SL Exchange account deleted - Disgruntled and DISGUSTED

I've worked a solid week on a very personal and special creation for myself...and others. A replica Ford explorer from Jurassic park, yknow the big colorful jeeps where the T-REX turns one onto its roof.

Anyway I finally make this after much blood sweat and texturing and am so relieved to get it done and up for sale for others to enjoy.

I get an email last night saying oh you've broken a trademark thingy. Fair enough, I used the word Ford. I changed it to 'jungle explorer' the cars actual 'name'. Then later this afternoon I get a notifcation my account has been 'suspended' I assume that means deleted because I can't log on, there's no trace of my products on there or me.

WHAT!!!

Alright I understand the need for change of the Ford, but after doing that, and uploading the changed product with no Ford mentions. But deleting my account?!?!

I have MANY products and I receive 90% of my income from SL Exchange, I'm extremely pissed off that they've done this. Yeah just shut me off, an honest merchant selling my goods. That's like taking all of van goghs paintings and ripping them up because they looked too old.


Does suspended mean that it's actually suspended...or deleted? I hope it's the former because if it's the latter...I'm gonna be reall annoyed.

What the hell do I do now? a 2 year legacy of products has just been ended because of one burk's move. Can I get it unsolved or is my career over. Thanks SLex...thanks...

When you emailed SLX to ask why your account was suspended and what you need to do to get it unsuspended, what did they say in their reply?

I'm awaiting a reply, i'm still in the disgruntled stage. I feel like I been totally jipped. Suspension of my account is like cutting the air supply on planet earth. Time is money...much needed money for rent and other things..

Suspended usually means a temporary situation until an issue has been resolved. (tm). Contact whatever administration there is at SLX and find out.

/is seeing a trend here...

scary

Jurassic Park Ford Explorer

DOUBLE copyright infringement. Could you not have advertised it with Goodyear tires too?

Maybe throw some Hello Kitty seatcovers in that thing and a Mickey Mouse tire cover on the spare tire.

Honey, not vinegar.

don`t think the issue is with copyright in this case, but the same customer service by LL with just suspending an account without any communication

Heh FORD could probably care less. It is the movie industry who will be and probably is all over it.. Renaming it to Jungle explorer is also A copyright infringement since Jurassic park also sells action figure toy named Jungle Explorer.
You need to remove all Movie Names from the product and i would imagine textures..

Actually.. This time it was SLX.. And I can see where they're coming from. (^_^)y

Talk to Apotheus and explain your situation. Come back without the vehicle - just let it go, man. Not worth it. He's pretty reasonable. I'm sure you'll be okay.

In the meantime, you can start setting up all your other products at Onrez as well. I don't think it's quite as big, but it's the same concept.

Its kinda silly and counterproductive for you to come complaining about it here before you have exhausted your options with SLX. To me suspended simply means put on hold. I suggest you go work with them to resolve the issue. And be polite about it, respect is a bit issue with them and you have everything to loose.

[email]support@slexchange.com[/email]

Now you've added "posting rants against SLX on a public forum" to the situation. How does this improve your chances of getting reinstated?

A huge overreaction from the OP IMO.

There is no need for a full scale rant until all your options with SLX themselves are exhausted.

In this case they have identified products that they feel have obviously infringed their guidelines for some reason.

The correct course of action (bear in mind there are legal implications if copyright is involved) is to speak to SLX and continue a dialog with them about what has infringed and how this can be put right (it may be more than one product that has an infringement, and when the second strike against your name came in, they had to act)

As creator who works long hard on trying to make good things I feel your pain and I know how hard it is to truly come up with a unique product even when I am trying.
I never used Slx because I don't see them protecting other people's copyright very well so
it is interesting too that after all the selling other people's products and freebies and what not that goes on at slx they decided to do something to protect copyrights.
Maybe they are doing it because they know Ford will sue for copyright infringement?

You'd be surprised. Ford gets paid for every instance that one of their vehicles is shown with their name on it. You'll notice a lot of low budget products do not label their 'drinks' or other props also.

Aside from the e-mail about the trademark violation.

"Explorer" is also a Ford trademark, so simply removing the Ford name may not have been sufficient. Assuming it was Ford's trademarks that were in question, and not Universal's Jurassic Park trademarks.

I find it hard to believe Ford gets paid every time their vehicle is shown in:

1) A blue book entry
2) A Ford advertisement
3) A review article
4) An auto dealership advertisement

These are all examples of product placement which serves Ford's interest and they'd be shooting themselves in the foot if they tried to collect a licensing or royalty fee on them. Even product placement in movies and television is motivation for many companies to waive IP rights and any attempt to enforce IP rights based on the mere appearance of a product in such situations can run afoul of the fair use doctrine.

Well the good news is if you wait long enough Ford and any other American car company will eventually go out of business or become foreign owned sooner or later if things continue as they are going.

Why is that good news?

Well, if they go out of business you can use their trademarks in SL.

Sorry, but "jungle explorer" is in the public domain. It would have to be a very limited application to be a valid copyright.

I don't believe this. On the contrary, companies pay big money to have their products placed in movies, etc. Ford does not have the right to charge me for using its vehicle in a picture, assuming I'm using it *as* a vehicle, for its intended purpose. To say it does would be taking intellectual property rights WAY to far, and I'm a staunch advocate of IP rights.