with the largest content provider in the market, instead of taking a high ground stance that was ultimately aimed at keeping content developers bound to SM and Poser support, if things would've/could've worked out differently and we could now be dealing with a much more collaborative relationship between the two platforms and by extension much more healthy satellite communities in general.

SM chose to restrict Daz 3D content from its own platform for its own benefit and business interests, which many Poser users cheered on as a good move at the time. It's ironic what Poser users now say when Daz 3D has essentially done that very same thing instigated by SM. Made changes to their own content and platform in disregard to third party platforms or consumers of that platform. The DSON/Encryption compatibility issue with Poser is not actually a Daz 3D issue but the realisation of policy stance made by Poser developers, which could possibly leave Poser faithfuls starving for content in the long term. Daz 3D has treated Poser users in a manner no different than SM, who, if anyone, has an obligation and responsibility to that user base.

t really seems that there is a Marketing War who gets the larger Piece of the Cake , Amazing strategy you addict people on one Program then just adapt it on the actual Income, if income shrinks then you frow out an update that cuts the comp-ability with the older one and force costumers to fallow or just stand in the desert with the old stuff Encryption will even enforce that strategy.

This statement is just incorrect on so many levels...

Johnny be hiding under a rock.

@Razor42 At that point I give you right , the program mainly has to support own features and not third party Features, actually it is up to the Artist creators to adapt what is in there needs if they use other programs , as I said there actually is no comp-ability issue between DS and Poser it is just a question of conversion, also verry positive as an artist can go deeper into things and learn on how a mesh is build , as soon as he figures out a way of conversion remake he will start to make hes own stuff. Like a child who starts drawing by copying things learning to get a hand for it.

@ Male_M3dia with the above made comment it is not my intention to make critique or to value your ability , it rather was to estimate if I'd make you an offer if you are interested to get a mesh of your choice that you can convert and make texturing and if wished to resell for DS, even if I don't really like you but after I'v seen your store I just thought it might be something you would like to do.

gate posted at 8:03AM Tue, 23 February 2016 - #4256797

it really seems that there is a Marketing War who gets the larger Piece of the Cake , Amazing strategy you addict people on one Program then just adapt it on the actual Income, if income shrinks then you frow out an update that cuts the comp-ability with the older one and force costumers to fallow or just stand in the desert with the old stuff

@ Male_M3dia just stumbled on your Vendor account at Daz , it seemed to me that you are not a 3D mesh creator but rather 2D as the Products are based on texturing and morphing , do you also create or sell 3D meshes ? I think there is a Huuge difference on the creation of 3D and Texturing 3D creation needs allot of experience , to make morphs or textures for the Meshes is the Basics of creation or well you always depend on one who Creates a mesh I am just asking because after looking at your store I just saw add ons for Figures but could not find any 3D meshes , and I thought you were a 3D model creator.

I'm trying to understand what this has to do with anything. To make my products I use zbrush, modo and photoshop.. all that I legally own licenses. And the products I sell aren't copyright questionable like you selling meshes based on videogames and a website using copyrighted content. And I sell my products in a much larger store that is picky about whose products they sell through where you sell in a much much smaller market and you're trying to get your foot in a erotic store where genesis-based items is outselling yours.

What exactly was your point again other than stirring the pot because you no had other points to work with?

Also your products for sale are supporting items for V4 not standalone as well, because your standalone items which aren't original concepts and based on copyrighted items, which couldn't be sold there without renderotica getting in hot water.

@ Male_M3dia See that is the difference between us I don't place critique and try to discriminante stuff other people Create I rather try to if I can offer something. I did not offend what you are doing I did not question it and I don't do personal attacks against your creations and I did not question if the applications you use are legitimate . I would look at the things and Try to find out where is the potential ! but it seems that you do question others . There is not always a trap or something that might wanna damage you we are not all Pirates that wanna rob you out this brings it us to the point of respect for one another .

gate posted at 12:08AM Wed, 24 February 2016 - #4256839

@ Male_M3dia with the above made comment it is not my intention to make critique or to value your ability , it rather was to estimate if I'd make you an offer if you are interested to get a mesh of your choice that you can convert and make texturing and if wished to resell for DS, even if I don't really like you but after I'v seen your store I just thought it might be something you would like to do.

Looks to me like you are stirring the pot a bit there Mr Gate how can you possibly put - even if I don't really like you - and then bring up - this brings it us to the point of respect for one another . in your next comment. I am getting a little curious to where this is actually leading. Keep it civil please

I would like to ask a question. The term "copyright" is tossed around quite a bit as if it is the Holy Bible. This question goes back to why Daz3d doesn't go after Pirates and instead is going to try encryption on content files.

I personally have 3 patients. They help keep others from ripping off my inventions. But each invention requires a legally registered patient. It is my understanding the same goes for copyrighting a product. I can only imagine it gets very expensive to copyright everything they sell here.

Does each artist that created a product for sale copyright the product? http://www.bitlaw.com/copyright/obtaining.html Are all of the content products sold under the EULAs registered?

There is no cost to obtain copyright.

If it qualifies for copyright, as described in the link you provided, the copyright is automatic as soon as you decide its worth keeping the thing.

Sometimes people publish the thing somewhere public, just so they can easily prove a date, but even that is not a requirement. You don't even have to put the copyright symbol on it.

I would suspect, since I also read the guidelines the same way, there is really nothing protecting a content creator as far as a court of law goes. A messy situation to be sure. One can claim copyright violation but proving it would be a lot more difficult and expensive as well.

Many of the sites that support Pirates use Hosting joints, many have had success in stopping those or at least having the links removed. There is very little one can do beyond that, sadly.

Encryption will not stop anything, except give the creators a false sense of control. But maybe that is Daz3d intent.

Well reading the Us guidelines as it says it's one of many. but it will also say if you make a collage out of many little parts like cutouts of journals the collage will be protected as the new creation has enough originality, in theory one will take a purchased 3D convert it take parts off and rebuild it new then at this point it is new and belongs to the new creator that put in enough originality as said else the world would have to accuse every painter that made a portrait , accuse every photography of private houses or people that did not agree to have a picture taken from. well in theory we would have to pay for every picture taken and any can accuse the other of Piracy. it seems to be is the US law. So in theory if taking a Texture you pay for it to one who took the picture or take it your self but are you certain that the one who took the Picture paid the one who owned the wall ? or did you tell the one that you have taken the picture from that you will earn with it ? in a case of skin textures Models are very expensive it would never cover the income of a 3D doll sold in the store so in theory to release a character ad-don for a Doll the creator would need the proof and have the model's agreement to have used hes skin.

the Daz EULA states:

**a _personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable_ license to use the Content, duly obtained by payment of all applicable license fees, as provided in this Agreement.

Daz and its library licensors retain all rights in, title to, and ownership of the Daz Content. The applicable third-party published artists and their library licensors retain all rights in, title to, and ownership of the PA Content. Daz gives no rights or warranties with regard to the use of any objects, names, trademarks, service marks, or works of authorship depicted in any Content and User is solely responsible for separately obtaining all such necessary rights or consents that may be required for any particular use of objects, names, trademarks, service marks or works of authorship.**

The license is per user, and the user alone, not the computer, or the household. Also, you do not own the content you buy, you pay for a limited license to use the content to create 2 D images.

And as far as copyright goes, legally if you made it, its already copyright protected. If there is no license agreement stating you can use a resource, you legally cannot. Taking pictures of buildings is not covered under copyright (you cannot copyright protect a building), but it may be covered under privacy. Likewise, using peoples faces. You legally cannot make a Carrie Fisher, or Angelina Jolie morph unless you have the actresses permission to do so. Likewise, you may not sell a likeness of any game or movie prop, set or costume unless you obtain a license from the owner. If a lawyer from Disney ever tripped through the market place here, he would likely have a field day.

Madbat posted at 2:24PM Tue, 23 February 2016 - #4256906

the Daz EULA states:

**a _personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable_ license to use the Content, duly obtained by payment of all applicable license fees, as provided in this Agreement.

Daz and its library licensors retain all rights in, title to, and ownership of the Daz Content. The applicable third-party published artists and their library licensors retain all rights in, title to, and ownership of the PA Content. Daz gives no rights or warranties with regard to the use of any objects, names, trademarks, service marks, or works of authorship depicted in any Content and User is solely responsible for separately obtaining all such necessary rights or consents that may be required for any particular use of objects, names, trademarks, service marks or works of authorship.**

The license is per user, and the user alone, not the computer, or the household. Also, you do not own the content you buy, you pay for a limited license to use the content to create 2 D images.

And as far as copyright goes, legally if you made it, its already copyright protected. If there is no license agreement stating you can use a resource, you legally cannot. Taking pictures of buildings is not covered under copyright (you cannot copyright protect a building), but it may be covered under privacy. Likewise, using peoples faces. You legally cannot make a Carrie Fisher, or Angelina Jolie morph unless you have the actresses permission to do so. Likewise, you may not sell a likeness of any game or movie prop, set or costume unless you obtain a license from the owner. If a lawyer from Disney ever tripped through the market place here, he would likely have a field day.

Actually modern buildings, and other physical items, may well be protected by copyright. Incidental use - having them in the background of an image where the important part is the foreground and any other building would have been just as effective - may well be OK, and of course copyright expires in due course.

Using a 3D model to build another 3D Model would not be incidental use, however, and the myth that changing some percentage of an item washes out the copyright is just that - a myth.

Kim222 posted at 10:54AM Wed, 24 February 2016 - #4256886

I would suspect, since I also read the guidelines the same way, there is really nothing protecting a content creator as far as a court of law goes. A messy situation to be sure. One can claim copyright violation but proving it would be a lot more difficult and expensive as well.

Many of the sites that support Pirates use Hosting joints, many have had success in stopping those or at least having the links removed. There is very little one can do beyond that, sadly.

Encryption will not stop anything, except give the creators a false sense of control. But maybe that is Daz3d intent.

There is that bigger issue as I doubt a content creator would have difficulty proving it was theirs as the PC is time file stamped with dates and files etc of all the multiple drafts. The person claiming they created the product would need to provide the evidence that their product precedes these dates or have no defence. A smart operator would be running backups of all this and stored on their external hard drives as a starting point. In the early days depending on the content one would send the proof via regular mail addressed to themselves and retain it unopened so this is just the high tech way of the same. That is the easy part. Taking someone to task for it is a different matter as you outlined - A messy situation and it would want to be worth fighting for because on the odd scrap I have had just the consult and letter sent from a lawyer is costly enough for the victim of such an event, and lawyers do love a victim. tbh I ponder exactly which one of them screwed me more. But there is the principle involved. There is also a difference between stealing the product in its whole form and just copying it. Neither is desirable but I guess one concession would be with the latter at least they got off their butts and did some work towards it and it could be loosely termed inspired by.........

@LPR001

Words from someone that has been there done that. I do feel your pain.

Yes, the EULA makes it clear that using the product to create your own is in violation. There are separate license agreements for those kind of products. I haven't looked for merchant resources on Daz, but I can't offhand recall seeing any there. The ones sold here, are clearly licensed under explicit terms and conditions of use. Even fonts are covered under terms of use.

well the laser focused plan is pretty clear as said before Today RDNA announces to Merge with Daz . Little Costumers and Little Creators getting Pulled into an industrial Wheel and guided through Investors on how they have to handle there Creativity. I think this is just the first steps of that laser-focused plan When people open there Eyes it will be to late, it always works this way in our world. Not Piracy fighting not support for Costumers and not for Artists actually just for there own business.An artist if he gets stolen will stand alone as long as it fills the Industries Pockets with gold. And like I'phone and many others it will get hacked , at the time Iphone got cracked by 90% of the honest Costumers well in our country don't wanna know in the US it was Legal as the Application made for it had it's own creativity. I sure understand the Position to Protect a Virtual Barbie and a Ken and all the tailors for there Little Doll outfits but there would be allot more then just this. they have concurence with a future like

"mixamo"

An automatic online rigging tool as a sample to SAY GOODBYE TO WEIGHT PAINTING and many other applications that might replace one day the Barbie.

I think allot of Old and new Creators are getting hurt Today and will get hurt tomorrow, allot say hey I got enough for a lifetime costumers feel insecure and Artists creators feel pushed into something, the boss says you do as I say or you are out.

I hear out there people , I mean honest People that say they will hack that thing it is just a matter of time on how long will these remain honest just like the Ipone, what if 90% will fallow then you sure can whine I got pirated.

Actually a sad thing as I to am an artist hoping not to be ripped off. At the end it is not the Industries that suffer but the Artists that provide then with new content. there rules with our blood

I'm pretty sure I disagree with whatever it is you're trying to say there Gate. The whole Daz 3D bashing thing is getting a little tiring tbh. It's been a field day for some today.

As I pointed out earlier things might of been very different if at this point the Genesis figures were Poser native or if the SM figures that shipped with the last version of Poser had met requirement. SM seems to have abandoned content creators and in turn the 3rd party markets that directly support Poser, blame Daz if it makes you feel better but RDNA's troubles are only indirectly influenced by Daz 3D. RDNA was the "Official Poser Forum" remember. The creators and the community would have been equally affected, in fact more so, if RDNA was no longer in a financial position to trade and fell into the hands of receivers. So sure this may appear to be to Daz 3D's advantage but the question nobody wants to ask is why did RDNA end up in this situation? If Poser and in turn the RDNA content market was in a strong position, it's unlikely you would have seen an acquisition at this point. But people will just go on denying there is any issue with the Poser market and of course it will be Daz's fault whenever any impact of this market shift affects them directly.

Or of course it could be just DAZ forcing the market to its own evil agenda, that of making product beyond the price of the average hobbiest and enslaving its creators to make an endless line of infinitesimally different variations of a barbie lookalike while stripping away all of their artistic rights and freedoms. Of course lol'ing evilly the whole time. Sigh...

My point is not whether poser or Daz is better or any other Program I don't even mainly use Poser there is more to it to make a figure and many other ways! Poser and DS are at the end just the tool to pose what has been created not more. but it is in what they make you believe in not one of the customers even would have the right to place a render out there and say " I made it " as it would be a lie they just pose the Creation of another one. they buy but don't even get the copyright of what they do with it . they would have to say I did not create it I just posed an image another one made in another way. they don't get really credit for there works as they never really made it. just assembled parts that they have to say I did not do it it does not belong to me. if you see a Render of a figure you made , what is your first thought ?! you think I made it , the second is did the one really get a license to have rendered that image with your Creation! but of course the one who rendered that Image just made a Picture of your work ! and he payed you to make that picture.

The license points it exactly this way! but the store says Be an artist you get the opportunity to be creative . would it be different if you as Creator has to pay the one that publishes your work saying hey I made a great add causing others to buy what you made? or ask for a part of your gain because he uses just to promoted your work.

But see might be a good chance to Promote

Freedom Poser DS

and give some lost Souls a chance to get there own little Place in this case Poser Users so the Project might not of been that out of range like many think it would be you just need the Instinct when things might happen and give the ones who think they lose a home a new one . if artist get a chance to build there own then they would be in charge and not get the feeling to get ripped off as then they could say I got my own little store in a mall.

I have to say Gate, even this concept is dubious.

You make art sound incredibly selfish, a painter need not weave the carpets or grow the fruit in his painting to claim it his own creation. Nor stretch the canvases or bristle for his own brushes. Many of the great renaissance masters had teams of apprentices who worked side by side painting the masterpieces often at just the direction of the "Master". Ever seen a Kubrick, Spielberg or James Cameron film? I'm quite sure these guys weren't working alone in their garage with a camera on their shoulder smirking to themselves saying "It's mine, all mine!".

You see making art does not need to be an exercise in isolationism or totalitarian control, but can be a collaborative and most of all free expression of thought, and a manifestation of communication using whichever tools or muses that give you the most direct connection to your creativity. You say it's not really art or even belong to the artist, I say well what really is and what does? All of it and none of it, all based on a conversation between the creator and the viewer.

Is this a Van Gogh masterpiece or just a canvas that some guy splashed around some impasto colors on called Cobalt Blue, Zinc Yellow and Alizarin Red made by a company like Rublev Colour? Do Rublev look at the painting and say "We made that?"

Can we try to get this back on topic and focus less on making it a promotional exercise for your store...

I have used Poser since it was first ported over to pc........over 20 years.......my 3d workstation is NEVER connected to the net.........so bye bye DAZ...

OMG..for the last time...you DON'T have to be connected to the web to use or install Daz studio or your content. Only if you WANT to. The only thing you need worry about is your ENCRYPTED content, but if you don't want encrypted content, don't buy it. Simple ;). The majority of products at Daz - including the stuff you've already bought - remains unencrypted.

I swear, no one bothers to read anymore ;).

Laurie

LaurieA posted at 1:29PM Mon, 01 August 2016 - #4278042

OMG..for the last time...you DON'T have to be connected to the web to use or install Daz studio or your content. Only if you WANT to. The only thing you need worry about is your ENCRYPTED content, but if you don't want encrypted content, don't buy it. Simple ;). The majority of products at Daz - including the stuff you've already bought - remains unencrypted.

I swear, no one bothers to read anymore ;).

Laurie

Wasn't there something like republishing formerly encrypted content unencrypted after one year?

The whole encryption thing turned out to be a "tempest in a teapot"anyway. Most of the threads, in the Daz forums ,are question or discussions about newly released $$products$$$ so it seems the content buying& selling continues undisturbed.

-Timberwolf- posted at 8:54AM Mon, 01 August 2016 - #4278131

LaurieA posted at 1:29PM Mon, 01 August 2016 - #4278042

OMG..for the last time...you DON'T have to be connected to the web to use or install Daz studio or your content. Only if you WANT to. The only thing you need worry about is your ENCRYPTED content, but if you don't want encrypted content, don't buy it. Simple ;). The majority of products at Daz - including the stuff you've already bought - remains unencrypted.

I swear, no one bothers to read anymore ;).

Laurie

Wasn't there something like republishing formerly encrypted content unencrypted after one year?

Yes, products will be unencrypted one year after release.

wolf359 posted at 7:54AM Sun, 07 August 2016 - #4278150

The whole encryption thing turned out to be a "tempest in a teapot"anyway. Most of the threads, in the Daz forums ,are question or discussions about newly released $$products$$$ so it seems the content buying& selling continues undisturbed.

hehehe ... yeah right. By some, not others. May have escaped your eagle eyes but undesirable posts don't last long.

boudicca36 posted at 1:29PM Mon, 15 August 2016 - #4279032

wolf359 posted at 7:54AM Sun, 07 August 2016 - #4278150

The whole encryption thing turned out to be a "tempest in a teapot"anyway. Most of the threads, in the Daz forums ,are question or discussions about newly released $$products$$$ so it seems the content buying& selling continues undisturbed.

hehehe ... yeah right. By some, not others. May have escaped your eagle eyes but undesirable posts don't last long.

No shit.

LaurieA posted at 1:30PM Mon, 15 August 2016 - #4278042

OMG..for the last time...you DON'T have to be connected to the web to use or install Daz studio or your content. Only if you WANT to. The only thing you need worry about is your ENCRYPTED content, but if you don't want encrypted content, don't buy it. Simple ;). The majority of products at Daz - including the stuff you've already bought - remains unencrypted.

I swear, no one bothers to read anymore ;).

Laurie

It might be helpful to give the full requirements.

Authorisation is needed for Connect (DRM) content; this is either connecting the computer once, or (I don't know if this works yet) downloading a key to install on the computer if it doesn't have access to the internet.

Writers_Block posted at 2:25PM Mon, 15 August 2016 - #4279991

LaurieA posted at 1:30PM Mon, 15 August 2016 - #4278042

OMG..for the last time...you DON'T have to be connected to the web to use or install Daz studio or your content. Only if you WANT to. The only thing you need worry about is your ENCRYPTED content, but if you don't want encrypted content, don't buy it. Simple ;). The majority of products at Daz - including the stuff you've already bought - remains unencrypted.

I swear, no one bothers to read anymore ;).

Laurie

It might be helpful to give the full requirements.

Authorisation is needed for Connect (DRM) content; this is either connecting the computer once, or (I don't know if this works yet) downloading a key to install on the computer if it doesn't have access to the internet.

You're still trying to argue an unrelated point.

To use 4.9, you don't have to use use connect. All your old connect still works and content is still offered in non-encryption formats. Also Connect is NOT DRM.

After all these pages of this thread, that should have been settled by now.

Male_M3dia posted at 7:56PM Mon, 15 August 2016 - #4280030

Writers_Block posted at 2:25PM Mon, 15 August 2016 - #4279991

LaurieA posted at 1:30PM Mon, 15 August 2016 - #4278042

OMG..for the last time...you DON'T have to be connected to the web to use or install Daz studio or your content. Only if you WANT to. The only thing you need worry about is your ENCRYPTED content, but if you don't want encrypted content, don't buy it. Simple ;). The majority of products at Daz - including the stuff you've already bought - remains unencrypted.

I swear, no one bothers to read anymore ;).

Laurie

It might be helpful to give the full requirements.

Authorisation is needed for Connect (DRM) content; this is either connecting the computer once, or (I don't know if this works yet) downloading a key to install on the computer if it doesn't have access to the internet.

You're still trying to argue an unrelated point.

To use 4.9, you don't have to use use connect. All your old connect still works and content is still offered in non-encryption formats. Also Connect is NOT DRM.

After all these pages of this thread, that should have been settled by now.

Nope, I said tell the whole story; and you said it yourself, about avoiding DRM content; well you said encrypted which is misleading.

All content from Daz contains some encrypted components; as it is not DRM protected there is no risk of being locked out. DRM poses that risk, and as you quite rightly suggest, not purchasing it is a way to avoid that risk.

And I said what you're saying; avoid Connect(DRM) content. However, my understanding is that the Connect process requires you to log in once, authorise the account in some way? Am I mistaken?

Tell me, how do you download any content without it?

Yes, to use Connect - even for non-encrypted content - that system must connect to Daz at least once (after which you can use the off-line installers instead of downloading via connect itself)

Writers_Block posted at 7:43PM Mon, 15 August 2016 - #4280036

Male_M3dia posted at 7:56PM Mon, 15 August 2016 - #4280030

Writers_Block posted at 2:25PM Mon, 15 August 2016 - #4279991

LaurieA posted at 1:30PM Mon, 15 August 2016 - #4278042

OMG..for the last time...you DON'T have to be connected to the web to use or install Daz studio or your content. Only if you WANT to. The only thing you need worry about is your ENCRYPTED content, but if you don't want encrypted content, don't buy it. Simple ;). The majority of products at Daz - including the stuff you've already bought - remains unencrypted.

I swear, no one bothers to read anymore ;).

Laurie

It might be helpful to give the full requirements.

Authorisation is needed for Connect (DRM) content; this is either connecting the computer once, or (I don't know if this works yet) downloading a key to install on the computer if it doesn't have access to the internet.

You're still trying to argue an unrelated point.

To use 4.9, you don't have to use use connect. All your old connect still works and content is still offered in non-encryption formats. Also Connect is NOT DRM.

After all these pages of this thread, that should have been settled by now.

Nope, I said tell the whole story; and you said it yourself, about avoiding DRM content; well you said encrypted which is misleading.

All content from Daz contains some encrypted components; as it is not DRM protected there is no risk of being locked out. DRM poses that risk, and as you quite rightly suggest, not purchasing it is a way to avoid that risk.

And I said what you're saying; avoid Connect(DRM) content. However, my understanding is that the Connect process requires you to log in once, authorise the account in some way? Am I mistaken?

Tell me, how do you download any content without it?

However, it is still not DRM. You connect to your account, as you would with DIM or from DAZ's webpage, but not all the content is encrypted. Items not encrypted are still readable by humans so you aren't locked out, which is why I say Connect is not DRM. Still, 4.9 has updates and fixes to use content and updates to iray, but the focus still isn't on DRM; Connect isn't not all there is to the update. Your argument relies on the assumption that you don't have to enter your credentials to get your content from either the webpage or DIM, but you have to do that in those cases, agreeing to the EULA before you can access your content. Connect is just a way to get your content without leaving DAZ Studio, and that's the point you're missing because you're hung up on the speculation revolving encrypted content.

Like I said, we've covered this many times in this 17 page thread.

Connect works more or less like the DIM, except it's INSIDE DS. That's it. DRM content will need to be installed this way, but you can also install NON-DRM content this way. You have to sign in to download, just like you do for DIM, but once it's downloaded, you can never log into Daz again if you don't want to. Is that more clear? I do not have any DRM content from Daz. I used Connect to install all my content on one computer and used the DIM on my laptop. There's no difference other than where the data is stored. I just prefer DIM because I know how and where it stores the data since I make content. However, because I used DIM here on my laptop, I can use the latest version of DS alllllll I want and NEVER, EVER log in to Daz. And even tho I used Connect on the other computer to install my content and don't have any DRM content, I can disconnect from Daz and never log in again there either. Hopefully that settles the matter.

Laurie

I think when DAZ introduced Connect and DRM, their marketing people blundered badly. First, they conflated the two features, leading people to believe that they would have to use DRM'd stuff if they downloaded using Connect. But worse, some foolish marketing person seems to have thought 'the cloud' was a positive and attractive buzzword, even though it was technically inaccurate; and people inferred, not unreasonably, from this usage that Connect was an always-on phone-home you-don't-really-possess-the-stuff-you-bought disaster in the making. By the time DAZ did damage control and stopped using 'cloud' and made the effort to correct people's misconceptions, the damage was done.

'DRM' is kind of misleading, too. It's really just encryption. But I still don't buy any encrypted products. I can wait a year.

**I have found a solution **that works for me on all this content management issue.

I uninstalled the database entirely. Don't miss it.

and...

1. never use installers, I use manual install only.
2. set up separate content folder on a different drive ( in my case I have SSD for C: and it is space limited )
3. add this as a base directory under content pane.
4. change the folder names in un-zipped content to names I choose and were I want it to reside, eliminating vanity folder names.
5. copy those assets to the active content directory.

Other than the necessity of dismissing the start up warning from DS that it cannot find a database, I just get to work.

There are three benefits to this scheme.

1. I can organize and categorize as I see fit to suit my needs so I can find stuff in folders that make sense to me.
2. I can easily keep a backup of all assets for easy reinstall should it become necessary simply by re-adding as a base directory.
3. Since I have two other machines on network for rendering, I just map the drive with the assets to those machines add those assets to content pane on the main machine.
   This means all machines when loading a scene to render find all the necessary assets...no missing file issues.

stuffdone posted at 12:28PM Thu, 22 November 2018 - #4340450

**I have found a solution **that works for me on all this content management issue.

I uninstalled the database entirely. Don't miss it.

and...

1. never use installers, I use manual install only.
2. set up separate content folder on a different drive ( in my case I have SSD for C: and it is space limited )
3. add this as a base directory under content pane.
4. change the folder names in un-zipped content to names I choose and were I want it to reside, eliminating vanity folder names.
5. copy those assets to the active content directory.

Other than the necessity of dismissing the start up warning from DS that it cannot find a database, I just get to work.

There are three benefits to this scheme.

1. I can organize and categorize as I see fit to suit my needs so I can find stuff in folders that make sense to me.
2. I can easily keep a backup of all assets for easy reinstall should it become necessary simply by re-adding as a base directory.
3. Since I have two other machines on network for rendering, I just map the drive with the assets to those machines add those assets to content pane on the main machine.
   This means all machines when loading a scene to render find all the necessary assets...no missing file issues.

And this is how you break content so if you have an issue, support cannot solve your issue until you install it properly. Don't do this ever.

Again, if you break your content doing something like this, you are on your own support-wise.

Male_M3dia posted at 10:46AM Fri, 23 November 2018 - #4340451

And this is how you break content so if you have an issue, support cannot solve your issue until you install it properly. Don't do this ever.

Again, if you break your content doing something like this, you are on your own support-wise.

So long as you don't move anything under 'Runtime' or 'Data' folders, you won't break anything. DS is very forgiving for moving round content under any of the user-facing folders (even poser format content - so long as poser format is under a poser directory and daz format under its own directory). I do this all the time and it really helps me keep stuff organised as there's no real standard for the installations.

Having said that - Daz set up the 'Categories' in Studio for this purpose. You can make your own categories and even include the same item in more than one category. So if you're not stuck in your old ways like me, using categories to organise your content might be a better bet.

There have been a few products - mainly self-assembly scripts - which have been written with the location of their needed files in the user-facing folder hard-coded.

Also, this method will miss update notices (unless DIM is used to download, just nott o install) and runs the risk of not removing old files that do not have replacements when installing updates if they are seen.