| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Patrakis |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 03:47:52
Hello,
Here is a strange situation.
While i was surfing on Ebay looking for D&D items, i stumbled upon this item for sale :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Faerun-Dadelands-Elite-Digital-Map-w-hexes-ad-d-dnd-d-d-dungeons-dragons-/390470158494?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae9d5c89e
I tought it looked familiar and upon close examination, what was my surprise? That's my map! Someone downloaded the map i made of the Dalelands and is selling print copies as is own! It even has the Valedale region i created for my campaign just under Shadowdale.
Candlekeep has been hosting this map for many years now and i have the original Photoshop files to back my claim too.
I am far from a professional map maker and never intended to sell the maps i made but this gave me a very strange feeling. I really feel like i have been robbed in a way.
Anyway, i sent the seller a message and i'm curious as to what he will say. He'll probably tell me to go F..K myself and i probably have no way to prevent him from doing what he's doing.
I just thought i'd share this little story to those among you that are sharing your amateur works. There's always someone out there who can think of a way to make a buck from your hard work.
Be vigilant. I looked at the seller and he is selling all kinds of digital maps of the Forgotten REalms and Greyhawk. Candlekeep mappers might want to take a look. I think he's even selling copies of WotC official maps.
Pat |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Patrakis |
Posted - 21 Sep 2012 : 02:52:51
I pointed out to him that he was selling a digital copy (he is not selling a printout of the map by the way, just the digital version)of a map that depicted my own version of the dalelands from the forgotten realms.
I checked yesterday and the map wasn't there anymore. The others are still there though.
Pat |
| Artemas Entreri |
Posted - 20 Sep 2012 : 16:12:07
quote:
Originally posted by Patrakis
Thanks for all the advise. I contacted the seller and he is looking into this, he said. He said he would put the add down until he verified my claim.
But i don't have a claim. I just said to the guy that he is selling something that isn't his own.
I'm very curious as to what will come out of this. I have't check if the map is still there.
Anyway, that's about that for that :)
Thanks
Pat
How exactly did you word your response to the seller? You should let them know that it is your map that they are selling. |
| MrHedgehog |
Posted - 20 Sep 2012 : 05:15:04
The person will probably say the cost is to cover the price of prHinting it and since you put it out as public domain you can't claim ownership? However, obviously Wotc owns the intellectual property.... if he said he's going to take the ad down because it is your's...that doesn't make sense either because it would not make sense for anyone to sell intellectual property owned by wotc. I assume you made the maps for fun. Lame! |
| Patrakis |
Posted - 20 Sep 2012 : 04:13:34
Thanks for all the advise. I contacted the seller and he is looking into this, he said. He said he would put the add down until he verified my claim.
But i don't have a claim. I just said to the guy that he is selling something that isn't his own.
I'm very curious as to what will come out of this. I have't check if the map is still there.
Anyway, that's about that for that :)
Thanks
Pat |
| Markustay |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 08:55:19
Definitely report him.
I find my maps all over the internet (in several languages LOL), but I haven't found any for sale. Then again, I never ever look at e-Bay.
Years ago when I was a regular at Coolminiornot, we had a similar problem. That site hosts a bunch of (miniature) painting tutorials which are available for free to the community. TWICE we caught someone selling them all (compiled into a single pdf) as a 'professional miniature painting guide'. After he was reported the first time, he tried it again a year later.
You can't really stop these people - only temporarily. They just create a new account and do it again. I see lots of sites selling fonts that I know for a fact are free shareware, along with tons of other things like that. Some people live off of other people's creativity - what can you do? Report him to e-Bay and WotC and move on.
EDIT: Did you check out his other auctions? WotC really needs to go after this guy - he's selling quite a few 'digitally produced' maps of their IP.
*Grammatical Correction |
| Eilserus |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 08:09:01
quote:
Originally posted by Gyor
There really isn't anythin wrong with what he's doing, he's just offering a POD service. Hopeful the maps he produces are of a higher quality then what common printers could do.
Two you put it out there for free for anyone enjoy, but don't offer the service of turning into a physical product, so who else should people who want that go to if they want a physical product of a certain quality level.
Three we live in the era of I can't believe its not Star Trek XXX, ICBIN the next generation paradoy, ICBIN Married with Childern, Pirates! (a spoof on Pirates of the Caribean) and other very profitable movies and the like so one needs to keep a realistic point of view.
Just a dose of reality.
Reality is it's illegal what that ebay seller is doing. Every name on the map is the property of Wizards. It's also implied that anything created, whether written, art, pictures etc are copyrighted. There's no need to have to state it anywhere and it doesn't matter if it's posted online. Something being posted online doesn't mean its free to be used however a person wants in a commercial venture. So the person could and most likely will be sued by Wizards if it isn't stopped. They have to defend their copyrights in situations like that.
Heh, the seller is based in the US also. I hope they enjoy the quarter million dollar fine and 5 years in prison. bwahahah
It appears the seller is also posting digital copies of other Realms items, such as a Silverymoon and Nentir Vale map in digital format. |
| Gyor |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 06:15:03
There really isn't anythin wrong with what he's doing, he's just offering a POD service. Hopeful the maps he produces are of a higher quality then what common printers could do.
Two you put it out there for free for anyone enjoy, but don't offer the service of turning into a physical product, so who else should people who want that go to if they want a physical product of a certain quality level.
Three we live in the era of I can't believe its not Star Trek XXX, ICBIN the next generation paradoy, ICBIN Married with Childern, Pirates! (a spoof on Pirates of the Caribean) and other very profitable movies and the like so one needs to keep a realistic point of view.
Just a dose of reality. |
| Gyor |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 05:44:11
I wonder how much he's making on your map.
Perhaps this is a sign you should go into business map making. |
| Tyranthraxus |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 05:36:29
Like others have said, I suggest reporting that person to eBay and WotC.
This is one of the risks of posting digital art online, people are going to steal it and there isn't much you can do about it. |
| Brian R. James |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 04:54:04
Stealing your design Patrakis is deplorable, no question about it, but the fact that they are attempting to sell digital art which contains intellectual property owned by Wizards of the Coast shows just how ignorant they really are. By posting this on ebay they are basically daring WotC to sue them. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 04:43:47
I've reported several eBay sellers (or one, using different names) for selling illegal digital copies of WotC novels and material.
I once reported someone for selling me pirated software... He made it sound like he was selling the original disk, and all he did was run off a copy. He then charged like $8 shipping and handling, and it was sent unprotected, in an envelope. He told me, when I asked, that the high fee was because he had to walk to the post office!
I reported him to eBay, and alt identities he was using, too. At the time, eBay didn't hide bidder info -- so I contacted people that bid on his auctions. And I also contacted the software manufacturer, too.  |
| Dalor Darden |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 04:39:45
Can his arse! Or better yet, simply place a similar title to his and list your item as free on eBay...with a handy dandy link.
EDIT:
You should also note that he has his phone number listed under his contact information.
EDIT2:
I reported the item.
EDIT3:
Sent link and email to WotC. |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 04:36:37
Definitely. Why should he make money off YOUR hard work? Report him, and make sure you show them the proof to back your claim. |
| Brimstone |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 04:16:58
Report it to WotC... |
| Artemas Entreri |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 04:09:37
At least the shipping is free... |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 19 Sep 2012 : 03:55:16
quote:
Originally posted by Patrakis
Hello,
Here is a strange situation.
While i was surfing on Ebay looking for D&D items, i stumbled upon this item for sale :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Faerun-Dadelands-Elite-Digital-Map-w-hexes-ad-d-dnd-d-d-dungeons-dragons-/390470158494?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae9d5c89e
I tought it looked familiar and upon close examination, what was my surprise? That's my map! Someone downloaded the map i made of the Dalelands and is selling print copies as is own! It even has the Valedale region i created for my campaign just under Shadowdale.
Candlekeep has been hosting this map for many years now and i have the original Photoshop files to back my claim too.
I am far from a professional map maker and never intended to sell the maps i made but this gave me a very strange feeling. I really feel like i have been robbed in a way.
Anyway, i sent the seller a message and i'm curious as to what he will say. He'll probably tell me to go F..K myself and i probably have no way to prevent him from doing what he's doing.
I just thought i'd share this little story to those among you that are sharing your amateur works. There's always someone out there who can think of a way to make a buck from your hard work.
Be vigilant. I looked at the seller and he is selling all kinds of digital maps of the Forgotten REalms and Greyhawk. Candlekeep mappers might want to take a look. I think he's even selling copies of WotC official maps.
Pat
It might be worth your time to report it to eBay, they are pretty vigilant with efforts to not sell stolen items |
