i found a website which had a sale on some nice 3d models and i posted about it in the forum 
(mentioning that i was not affiliated with the site) but got this IM from a forum rendero moderator

"I understand that you're not affiliated with 9mbi.com, but we don't allow posts of commercial nature in the Poser forum."

looks like the whole thread has been deleted too.
love esther
 

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/tos.php

I've linked to the TOS for further clarification.  If you have further questions, feel free to ask. 

 sorry - I still can't spot it at that link.  can you quote some of the TOS in this post so I can search and find it in that link please?
Also - does that mean that if DAZ has an item on sale that looks good, we can't mention it here?
What about the free things at DAZ?
Love esther

 Under the heading "Site Areas (Galleries, Forums, Homepages, Blogs, etc):"

Commercial posts/images may only be uploaded by Active Renderosity Vendors to the MarketPlace Showcase Forum/Gallery

In answer to both questions, no, you can't post it here.  This is a TOS change that was put into effect in March of this year.  We were lenient on it for a LONG time, and it's gotten out of hand.   There is an announcement at the top of this forum for more answers.
 

Quote -  sorry - I still can't spot it at that link.  can you quote some of the TOS in this post so I can search and find it in that link please?
Also - does that mean that if DAZ has an item on sale that looks good, we can't mention it here?
What about the free things at DAZ?
Love esther

I'd like to know the answer to this as well.  I thought it was ok for you to link to other freebies/commercial products if you aren't the vendor.

Notice of freebies (especially from Daz) are always so very helpful to those of us who'd miss them otherwise.

nice to see you guys are keeping that community spirit alive..we will have to get DAZ to return the favour

Quote -  Under the heading "Site Areas (Galleries, Forums, Homepages, Blogs, etc):"

 

Commercial posts/images may only be uploaded by Active Renderosity Vendors to the MarketPlace Showcase Forum/Gallery

In answer to both questions, no, you can't post it here.  This is a TOS change that was put into effect in March of this year.  We were lenient on it for a LONG time, and it's gotten out of hand.   There is an announcement at the top of this forum for more answers.
 

Oh ok. It was the leniency that gave way to thinking we weren't violating the TOS.

  Understood now.

 it's been one of the wonderful things i have enjoyed about rendero - people happening upon websites with great deals and interesting 3d content or utilities or software, and telling us about it here.
love esther

 so posting a link and info about stuff on another website = "Commercial posts/images may only be uploaded by Active Renderosity Vendors to the MarketPlace Showcase Forum/Gallery" ????

i really thought a commercial post meant  a vendor saying "hi - look at my nice model on my website - it's only 2 dollars"

i didn't think it can be commercial if i am making no money from posting

love esther

well, anyway, i got the freebie lingerie from 9mbi.  it's very nice IMVHO.
98 MB zip.  oops, I just chekd the file and there are 6 pz3 files, 60 MB each!
I woulda missed it ifn they hadn't posted it here. 

Well, between the complaints from members on all the commercial posts as well as RO merchants being told the same elsewhere (Not DAZ),  there's not a whole lot of other directions we could go.  Until the TOS change in MARCH, we were the only site that would allow everyone to advertise their products on the site, without restrictions.  Even DAZ has restrictions on offsite commercial posting.

Lyrra has come up with a great idea, and I for one intend to join her yahoo group, if only to find out about new products sold here and elsewhere.

Quote -  so posting a link and info about stuff on another website = "Commercial posts/images may only be uploaded by Active Renderosity Vendors to the MarketPlace Showcase Forum/Gallery" ????

i really thought a commercial post meant  a vendor saying "hi - look at my nice model on my website - it's only 2 dollars"

i didn't think it can be commercial if i am making no money from posting

love esther

Yes, if you're posting an advertisement of the product, it's considered commercial.  A heads up is considered advertisement.  

Seriously, guys, there is more clarification in the announcement thread, and I've answered all of these questions there already.

DAZ has "some" restrictions on commercial posting, but it does NOT prohibit a vendor from Renderosity (or any other store) from pimping his/her product in the DAZ Commons forum.

I didn't say they did. 

Well, then-- in which forum at Renderosity can a DAZ vendor start a thread to pimp his/her product?

Quote - Well, then-- in which forum at Renderosity can a DAZ vendor start a thread to pimp his/her product?

there isn't one.

Quote - Well, then-- in which forum at Renderosity can a DAZ vendor start a thread to pimp his/her product?

There isn't one and HASN'T BEEN ONE SINCE MARCH.  It's November.  Why are you guys up in arms NOW??

SSAfam1, Estherau, did you too get a 'TOS violation on your record' right off the bat, or am I special in that regard?

I feel like a friggin' delinquent. What is it around there, three strikes and you're out? All that's going to do is drive me into DAZ's open arms.

Quote - SSAfam1, Estherau, did you too get a 'TOS violation on your record' right off the bat, or am I special in that regard?

I feel like a friggin' delinquent. What is it around there, three strikes and you're out? All that's going to do is drive me into DAZ's open arms.

Hehe. You too?

Oh, I'm not "up in arms."  It just seem to me that if DAZ extends that courtesy to Renderosity vendors, then Renderosity should reciprocate.  Professional courtesy, and all that.

 I don't know.  I'm not up in arms exactly, just seeking clarification, as this forum has been really useful in the past but that looks as if it might be coming to an end.
Love esther

I'll just chalk this one up as one of the stupid things renderosity does from time to time. I don't see the harm in people letting others know about a sale or a new nifty product somewhere else, it is unlikely to cost some vendor at rosity a sale. If the product someone here sells is good they will have no problems getting sales wether someone mentions a totally unrelated product sold at another site or not.

  You people are always talking about what a community  renderosity is but then  you go and do something like this. This is somethign that is counter-productive to a community. I have never seen anyone at Daz say don't  mention other stores here, we dont want that here ..... I think that if they did people would bitch and Daz would actually listen.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2754697

estherau -  This is first and foremost a learning forum.  The complaints we get are when commercial and freebie posts are drowning out the learning and discussion threads.  That's why we made separate forums for commercial and freebie posts.   

JenX,

 How about when a total newbie comes on and asks if anyone knows where they can get item X? What do we tell them?

It's funny how I haven't mentioned sale loss at all.  This isn't about loss of sales.  Members complain.  We listen, within capacity.  A TOS change was made in March, and we tried to be lenient and not heavy handed...and the action we took was abused by some members.  In the beginning, we were ok with members making heads up on products as long as they weren't "20% off of Merchant X's products, this week only!"  or "Ooooh, Merchant X has a new product at Store Y!!!"  If they were informative, shared in the spirit of community, we were ok with it.  But, the more often they happen, the more we get complaints.  Complaints of "There are too many commercial posts" coupled with "If member Z can make this post for Merchant X, Why can't I just advertise my stuff in the Poser forum?" or "I just know that member q is working for Merchant p, that heads up is an advertisement!!!"

So, in the spirit of not only fairness regarding the rule, we are enforcing it to the letter now.  

Quote - JenX,

 How about when a total newbie comes on and asks if anyone knows where they can get item X? What do we tell them?

This is going to sound short, but follow the link in the post above yours.  It answers that question.

I don't have a "problem" with it.  I just think it's odd that Renderosity should take such an attitude.  And I was not aware of it until someone brought it to my attention just now.

Quote - blondie999 - we did, up until 8 months ago.  It was an admin decision NOT A SITE STAFF DECISION.  If you have any problems regarding the situation, admin@renderosity.com is the place to send any comments or ideas, because they don't visit the forums often.  However, keep in mind that since this is an 8 month old decision, not much consideration may be made to change it.  Plus, it's not like this was a barely noticed announcement.  If you go back to threads in march, there are even more animated and heated threads regarding the situation.

estherau -  This is first and foremost a learning forum.  The complaints we get are when commercial and freebie posts are drowning out the learning and discussion threads.  That's why we made separate forums for commercial and freebie posts.   

Yeah they didn't listen then and they're not listening now. it was a bad decision back then and its a bad decision now  the reason we are up in arms now is because it took you guys this long to get all crackdown on us and stuff.

 claiming that vendors were complaining that it was costing them sales doesn't work... how do they know? It cant be costing you a load of business I mean look at Daz they let us post stuff from other stores in their forums  all the time and they are rakin it in hand over fist so that  "it loses us business" crap wont fly.

Again, dasquid, you're the only one mentioning profit loss. 

Quote - Again, dasquid, you're the only one mentioning profit loss. 

Sorry I saw merchant and complaint and math apparently failed but that's still the only place I can see I'm wrong. (yeah I admit my mistakes)

people complained? hmmm how many? Im just curious how many people have to complain to get something changed because I'm sure there are more people here who don't like this change than people who do like it.

 so to clarify, no more "where can i get a this or that?" hey. Is this correct?
According to jenX we can't actually ask this in product showcase forum either because that says vendors (ie noone else) are only are allowed to post about their products.
Love esther
PS I think we need to discuss this with site staff as JenX suggests.

Quote - > Quote - SSAfam1, Estherau, did you too get a 'TOS violation on your record' right off the bat, or am I special in that regard?

I feel like a friggin' delinquent. What is it around there, three strikes and you're out? All that's going to do is drive me into DAZ's open arms.

Hehe. You too? 

I always thought if I got  an official TOS violation warning, it'd be because I blew my stack, decided the heck with the rules, and I sent someone to a verbal hell with a handbasket.

Not for some goofy marginal thing like this.

Quote -  so to clarify, no more "where can i get a this or that?" hey. Is this correct?
According to jenX we can't actually ask this in product showcase forum either because that says vendors (ie noone else) are only are allowed to post about their products.
Love esther
PS I think we need to discuss this with site staff as JenX suggests.

***"However, to ease your mind, there are exceptions to the rule.  For instance, if someone were to ask "Does anyone know where I can get a pirate ship"? as a question in the forum, feel free to point them in the direction of pirate ships, both free and for sale. 

While you can't outright advertise them, and we shouldn't have allowed it in the first place, you CAN link to products, both free or for sale, should the need to answer a question arise.  "***

Quote - > Quote -  so to clarify, no more "where can i get a this or that?" hey. Is this correct?

According to jenX we can't actually ask this in product showcase forum either because that says vendors (ie noone else) are only are allowed to post about their products.
Love esther
PS I think we need to discuss this with site staff as JenX suggests.

***"However, to ease your mind, there are exceptions to the rule.  For instance, if someone were to ask "Does anyone know where I can get a pirate ship"? as a question in the forum, feel free to point them in the direction of pirate ships, both free and for sale. 

While you can't outright advertise them, and we shouldn't have allowed it in the first place, you CAN link to products, both free or for sale, should the need to answer a question arise.  "***

Ok that particular bit is probably the only thing good left about the whole mess.

well the solution is obvious.

Allow this kind of thread in the Product Showcase forum. You know ... the forum I suggested be created for that purpose the first time we had this problem?

And if you want a separate forum for Rendo products only, sure go for it. I dont think one more little forum is gonna break the bank on this site.

But really guys .. slamming he door on independant stores and on merchants who promote their work isn't very community minded at all.

I'd also like to point out that products from my lil dinky store are used by a lot of rendo merchants to make their products. So preventing me from advertising here just makes it harder for YOUR merchants to get the tools they need. But thats not really my problem .. I'll just keep plugging away and people will find me sooner or later :)

However I know that the PTB make some very weird rules and it certainly isnt the moderators fault they have to enforce them. I just think that the PTB need to think a little harder about the message they want to send to the community at large.

RIght now they are saying "if you don't work for us we don't want your kind" 

and DAZ says "hey its okay if you dont work for us, the more the merrier! (just dont overdo it)" 

dunno about you but I know which approach will gain more good will lol

Lyrra
The (ex) Evil Overlord

I know I'm going to sound like a broken record (and I should just keep this sentence in my clipboard so I can ctrl+V it), but I can't do anything to change it.  You want to change it?  Email admin@renderosity.com with your problems and concerns.  Be polite about it, be concise, and be informed.  That's how change happens.  The best I can do is point the admin to the thread, hoping they'll read every post without confusing the facts. 

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - SSAfam1, Estherau, did you too get a 'TOS violation on your record' right off the bat, or am I special in that regard?

I feel like a friggin' delinquent. What is it around there, three strikes and you're out? All that's going to do is drive me into DAZ's open arms.

Hehe. You too? 

I always thought if I got  an official TOS violation warning, it'd be because I blew my stack, decided the heck with the rules, and I sent someone to a verbal hell with a handbasket.

Not for some goofy marginal thing like this.

Yeah, I thought I was helping.

It seems it's those complaining who are messing it up for the rest of us. The ones who truly believe in community and want to help. Lots of, "How comes posters get to advertise products flooding the forums but I cannot promote my own? It's the same difference" kind of site mail harassment.

I've bitten my tongue because I try not to whine and help where I can but I've seen said posters around.

It's funny when you're trying to give others a heads up on stuff they'd miss; alerting folks of freebies, which are always welcome, it's not in the spirit of community because you're "filling" the forums and its "annoying" yet when people make threads after threads COMPLAINING about the new Poser version that hasn't even arrived, yet they know it won't be great, and once it has arrived, they make threads pointing out how the new version sucks. Others doing the same with regards to the new Vickys and Micheals. You want to talk about annoying? That's annoying! Yet those threads see many many, many replies. It's amazing the amount of people who flock to those threads just to weigh in (complain) but that's considered community. Directing others to great products is not.

Quote - > Quote - > Quote -  so to clarify, no more "where can i get a this or that?" hey. Is this correct?

According to jenX we can't actually ask this in product showcase forum either because that says vendors (ie noone else) are only are allowed to post about their products.
Love esther
PS I think we need to discuss this with site staff as JenX suggests.

***"However, to ease your mind, there are exceptions to the rule.  For instance, if someone were to ask "Does anyone know where I can get a pirate ship"? as a question in the forum, feel free to point them in the direction of pirate ships, both free and for sale. 

While you can't outright advertise them, and we shouldn't have allowed it in the first place, you CAN link to products, both free or for sale, should the need to answer a question arise.  "***

Ok that particular bit is probably the only thing good left about the whole mess.

Yes. I like that we're still able to do that. I know how it is to be a newbie who isn't aware of where to go to find the product you're looking for. An actual link and not just a, "X person has this" helps a lot, especially when you're very new and wouldn't begin to know where X person's site is located.

I'd just go for the off-site announcement website - come to think about it, if that were properly managed, it could attract independent advertising support because of the eyeballs that drive-by.

I hear ya on the annoying threads! LOL

Quote - I'd just go for the off-site announcement website - come to think about it, if that were properly managed, it could attract independent advertising support because of the eyeballs that drive-by.

only problem there is there is no guarantee that rosity would allow the link to be posted because of it having  advertising to other stores.

Quote - I'd just go for the off-site announcement website - come to think about it, if that were properly managed, it could attract independent advertising support because of the eyeballs that drive-by.

Wasn't content creators guild trying to put together something like that?  I was going to get more involved there, but... there are too many interesting poser sites for me to keep track of.

Quote - > Quote - I'd just go for the off-site announcement website - come to think about it, if that were properly managed, it could attract independent advertising support because of the eyeballs that drive-by.

only problem there is there is no guarantee that rosity would allow the link to be posted because of it having  advertising to other stores.

Just put it in you sig line.
Commercial links and tags in a sig line are not considered 'commercial'.

LOL, I may just make one of those obnoxiously long sig-lines with links and comments and a really large austentaious flashing banner. That'll be better then an easily avoided thread.

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - I'd just go for the off-site announcement website - come to think about it, if that were properly managed, it could attract independent advertising support because of the eyeballs that drive-by.

only problem there is there is no guarantee that rosity would allow the link to be posted because of it having  advertising to other stores.

Just put it in you sig line.
Commercial links and tags in a sig line are not considered 'commercial'.

LOL, I may just make one of those obnoxiously long sig-lines with links and comments and a really large austentaious flashing banner. That'll be better then an easily avoided thread.

LOL evil kitteh is evil. :P

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - > Quote - I'd just go for the off-site announcement website - come to think about it, if that were properly managed, it could attract independent advertising support because of the eyeballs that drive-by.

only problem there is there is no guarantee that rosity would allow the link to be posted because of it having  advertising to other stores.

Just put it in you sig line.
Commercial links and tags in a sig line are not considered 'commercial'.
LOL, I may just make one of those obnoxiously long sig-lines with links and comments and a really large austentaious flashing banner. That'll be better then an easily avoided thread.

LOL evil kitteh is evil. :P

hehe, wait till you see what else I thought up (but wouldn't dare to put in practice)

I could say, hey, does anyone know where I can find this really really cool building set, I think it's called tin can, tin something or another 'alley' And the second person can come in and sy, hey, that must be the Tin Pan Alley by Stonemason you're looking for, and it happens to be 50% off right now at DAZ... and give a link.

Or, I could have said, did anyone get stonemason's brand new City courtyard? It's on 50% off at the monemt, and I wonder if it's worth getting, does anyone have a render or two of it?

Or, I could make a post talking about, oh, I have a problem with a texture in 'such and such set' ...  and then after 10 or so posts talking about the product and showing renders conclude, oh, darn, it's a user error.

Or....   ... ....

Quote - > Quote - > Quote - > Quote - > Quote - I'd just go for the off-site announcement website - come to think about it, if that were properly managed, it could attract independent advertising support because of the eyeballs that drive-by.

only problem there is there is no guarantee that rosity would allow the link to be posted because of it having  advertising to other stores.

Just put it in you sig line.
Commercial links and tags in a sig line are not considered 'commercial'.
LOL, I may just make one of those obnoxiously long sig-lines with links and comments and a really large austentaious flashing banner. That'll be better then an easily avoided thread.

LOL evil kitteh is evil. :P

hehe, wait till you see what else I thought up (but wouldn't dare to put in practice)

I could say, hey, does anyone know where I can find this really really cool building set, I think it's called tin can, tin something or another 'alley' And the second person can come in and sy, hey, that must be the Tin Pan Alley by Stonemason you're looking for, and it happens to be 50% off right now at DAZ... and give a link.

Or, I could have said, did anyone get stonemason's brand new City courtyard? It's on 50% off at the monemt, and I wonder if it's worth getting, does anyone have a render or two of it?

Or, I could make a post talking about, oh, I have a problem with a texture in 'such and such set' ...  and then after 10 or so posts talking about the product and showing renders conclude, oh, darn, it's a user error.

Or....   ... ....

LOL

I stuggle to understand why a site/company with no stake in Poser and no stake in DAZ Studio would make an isolating stance like this. Rendy only got it's popularity because it was a free zone...now?

(crickets chirping in the background)

I guess I'll have to start paying you a commision connie..since some people assume your working for me now anyway,lol

Quote - I guess I'll have to start paying you a commision connie..since some people assume your working for me now anyway,lol

Well, maybe you can be my pal... that way it won't hurt when I get falsely accused of being your close pal.  I mean, not that you're not friendly... but I'm just a big FAN whom still gets all starstruck when I get a chance to exchange a word or two with you.  giggle

It looked to me like Renderosity was retaliating after Smith Micro cut their ties. Of course, this could just be a projection on my part (easy to do when you're in the dark.)

I just noticed that the *oser forum (Are we still allowed to say the name of a Smith Micro product?) doesn’t have a link to Smith Micro where the software is available. This is like a fan club banning their favorite star because they can’t stand his manager.