I just noticed over the last few days as I've been scouring the net looking for office prop models that I noticed the same models being offered for free on some site also being sold on other sites. One of the latest additions in the Marketplace is a bed for $6 or $8 that I have had on my hard drive for over a month now. One site in particular almost got my money--"3-d-models.com" has an excellent set of office props that had everything I was looking for and costs $19. Guess what, I got 90% of what they were selling for free at various other sites. Whats up with that?

Good question, now that I think of it, I don't exclude that from - opps, yes I do- my own Free Stuff, (I say "no redistribution", that would cover it). But many models I've seen floating around don't have a read-me, many modlers seem to be text impaired ;-) , or maybe it got seperated out. I would guess the people have a right to sell anything, until they are told to stop.

one word

money

If they are the same models maybe they were stolen and are being given away, if you got the models and in the readme file there is a contact, maybe you should let the creator know this, maybe he doesn't know it, I know that we would sell something on our site and then give it away on another. Sharen Concerned modeller

Oh - the anwer is quiete simple ...: Some people seems to have no shame - they took a model, retexture it and then selling other peoples work as their own ... This is in fact annoying and awfull - but some people believe they are allowed to do so ... I don't know how many poses I'll never offer or make only of the reason I don't have the right to give some props away because I lost the readme of the prop (or it simply had none). The different prices are easy to explain - the stores from what some models are sold have different amounts of percentage for selling the artists stuff - that's also normal for business ... Go into various real stores and buy a bunch of normal life stuff like milk, cheese, etc ... in every store the price is different ...

Now before you get started let me just say that the poses I've seen of yours are the very best but isn't the whole point of using poser making these kinds of things yourself? The closest I've come is to purchase facial expressions because I just can't seem to get the hang of that but as for the body poses themselves thats a different story.

schlabber's poses were free - you only pay cos it gets shipped out on cd. same for trav's morphs. these guys are great.

Another thing is: I have seen very close to the same model, but not exactly the same. "Replicants...they're called replicants" Most of my models actually have my logo modeled on the odbect somewhere, that usually only I can find. So I can bust on someone who steals it, or tries to resell it. An idea I recommend to all serious modellers.

Farang, Schlabber's poses save me a ton of time, and I can't quite get the natural look myself. Using someone else's poses isn't the same as cheating in a game or anything. There aren't any "rules" that you have to do it all yourself. It's one artist helping another. Some of us have talents in various areas of Poser and some don't. I think it's a great help when you want just the right look, but you can't quite get it, and someone like Schlabber has it. Thanks, Schlabber! As for the models being given away or sold, shame on anyone who steals something and either sells it for gain or gives it away when it wasn't a freebie in the first place, and calling it their own when it isn't. However, when an artist creates something, puts it up for grabs, and never puts a readme with it, they set themselves up for theft. It's basically an anonymous piece with no way to prove who actually created it. Protect yourself by including a readme with your use agreement and/or restrictions with EVERYTHING you create, or don't give it away for others to use. If you don't include a readme, it could end up anywhere. Besides, I want to know who created things, just so I can give credit when I do use them, and it makes it hard when there's no details or contact info, or even instructions for how to install it. If something goes wrong with the item or you have questions about it, there's no way to get a response. Also, I don't think they have the right to complain if an item they created gets used for commercial renders if they didn't want it to be used that way, when they never stated how it can be used. Melanie

Why do some people buy 3D models on the net that are available for free?

Huolong Free usually equates to personal use only.. Purchased usually means you can use these in commercial ventures..

Helen I think that Huolong was wondering why anyone would buy a model when you can get the same model on the net for free. I have found that even with free models you can usually use in a render that you might sell as long as you contact the artist that made the model or texture. At least that has been my experience so far. The only restrictions I have ever run into were that I could not sell the actual model or redistribute (which is understandable), but I have yet to have anyone refuse to let me use their free texture, model or whatever in a render that I might sell. So farang, I'm kind of confused at your question. Are the things that you are seeing for sale, actually made by someone else and they are giving them away? Or is someone offering freestuff but someone else is selling the freestuff that is not theirs to sell?

Also some items are made to be free only for a limited time, like the stuff at DAZ. Most of the weekly freebies become part of their sale item selection when the week ends. Some people just think it's "worth" their money having it all right there and not have to scout it all out themselves. Who knows, that why I always screen shop (window shop) and wait a while before I actually buy something. There may be a similar or even better product out there for free.

Helen, purchasing something does not automatically give you unqualified rights to it. You must check the models read-me to make sure. As for the original question, I dont think its been that long since we had MoCap selling models that were given away on the 3DWorld Magazine CD the very same month. Such idiocy never fails to astound me.

VirtualSite I realise it is not automaticlly a given with purchased items that you can use that item in commercial ventures.. That is why I said usually. Personally, I think any purcahsed goods should be for commerical use.

So far, I haven't seen any purchased items that have a "no commercial use" statement in them. If you're paying money for it, it generally means you're purchasing the license to use it, which includes commercial projects. If I have any idea that a purchased item has such a statement prohibiting commercial use, I simply won't buy it. Melanie

i've only been using poser and renderosity for a short time but i've noticed not only with renderosity but other places it seems that if you use like poser for example for a hobby its one heck of a big money spending hobby. And from what i've seen..is that these people that are taking free stuff and selling them is to make money..so that they may buy the things that cost money..that are sometimes...alot better then what you find for free. (nothing against free stuff...thats where i get my things). don't take me wrong tho...i'm not taking up for those to try to sell free stuff...because yes its wrong..do see that for those that have lil money and want to have this as a hobby..also i guess...need nice things that you have to pay for..i dunno if i'm right this is just what i've seen..and heard from a few other people on these different 3d groups. I mayself would love to have vikky and micheal ...buttt....50 dollars to me...is about 5 or 6 hundred dollars..smile....i'm very greatful for free stuff.....those that let us use free stuff...are great....but one day...those that give free stuff may not anymore...because of people selling it..everything doesn't need to be payed for ....i'm sure i'll get some neg. comments about this....if you can make any sence....just remember those that sell reg things...that you don't always have to make money off of it.........

It always amazes me what some people think they can get money for, and how much. I know one site where you can purchase what looks like a P3 woman wearing a bikini for about $400. We ought to establish a Hall of Shame somewhere where people offering for sale other people's work that was distributed free can be named and shamed for all to see.

Great Idea!