pugdog
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May 14, 2007, 6:50 AM
Post #1 of 3
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Major flame!
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I was searching (after 3-4 weeks of scouring the 'net for printables and paper models) and ran into a thread on another forum that at 4am made me join and reply to. It's not the most polished work of art, since it is 6am now... But here it is, so I have a copy, since I'll probably not go back to that forum again.
I have been on a quest to find _FREE_ printables that could be offered in our shop for the costs of paper and ink. We can't afford to give this stuff away -- and in some cases, the "free" models are promoting a commercial site's other stuff -- and we aren't going to do that for _free_ (or at our cost!!). But, no go. Nothing is out there. After 3-4 weeks, I'm really disappointed, disillusioned, and while there are great models out there "free" for personal use, and that counts for something, almost all are couched in terms that prevent using them for group projects even for youth groups, boy scouts, or similar purposes to get kids interested in hobbies and crafts that can be built upon and be life-long interests.
So, in effect, they aren't _FREE_ or even useful, when they *COULD* be doing a lot of good for people. The karma is so bad after cruising these sites I've started to do it while *IN* my rock shop, so at least I have some "balance" in the force :)
It's really like holding candy out -- all those great models that could be used -- but then pulling it away and going "Ha, Ha, but you can't use them!"
Anyway, here's the flame that had to be posted, a work of art or not.
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[QUOTE=Sumato]I think Paul is right. Come to think of it, there are a couple of models I have made to be distributed free, a 1/32 Cessna T-37, and a 1/48 scale Piper Cheyenne, but I have not released them because I don't want the hassle of being on freeware patrol all the time trying to protect them.
Let me ask -- Why do you care?
I just had to join and respond to that line -- "Freeware patrol" -- It makes me sick. Really.
I found this forum by accident, after almost 4 weeks of scouring the 'net (200 gigabytes of download) for _FREE_ paper craft models.
Actual, _FREE_ paper craft models I can print out and sell (because I can't afford to give them away free -- ink and paper costs way too much) to get kids interested in building paper models -- as an inexpensive, creative, and goof-proof (just print up another part) way to start.
FREE MODELS so they can go and download and print out more (or spare parts) when they get home. But, something they can buy and go home with, so they have it in their hands. How much more likely are they going to try to build that paper plane for $1 that they took home with them, rather than trying to remember a URL, download it and print it out (*IF* they have stiff enough paper, not dollar store bond like most people use).
So, again, WHY DO YOU CARE!! If you are "giving them away free" but don't allow people to distribute them, or recover the costs of printing them up , what's the point? They don't do any good because they can't be used to get people interested in paper models.
We can't print up models for a Boy Scout (or girl scout) troup meeting, because we'd need to recover the paper/ink costs in the $1-2 kit fees, and we can't do it. "No commercial distribution." "No distributing for money." "Personal Use Only." "Do not copy and sell." "Don't share with anyone." "Don't interest kids in a new hobby."
That's one more, one thousand more, kids who could have a great, inexpensive hobby, but can't be introduced to it, because hobby shops, craft shops, or even Troup Leaders can't print them out and recover the costs of the ink and paper -- or in some cases even hand them out for free (based on what the owner claims).
Put yourself on the OTHER side of this issue, the kid looking for that special plane, or a paper model of their favorite sci-fi vehicle. You've got one, but you won't share it because of the "priates." They are massively disappointed, like dangling candy in their faces and not giving them any.
You are so "afraid" of the pirates (and they aren't even pirates,they are distributing UNALTERED copies of FREE models for the costs of distribution), that you are DENYING others of the work you did. So, rather than share your work (and I just don't mean _you_ I mean _YOU_ as in 1000's of people) you keep it hidden, pull it off line, and just _FRUSTRATE_ and annoy people who are looking for that model.
And, the Pirates won!! They beat you before you even released it. They got you to deny all those who would have had fun with it, that chance.
You are/were going to make it available for "free". You weren't going to sell it, but you won't let people distribute them for a fee so others can find out about them. Even shareware software allowed a copying fee! Distribution costs. ISP's don't give you Internet for free.
Yes, it may be your work, and you have the right to do it, *BUT* if you do, don't say you are removing it because of pirates, or not releasing it because of pirates, you just get people angry, upset,and frustrated. It *HURTS* the field of paper modeling more than anything else.
You don't see it from the OTHER point of view. The model is there, but out of reach.
Look at it from THE GOOD GUYS points of view. Why not put them in the copyrighted public domain, and LET PEOPLE PRINT AND DISTRIBUTE THEM! Maybe the whole field of paper modeling would be better off. More people would be exposed, and they'd see the URL's to find more.
You weren't selling it anyway! (IF you were making commercial models, this whole flame does not apply to you -- it's your right to not make it free -- but if you make it free be *REASONABLE* about it.)
People _SELL_ perl, Unix, and allsorts of other Open Source software. It hasn't hurt the OpenSource market. People still know where to go for updates, add ons, or original sources. *AND* some of those resellers actually improve on it from the customer's point of view. That makes the software _MORE_ attractive -- as it would for improved paper models. People would add detail, fix errors, and improve the construction techniques.
If you don't allow people to distribute the models, how do kids find out about paper models?
How do people "build" on the work that has already been done? Rather than moving forward, paper modelers reinvent the wheel every time a new one tries the hobby.
And, don't the ISP's and webhosts, and all those people make money on your models too? They charge for access, storage, and downloads, and some of you are putting your "free" models on systems that block users from downloading unless they pay for it -- or they have to wait 3 then 6 then 15 then 30 minutes to download part 2 of the model.
If you allowed REASONABLE distribution rights, you might even find that there are people willing to give you diskspace and bandwidth rather than spreading your parts over 25 Geocity sites.
So, as someone who has been looking for _FREE_ models that are *really* free, so they can promote the hobby, why not get over it, and do something for all the NON-PIRATES. Not everyone can use the internet, and paper modelers are often the type who DO NOT use computers -- eg: they like PAPER. If you allowed your models to be printed and distributed -- MORE PEOPLE would have a chance to try them and enjoy them.
I even ran into a site that offered "licenses" to print all their models for a fee per month. As soon as I agreed, they said, "NO way, you can buy the models from our long time friend..." and "at a much higher cost" as they say elsewhere on their site. I've reported them for deceptive advertising and bait&switch, and may be filing charges ... I'm that pissed off over this whole experience.
I wanted to promote paper modeling and using paper instead of more expensive materials, but I'll tell you -- the fun is going fast. I thought there were all these models out there I could print up, and offer to the kids, and get them interested in something other than video games.
But no. NOTHING!
All these people are SELFISHLY preventing people from seeing, using, or enjoying their models, under the _guise_ of "free". And, it's really selfish. It's all out there, but UNUSABLE for any decent purpose.
So, all these great models are out there, but no one knows about them, can pass them on, or can interest kids in them, because all of you PREVENT anyone from distributing the models.
In some cases, a parent printing out a copy and giving it to their kid violates the STATED COPYRIGHT!
Think about it.
I've seen enough gripes here to realize I'm not going to join in here, so don't bother replying. Just think about all the _BAD_ you are doing, and bad karma you giving off, by acting this way.
And, before you start with that whole creative/artist "how would you feel about being ripped off..." I have been. I'm a photographer, and one of the earliest digitial-imaging on-line pioneers back in the pre-bbs days. I have more people use my images over the past 30 years without permission than most of you will ever take in your life time. I got over it, and realized that _ESPECIALLY_ if my copyright/url/BBS-phone-number was on the image they were not doing me as much harm, as they were PROMOTING ME, and my web sites. They
were getting me new customers, visitors, and people looking for MORE of my work.
If I had my own paper models (which I soon hope to) I will have my URL/Website on them, and they will be FREE TO DISTRIBUTE unaltered as the best way to advertise my sites.
I have a kid who wants one of the stealth bombers. The plastic kit is 35.00. There is a paper model on-line I could print out for him, but it would violate copyright.
Think about it.
So again, WHY DO YOU CARE!!! If people distribute your _FREE_ IMAGES or WORK ???? It *HELPS* everyone!! As long as they don't alter it, or claim it as theirs, why do you care??!!?? That kid who needed a hobby found your file on a CD or Website, downloaded it, saw where it came from and went to get more. That's *GOOD*KARMA* . Now, look at all the threads and gripes, and "copyright" restrictions ... That's all BAD KARMA.
I'm done.
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And, if you have _FREE_ models, people can distribute, we'll offer you space and bandwidth to store and distribute them. We have a few rules, but it's better than using the basic free hosts, or trying to host your own site.
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