Not sure if this is the right forum for this.

With all the merchant resource packs around, especially the head- and bodytextures, usually it reads in the read-me that you are not to sell it as is, meaning changing it by a certain amount.

What I'd like to know: How much changing are you supposed to do before selling it as your own creation? I've seen skins made from like thousands of resources, and I've also recently seen a skin texture that had only a few make-ups thrown in, but was basically the merchant resource otherwise.

Anybody who can shed some light onto this for me is highly welcome.

BA

Edited for inevitable typoes...

Unless it's specifically stated how much of a % of changes needs to be done, then any changes done constitutes a change. 

Thinking with my vendor cap on here...... As a vendor using a resource, I would want to make as many changes as possible so that I could feel that it is my own work.  But that gets into morals and ethics.

Thinking with my buyers cap on here....... If I were to purchase 3 character packages that all used the same resources, and found distinct similarities in them, I wouldn't be a happy customer.

If resources were REALLY used as they were intended to be used, this question would never arise.  A resource is only supposed to be used in bits and pieces, but the way you're stating here, it's not being used that way, and it's a shame because the vendor will suffer because they do not allow their own creative talents flow into the package, so in my eyes, it's really not their creation.

Debbie M.

Thanks for the quick response, Debbie!

Quote - Unless it's specifically stated how much of a % of changes needs to be done, then any changes done constitutes a change. 

I would think so, too, but then, if let's say, I only change the head texture and leave the body texture as is from the same resource pack, wouldn't that be against the TOU since you basically can extract the base resource? 

Quote - Thinking with my vendor cap on here...... As a vendor using a resource, I would want to make as many changes as possible so that I could feel that it is my own work.  But that gets into morals and ethics.

I agree on that, actually I would go a bit further myself, I would want to make as much as I can myself and just filling in parts I can't do, so I can say it is my very own work. and work it is making a texture... ;)
And of course I wouldn't feel on the safe side with selling of a merchant resource that hasn't been changed muchly. But that is my own code.

Quote - Thinking with my buyers cap on here....... If I were to purchase 3 character packages that all used the same resources, and found distinct similarities in them, I wouldn't be a happy customer.

Actually, as a buyer, I am not exactly happy if a merchant has too many similarities on most of his/her textures (and I tend not to buy from them anymore, I noticed). I expect to get diversity (as much as possible with Poser L) for my hard earned bucks.

Quote - If resources were REALLY used as they were intended to be used, this question would never arise.  A resource is only supposed to be used in bits and pieces, but the way you're stating here, it's not being used that way, and it's a shame because the vendor will suffer because they do not allow their own creative talents flow into the package, so in my eyes, it's really not their creation.

Agreed, but another question arises then: can the vendor of the original pack, the resource pack, do anything against something like this? Or does it come down to what is stated in the resource pack's read-me, f.e. "you have to change at least 25% on the head and on the body texture before you can sell it again" or "just don't sell as is"?

Edited for yet more typoes such as "dell"....

Well, if you leave the body texture without any editing, then you'd simply be redistributing someone elses work, and that would lead to a copyright violation.

Debbie M.

Quote - Well, if you leave the body texture without any editing, then you'd simply be redistributing someone elses work, and that would lead to a copyright violation.

Maybe this could be made clearer, especially for new merchants who don´t really know that they´re doing something wrong. I think many would be thankful for such an information. And also it would give the customers a bit more of trust in buying a product from a merchant.

Marko :-)

If by my life or death I can protect you, I will!

Marko, if someone doesn't know that redistributing another artists' work is illegal, then they really shouldn't be attempting to be a vendor at that point.  A little "self study" on the industry is beneficial to all parties involved before trying to sell your work :)

Debbie M.

I know Debbie but it happens again and again. Maybe we should install a special Task Force. ;-)

If by my life or death I can protect you, I will!

Hi Marko! ;)

Debbie, agreed (this is becoming a habit ;) ). But maybe they think just slapping a second skin onto the resource texture counts as enough change so they can sell the unaltered skin as well.
Or maybe they don't think that far at all, maybe they think adding teal colored eye shadow is enough of a change.

And let's not forget, some people might just be a little too tempted to make a quick buck in the Poser Biz with merchant resources, as these packs are pretty convienient ;)

Oh you will never EVER hear me disagree with you there BA.  I'm not a big fan of merchant resource packages, but they've become quite popular around the entire 3d community.  I would just hope that new vendors have more ethics and morals when using resources.  I mean lets face it, if they do nothing more than slap a second skin on a resource, they'll never make a "name" for themselves, at least not in a positive way, and they'll never go far in this industry.

Debbie M.

Quote - Oh you will never EVER hear me disagree with you there BA.  I'm not a big fan of merchant resource packages, but they've become quite popular around the entire 3d community.  I would just hope that new vendors have more ethics and morals when using resources.  I mean lets face it, if they do nothing more than slap a second skin on a resource, they'll never make a "name" for themselves, at least not in a positive way, and they'll never go far in this industry.

Deb, ethic and morals go down the drain when money's involved, I fear...also, as we've had talked about it above, there's only so much variety a merchant resource (or let it be three L) can give you, and if your character packs all look the same? No name for you as well there...

Maybe some sort of quality control would be interesting, meaning one would have to use like 4 or 5 resources, not less,  for their packs - I wish L

That's not a half bad idea there BA :)

Debbie M.

Quote - That's not a half bad idea there BA :)

You mean I had a half-baked, nonetheless good idea? Now where's my calendar, I need to mark that day! :scared: :lol:
But seriously, that might serve a few intentions, it also could minimize that merchants use the resources "as is", too.

It's definitely a top to be discussed with the Team :)  Thank you for the suggestion!

Debbie M.

Yer most welcome ;)