THIA and our stance on piracy

[Dot50Cal]

So apparently, some people just can't get it through their heads what is an isn't acceptable here at the boards and have been bombarding the moderators with PM's, whining about infractions and such because they just couldn't wait to tell everyone that they illegally watched Degeneration. So now its time to set some things straight:

1). Admitting you pirated any form of meda (and lets be honest, the only reason you'd be saying that you "JUST SAW" Degeneration was piracy) earns you a one month ban from the site.

2). THIA distinguishes from BETA and RETAIL games. Thus, beta games won't earn you a ban.

3). Mag scans - no no. The only thing we currently allow is non English mag scans for the news page.

4). Dark Biohazard is a mod which requires the retail version of RE2. Trying to bring up the mod, in some sad attempt to try and equate people praising the mod and those who brag about download Degeneration is just pathetic.

5). From now on, there are no more warnings. If you let on that you pirated something, you are gone for 30 days. Repeated infractions for this will earn you a permanent ban.

[missvalentine]

ok so pirating = the devil

got it, no pirating then.

[Helegad]

4). Dark Biohazard is a mod which requires the retail version of RE2. Trying to bring up the mod, in some sad attempt to try and equate people praising the mod and those who brag about download Degeneration is just pathetic.

Uh? What does DBH have to do with Degeneration? :uhh:

[Carnivol]

Uh? What does DBH have to do with Degeneration? :uhh:

"Someone" felt the need to drag it in while complaining about our decisions in relation to the whole Degeneration leak thing. So Dot50Cal felt the need to put it up on the list.

[Andyfer_Ruu]

I'll stand up and admit it was me who did it, and i've apologised on the thread i brought it up in.
I dont know if Dot's still watching this piracy thread, but to quote what i said....Fair enough, and i apologise to Darkmoon and Dot and anybody else on the forum that feels the same. :)
I also thank you for giving me a warning.

[rewak]

Magazine scans seem a bit far, but fair enough. Although im guessing old magazines are still fine (such as ones that have 1.5 screens for example, of which there are many)

[Helegad]

I don't see why magazine scans are illegal. It's just pictures, for god's sake.

[Dot50Cal]

I'll stand up and admit it was me who did it

You weren't the only one :nervous:

[Tyrant T-002]

I didnt understand why scans are forbidden here o.o

[Andyfer_Ruu]

>_< Ohhhhh..
I didnt know that.
I hope they apologised to you aswell.

For the comment above - I didnt know that either 0.o although i dont put scans or pics up on here anyway. Would that also include links? just so i know, so i dont make the mistake of doing it sometime.

[Carnivol]

I don't see why magazine scans are illegal. It's just pictures, for god's sake.

We're talking about recent magazine scans. You know how scans often pop up on the web even days before a magazine pops into the mailbox of subscribers?

Internet in general has been a bad thing for the old paper printers, and they depend a lot on their exclusive coverage. If that exclusive coverage ends up being put online in the form of 1:1 copies, especially while it's still hot off the press, they lose part of their selling point. We may however quote some of the content and/or give a brief summary of it.

The only reason we may allow some foreign scans is because this is mainly an English site and various smaller "local" magazines are usually never really in the international type of sense, and they usually maintain a solid userbase in their local countries as people in general don't expect to find their content online, their stories do not always get international attention and recognition and in general they wont be "hurt" in the same way an international magazine would. And even in the case of international magazines, we'll still be selective about what we put on the front page.

Personally, I prefer to just use a scan of the frontpage of the magazine + a summary/description of the content.

[Rombie]

It's never about the legality of the situation (and the declining interest and death of various magazines means it's too costly for most publishers to even consider legal action), but as Carn mentions, the exclusivity for sales of the magazine when it hits news stands which they're trying to protect, which is why old magazines will never be an issue.

My only main issue of the problem when it faced me while working on REFan was the smacking of hypocrisy by both IGN and 1Up in their contact to me regarding items I posted on my site at varying times. In both cases they told me I was not to post the item or any details other than the original location, which I felt was very rich when both sites would frequently repost information and scans from Japanese magazines, like Famitsu, without permission.

In the case of IGN, my decision to tell (resident fat oaf) Tal Blevins (http://www.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2006/06/blevins.jpg) this very fact (he was the staff member who attempted a cease on me, threating to go to his "legal team" which IGN did not have in 2002) then caused him to make an attempt on a personal vendetta against me on IGN's forums, which eventually backfired. I probably wouldn't have pulled the same stunt on them, calling his bluff, these days due to the fact IGN is now owned by Fox and thus has money, and most likely an actual legal team, to waste on frivolous court proceedings.

I have a big bee in my bonnet about people throwing their legal weight around though, so I tend not to be too restrictive about hinting that you can find whatever it is if you look.... but since the 1up/EGM thing, which I did comply with in the end, I've done nothing but ever post screen grabs from videos or just a single screenshot from the magazine, links to external sites offering the item in question, or post covers of the magazines with summary attached as also noted by Carnivol. It's really just to cover your ass.

[Neptune]

yeah best bet Rombie, i didnt know IGN were owned by FOX, and they indeed as u sed wud have a legal team.

abolsutly no point risking it in the slightest.

[Helegad]

Hmmm, I guess you're right about the "hot off the press" magazines, but maybe the rule can be that you can't post current issues of magazines until a.) it's over one month old, or b.) it has been superseded by a new issue.

[Rombie]

^ Still too soon I'd think. Certain print publications will go worldwide, and so you really need to give it a few months to be fair on the publishers if you're really caring about their sales.

For example copies of EGM are sold here in NZ in two forms, air freight (usually within a week of the US publish) and general release (which are shipped and cost about a 1/3 as the air fright)... but the general release doesn't tend to turn up for about 6-7 weeks after the original appears.

[Biohazard EX]

Have there really been that many problems lately with this issue?

[Carnivol]

No.
And I think most people would kinda like to keep it that way.

[Town of Green]

I haven't seen Degen, I'm setting that straight right now but I'm curious. Even though Dot said most people would only see it through pirating, what about those who've imported it, or have seen it in Japan? I understand it's nigh impossible for people here to fall under that, I'm just wondering.

[A-J]

if you imported it, just say you did. Its not like anyone can read your mind.

[Town of Green]

No I haven't imported it. I doubt I'd even buy it on the 27th. Like I said, I was simply curious.

[Borman]

If you dont thing that downloading is stealing, always just watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d82Lq2rVB_4

[Helegad]

I've seen that :P

Awesome video :D

[TheSelfishGene]

The irony of watching a commercial television show for free on the internet to warn you against pirating things :D

[Helegad]

Commercial television is free. That's why, when I turn on my TV, I can see it without paying ^_^

[Andyfer_Ruu]

Unless its sky digital :P then you do have to pay

[Darkmoon]

You have to pay for any bloody television in the UK. You can't even have one set up to watch TV without fawking out for TV Liscence.

Sods.

[Rombie]

Commercial television is free. That's why, when I turn on my TV, I can see it without paying ^_^

Commercial TV is never technically free, even when called free to air. The network it's own pays for the rights to screen per-screening from the content makers, and is paid for through advertising, tax breaks, direct input from your taxes (as noted some countries have a licence fee you need to pay each year), and other such sources. These days quite often if you have free sat digital or cable, a bit of a cost for the box you pay for to get it goes to the broadcasters in your area. Additionally local organizations which fund television content are quite often council/govt funded, and thus some of your money will be heading there. Somewhere along the line, something you purchased, watched, or paid - paid for your tv content.

Recording TV from free to air for your own individual playback is grey-area, but generally considered fine... but sharing it or putting it up for public display is the same level of piracy as copying a movie for distribution.

Free to air media copyright 101 right there :p

[Alexia_Ashford]

You have to pay for any bloody television in the UK. You can't even have one set up to watch TV without fawking out for TV Liscence.

Sods.

I know. We HAVE to have the BBC channels even if we don't want them. I rarely even watch them. It's ridiculous. What if I had a TV just for games? I'd have to get another licence? To hell with that.

[Sephiroth]

If you dont thing that downloading is stealing, always just watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d82Lq2rVB_4

At was really funny and it had a good point as well:lol::blargh:

[Mr. Spencer]

You have to pay for any bloody television in the UK. You can't even have one set up to watch TV without fawking out for TV Liscence.

Sods.

And what do we get for it? 19th century period dramas, over and over again.

[Rombie]

At least I know we've got lots to look forward to seeing here then, we're only just starting to get them first run back in good ol' 1973 :p

[Mr. Spencer]

Hey, let me know if you ever run into Sam Tyler.

[Borman]

I dont think thats possible. That mofo be dead. Both in 2006 and his little delusion

Oh and I <3 BBC

[Vogue_Dirge]

I watch Coupling on BBC.
It's pretty damn funny...OH and Skins.

[ThWorldGreatest]

If you dont thing that downloading is stealing, always just watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d82Lq2rVB_4
i think i laughed so hard to the point i don't know if my stomach survived it , thanks for making my day better ^_^.

[wenoston]

Wasn't that funny, and I don't think a parody is going to prevent anyone from pirating, even if it is wrong. And what's BBC?

[Darkmoon]

The British Broadcasting Corporation, the folks who command our TV existance over in the UK.

It might not stop anyone who wants to from pirating...but never mind. No one should be mentioning it here, anyway.

[Helegad]

And what do we get for it? 19th century period dramas, over and over again.

My mother watches that shit. :blargh:

[Perry Barclay]

You have to pay for any bloody television in the UK. You can't even have one set up to watch TV without fawking out for TV Liscence.

Sods.

Even if you didn't you'd have to have one for a Radio even if it's in your car!
We're uinique in the way we are funded...

Yer by conning everyone Auntie. How about all the indirect advertsing and countless plugs for shows that are on immedeately.o_o
In my youth we had room for cartoons betwen shows now it's bloody Graham norton plugging yet another phone in competition for Eurovision.
Wasters!!!!

[Borman]

I am bumping this one more time.

Anyone admitting to pirating RE5 will face the same punishment as pirating anything else.

[Stars_g36]

arrgghh everyone needs a little pirate cough Captain in them...

Yea Pirating is lame...

[The Dude]

The only pirate you need is Captain Morgan.
That is all xP.

[Helegad]

Wonder if it'll be leaked...

[James]

Wonder if it'll be leaked...
:rollseyes:\

[Dot50Cal]

Wonder if it'll be leaked...

Keep being a smartass and I'm going to ban you.

[The Dude]

I'll deck the first person who wastefully leaks Captain Morgan everywhere...:hitler: :p.

[Vector]

Oh man, have you guys ever met that crazy couple...Captain and Ginger? They're nuts.

They can get a little out of hand, to be honest, but, they're always in for a good time.

[Scream]

Dot50Cal is ANGRY. Better stay out of his way for the next few days haha.

[Helegad]

It's that time of the month again! :D

Jokes, Dot. Jokes :) :P

[James]

It's that time of the month again! :D

Jokes, Dot. Jokes :) :P
:nervous:

[nemesiswontdie]

Dot50Cal is ANGRY. Better stay out of his way for the next few days haha.

oh yha u bet i am

[Dot50Cal]

I'm sick of people who are totally retarded. Its like..Oh yeah, its ok if I say that (this is just an example) "it was so sad when that one person died". I mean, like as long as you dont mention the name its cool, rite? No, you fucking retard. God damn. I'm so sick of stupid ass people. Month bans from here on out. Whats amazing is its people who've already been hit with this infraction before. Like..what the hell?

[Helegad]

They get off on posting spoilers.

[Darkmoon]

I don't think it's that, at least not on all occasions. I think a lot of folk are just overly exictied. They wanna talk about the stuff they see and it just slips out, which is why I do occasionally show a bit of mercy.

Dot, however, does not. Hahahahahahaaaa.

Seriously, folks. Not all of us wanna know the game before we play it. It took me about six months to beat CODE: Veronica because I didn't have a PS2 or DreamCast when it came out and was on the Interwebs at the time. So I knew the whole story and when I did play it, well, it just didn't hold my interest. I knew what happened next.

[Dot50Cal]

Another day, another ban. This is depressing :(

[nemesiswontdie]

Another day, another ban. This is depressing :(

damn, id hate 2 b a mod right now

[Stars_g36]

Yea, im pissed about some of the things Ive accidently seen on that myspace page... and some of the stuff here...I know my curiosity gets to me sometimes, but its not worth it...I am totally stoked on getting the game, taking my time with it, and playing throughly. I just can't wait! I don't think ive seen anything to harsh to ruin anything for me.

[nemesiswontdie]

Yea, im pissed about some of the things Ive accidently seen on that myspace page... and some of the stuff here...I know my curiosity gets to me sometimes, but its not worth it...I am totally stoked on getting the game, taking my time with it, and playing throughly. I just can't wait! I don't think ive seen anything to harsh to ruin anything for me.

same here

[Gideon Quinn]

I have a question regarding the soundtrack - Sites like Evil Unleashed freely distribute the soundtracks to all RE/SH games and i'd like to share a couple of tracks here (not the whole thing) but the last thing i want is the banhammer coming down. Would it be ok to upload some tracks to a third party stream site (putfile or something) and post the links on the forum?

[Darkmoon]

I'm gonna say no, but Dot may tell me different. It essentially depends on this...is the soundtrack something you can buy? If you can purchase it in the States then, really, it's piracy.

[rewak]

If you dont thing that downloading is stealing, always just watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d82Lq2rVB_4

Love The IT Crowd :lol:

[Dot50Cal]

Sorry, no tracks.