Accused of "Copy Botting"?

I was recently in an area that I hang out in and someone else that was there accused me of copy botting, saying that "there's no way she bought her stuff". I have never copy botted anything..........I don't even have any idea how to do that. I have gotten some things at freebie stores, but maybe 80% of the things I have, skins, clothes etc I bought at the XStreet Market. During my first week however I did have what I thought were kind people offer me things and I did accept a few. Was I wrong to do this? Could they have given me things that were copy botted and how could I tell if that was the case and get rid of them? I was so offended by what she said to me becuse I would never steal someone else's things or accept them if I knew they had been stolen.

Yes unfortunally, a lot of things in freebie boxes that is passed around is stolen.

It if not your fault that you accepted them, and you can try to find the creator of your things. Try to rightclick your hair when you wear it, and "Edit"+ "More" +"Creator profile". This will bring up the profile of the hair creator. If you don't get up any profile, it is fair to assume that it's a thief who's been banned from Second Life.

I will suggest that you pick up this great offer of free hair from Magika and delete the hairs you got in the freebie boxes. Then you can proudly say "This hair is not stolen, here is the link and you can go there and look for yourself".

EDITED TO ADD: If you find a creator profile with no shop info in picks or any Xstreet link, that is a very strong indication of something wrong.

Unfortunately that's one of the problems. You're best bet in that case is to tell the person accusing you where you got the item (if you recall, or have the LM from the place you got it in the folder it resides, or the original package, etc), and say, look, I didn't copybot it, don't even know how, this is where I got it, and this is what I paid (if you recall). I understand the frustration that content creators have seeing their stuff copied like that, but content creators need to understand that many people buy or get as a freebie much of what's been copybotted and shouldn't go off on someone just because they have something that was (unknowingly) a stolen item.

Thanks for your answers! I will try the right click,more,creator and see if I can discover if this stuff was stolen or not. Also thank you for the link to the free hair offer!

Xstreetsl isn't free from thiefs either. .

It's not new. I remember starting in 2007, I had 2 hairstyles from Panache that I loved. They were stolen, and the shop owner set them out for sale for 5 L, to fight back the thiefs. I bought them in the shop, happy to find so cheap hair, but they were floating around in freebie places. I also got the question: "Do you know your hair is stolen?". I could just say "Huh? I bought it in Panache".

The safest way is to read freebie blogs and hunt blogs. When you pick up free stuff in shops, you are on the safe side. There are some shady shops that participate in hunts, but they are exposed quick.

Do you know the person who said you were copybotting? Do you have any solid evidence to indicate they were expressing a sincere opinion when they said that as opposed to passing the time by upsetting people on purpose?

There are folks who pass their time in SL by deliberately making other people unhappy. This takes different forms. Some make replicating physical objects that emit loud noises, produce vulgar, hostile text, and display weird, obscene, racist, or otherwise likely to be unpleasant particle textures in aggravating large numbers.

Back when we had a rating system, with positive and negative ratings, there were people who got their jollies by giving negative ratings to others, particularly new users, for the joy of hearing how upset people became.

There are folks who do this sort of thing for years.

In the absence of near-certain knowledge that someone saying anything negative about you in SL is expressing their honest opinion there is no reason to assume they are telling the truth when they say it.

Assuming that they are sincere, there is no reason to think they have the slightest degree of credibility. They might well be a dim-witted know-it-all, possibly in a bad mood, possibly drunk or otherwise intoxicated.

Some folks find the process of acquiring nice free or low priced things so challenging they can't grasp that others might find it quite simple enough to do with no problem.

There might be somewhere else better to hang out, and there is a mute button to keep from having to see comments from chronically upsetting or otherwise unpleasant folks.

What Suezanne said.

These people are snobs. They are like the women who wear "anti inspection shields" so you can't inspect their designer outfit and find out where it was bought and get one yourself.

"I paid $L1,000 for this dress, and that makes me SO much better than that noob" That's their attitude, and if you look good and do it for $50L, why, there has to be some fault on your part, doesn't there?

It's always a good idea to be on the lookout for stolen stuff, and not promote piracy by keeping it. But it's ALSO a good idea to not let small-minded people get under your skin.

(I confess to being a bit of a fashion snob myself. To me, paying a high price for a really great outfit is part of the experience. For three or four bucks, I can feel like a movie star shopping in exclusive Beverly Hills boutiques. But I also have a lot of admiration for the people who can look fabulous on a tight budget.)

That ain't why them fashionistas wear those anti inspect shields lol. Just derender the damn things and then inspect them to see why they don't want people seeing their names as the creator of all their prims they have on.

I love bargain hunting in SL, and I don't mind shouting about it. Most quality shops have sales, specials, freebies, and dollarbies. It is the same quality level product, but basically free.

It's a great way to sample shops around the grid, and expand your wardrobe painlessly. I try things I wouldn't try otherwise, if the item were a dollar or two real $. I don't have a money tree (SL or RL) and I'd stick to a limited range otherwise, most likely.

I do still shop (in the normal price racks), if I see something that really catches my eye. But I don't care if I sound cheap...I don't think I *look* cheap so what's it matter?

Yes I think it's some hysteria about copybotting. Can also be ppl who just like to accuse others of stealing without knowing enough about it. Suezanne said it so well.... "dim-witted know-it-all" For instance, they could inspect the OP's hair and see she wasn't the creator. She is an innocent victim, who wouldn't be happy for free stuff?

But I still claim that there's a lot of stolen things in the freebie boxes that's passed around. Better to go for freebies in shops, hunts and group gifts. Then you know it's the original creator who give out stuff because they are generous.

I spend a lot on my clothes, and it's never occurred to me that I might not want other people to know who made them. Apart from anything else, it's so unfair on the maker that people can't see where stuff comes from so they go and buy it if they want to.

I'm with Ann on this; if someone's wearing an anti-inspect device I automatically assume they're trying to conceal the fact they're wearing snide goods.

There are reputable freebie places:

Free Dove
NCI
Builders Brewery (has a few freebies)
Sarah Nerd
the Gnubie Store

And some others. Even these get 'copy-sneaked' now and then with someone putting something in there that isn't what they claim - but its less common there.

Xstreet is dubious. Its hard to say there - and price is no indicator of a copybotter there.


People will react when they see a new avatar that is well decked out - but honestly thats not a logical reaction on their part. Some people decide they want to get decked out earlier than others do.

It is also possible to get many expensive items free or cheap from their original creators through prize chairs, sales, group awards, club contest gifts/giftcards, and so on. I know of at least 2 designers that release new items free or very cheap on day one or in an MM board, and then after short time put it up for regular sale.
- So you can end up with a person who's not spent a single linden yet, walking around with a legitimate copy of what is an 800L outfit, simply from sitting on a chair when their letter was up.

If something -IS- copybotted, it won't have the original creator's name anymore. Look at the profile of the creator. Go to the store they list as theirs in their Picks or classifieds.
- If they don't list a store, almost certainly a copybotted item, but there are exceptions (some people use one avatar to make, one to sell - sometimes partner setups work this way too).

But just looking at their profile you can kind of 'smell' when something isn't right...


Genuine makers of freebies, who will leave them in freebie spots for people to grab, have certain traits in common. They almost always package the item with a landmark and/or notecard asking you to come check something or somewhere out. They tend to have a branded appearance about they way to put it all together - much like a purchased item. Once you see the way a couple of these freebie makers operate, its very easy to tell them apart from copybotters.

(For one example, myself. But just grab a few items at Free Dove and Sarah Nerds and look at how such different products are similar in how they get packaged/presented. The makers are hoping that you use the product to launch on to something further - often a sale in their real shop, but sometimes just 'involvement' in a community or location.)

Let's say I bought stuff from original creators that are no mod and/or (irritating) no rez and it doesn't fit right and I copybot what I legitimately bought for my own personal use to fit my shape or fix prims out of place.
Does that make me a thief?

(No, I don't have a copybot.) *eyeroll*

no, but you are still technically violating the terms of the sale, which certainly didn't include your name appearing as creator of the item.

in practice, if that's all you do, I personally have no moral or ethical objection, but it is not the letter of the law, so you should always be willing to accept the consequence of ignoring that.

SuezanneC, I think this needs to be both stickied here -and- put on a note card and handed out at infohubs. Well done.

*hmm* I don't know. Doesn't LL state that they frown upon it if the person who is copybotting is not the creator of the original item? You could take a chance, but if you're caught, you're going to pay a higher price than maybe asking the creator for a mod/copy no trans version. And if the creator isn't willing to do a version like that, then you avoid them and tell your friends to avoid them.

Violating what terms of sale? I have seen no terms regarding purchase beyond no distributing blah blah blah and certainly nothing that ever said I couldn't do anything for my own personal use.

I use other 3D programs like Poser, Hexagon, Daz Studio. Anything I have bought for those programs, I can edit & modify to my heart's content as long as it's only for my use and not passing it around like my work.

And there is another topic I've seen around about backing up your inventory this way in case LL/SL eats it.

To me IMO, It's witch hunting.
I do know how creators feel since I have seen my work being sold on XStreet that violates my terms of use..

Perhaps it would help to post a link to a page that clearly states LL's stand on the proper use of Copybot as everything seems to point to people's personal opinion about it.

Yes - some places give out absolutely gorgeous clothes and things in lucky chairs or MM boards.

I've gotten skins, hair, shoes, houses, and all sorts of clothing that way. Without spending a Linden. I do later go back and shop in most of those places, but when I'm ready for that product. Just saying that it is very possible to be very well suited up and never spend a single Linden.

Plus, some people are being helped by friends or family or they are an alt and it's not really anyone's business which, in my opinion. Isn't SL about finding one's own way in a virtual world.

Now copybotting is wrong, and if someone knows or sees clear proof of it, send the real creator a note card with location and other specifics so they can file a DMCA with Linden Lab. But that's different.

Calling someone copybotter because their av looks nice is unfair at best.

If it's "no rez", I personally would have no compunctions about making a rezzable copy for my personal use. I think that practice is just capital-D Dumb. And insulting. But my most likely course would be to not buy it in the first place.

the terms are abiding by the permissions system, which LL has made it very clear that buyers (not necessarily creators) must do. additionally copyright and IP law is in effect and so it's technically illegal to relabel an item as being your creation, which is a consequence of the copying process.

but like I said, if it were something I made, in that specific case, I wouldn't take umbrage... I find the permissions system to be more than a little restrictive for creators and customers alike.


I'm not familiar with "no rez" restrictions.... what would that apply to? images? by way of license agreement?

It's usually hair, Void; some merchants have got it into their heads that they can protect themselves against unauthorized copies being made of their products by including something on the lines of if(llGetAttached()==0){//accuse the customer of being a thief, threaten all sort of things, and then delete yourself.}

A minute's thought should have been enough to tell them this is effective as a chocolate fireguard, but a minute is a long time and thought, arduous.

Damned right it is. "Paranoia" is another apt term.

I have seen 2 stores within a week now running a script at the door which automatically kicks out any avatar under a certain number of days old. You are guilty on sight, just because you're a n00b, no evidence needed, and you can't shop here. That is major bullshit, damned poor business, and no less offensive than a RL brick-and-mortar store turning away people at the door because they have a particular color of skin or religious affiliation. How long can one stay in business being so rude and judgmental to customers? How long SHOULD one be in business? Not long.


During the Shoes & Accessories Hunt I saw this n00b-kicker in action at a major, well-known and highly praised clothing store. How foolish is that? Not only are they arrogant enough to insult and turn away a great number of customers, but in addition they pariticipate in a hunt so as to actually *solicit* people to insult.


How about it, LL? How's THAT for a quality new resident experience?


I hope that every last new resident who got kicked there knows they have been shit on, that they remember the name of the store where they were shit on, and that they never ever go back to spend a single Linden. I left, and I didn't even take their damned freebie hunt gift. If I wore it someone might see it, like it, and go spend money supporting the arrogant paranoid hateful knee-jerk twit who owns that store. The thought disgusts me.


Furthermore, what does this paranoia/witch-hunt n00b-kicker actually accomplish - besides alienating most of your future customer base? Lessee... it .... ummmmm.... forces content thieves to login with the alts they made LAST MONTH rather than the alts they made THIS MONTH. Wow, THAT will teach 'em!


Spare me the overtired, useless nonsense about copying tools threatening the future of SL. If a number of merchants decide they don't wanna play just for fun, and they don't wanna play just for creativity, but that they will just take their toys and go away if they can't make $ ... guess what? The place can survive.



The whining, pouting, tantrum-tossing voices of outrage over copy protection are the same voices that cried the alarm many years ago telling us that cassette tapes would ruin the music industry. Gee, it must be horribly silent in all of our lives now that no one has recorded any new music in 25 years. I sure wish they hadn't invented home cassette recorders so that we could still buy recorded music in retail stores! Ohh .. wait .. that didn't happen, did it?


Then there was a period when the VCR was going to kill Hollywood. In YOUR world did James Cameron stand in line at a soup kitchen yesterday? George Clooney works 80 hours a week in the food service industry struggling to pay his bills and Angelina Jolie just went back to school for nursing in hopes of having a little nest egg to hopefully, someday, afford a two-week vacation cruise (maybe).

???

No? Didn't think so.

Gee, portable tape recorders didn't kill music creativity, and video recorders didn't kill the film industry. Imagine that!


IMO right now, on this grid that I love, the primary thing which shows potential to anger /confound/frustrate new residents and thus *genuinely threatens* the future of the grid is:

NOT LL's bumbling and idiotic policy changes, as prolific as they are
NOT gesture spam
NOT bling
NOT lag
NOT high-ARC scripted hair
NOT self-replicating-porn prims
NOT naked Avatars running around sporting freenises and asking strangers for sex
NOT the possibility of content creators packing up their little toys and leaving ...


it is this paranoia over IP rights.





You who are on a Holy Righteous crusade against copybotting: if you are booting n00bs from your business, if you are shouting the gospel of holiness and IP-rights purity, if you are diligently scolding the unfaithful at every chance, and zealously reporting every suspected garment and prim in your path, then it is YOUR ACTIONS which make SL a hostile and unpleasant place to be.

You are like the little tattletale kid in elementary school who was always twice as big a problem as whatever he was screeching about.

Your actions are more harmful to SL than the sum total of everything ever done with NeilLife.



.

:: facepalm ::
and I'll bet it's all no mod too... (which might be why I haven't run into it.) gotta love paranoid idiots... they make the rest of us look downright sane.

PS.
that line was golden, I think I'll copy bot it and modify it for my own use