Look! another paper Model Thief?

**airdave** · #1 05-20-2011, 05:56 PM

papercraftprinters.com
apparently setting up a new website.

but currently selling on ebay
minialbert | eBay

lots of models we recognize including Uhu's.
apparently he is selling printed kits "for those who don't have printers".
...isn't that nice of him?

does that make it okay?
does he have the designers permissions?

guy goes by the name "minialbert" on ebay,
says he is based in the UK

anyone know any more about this guy?

**Gharbad** · #2 05-20-2011, 05:59 PM

He has a little footnote at the bottom...

Look! another paper Model Thief?-photo20text.jpg

It's like the people who illegally park with their hazards on which makes it ok.

**Ron Caudillo** · #3 05-20-2011, 07:30 PM

I just left a message to this guy:
"Hello Albert,
My name is Ron Caudillo and I am the designer of the Enterprise Bridge model you are charging for your printing services. Although I understand that you are not charging for this model outright, but rather for your time and materials, I am still a bit upset that people have to pay for a model that I designed for fun and freely give away. I don't agree with you making money from my work. I am going to send a complaint to ebay about this. Please remove this item from public sale. I am a member of an international community of model designers who have taken notice of your sales of their design work. There are HUNDREDS of us. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter."

I know he doesn't have to listen to me, but I will still send a complaint to e-bay. The last time something like this happened, there was a LOT of support from the community and lots of messages were sent and I sent a complaint to e-bay. They were finally shamed into 'buying it now' to remove the sale.

That's what I like about you guys, good help, advice, and support!

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

**Gharbad** · #4 05-20-2011, 07:32 PM

Hey Ron, is this line true?
I don't think it is...

Quote:

**EXCLUSIVE PAPERCRAFTPRINTERS.COM PAPER MODEL**

NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD!!!

It says that in giant font on every model page but then at the bottom in small font it says it may be available for free.

**Stev0** · #5 05-20-2011, 09:09 PM

Does anyone know the proper selections to report this?

Copyright/Trademark
Bootleg records or unauthorized media
Unauthorized photocopies of Printed material

(The item in the listing contains photocopies or scanned pages from a book, magazine, manual, or other copyrighted materials that the seller didn't officially create.)

Are these the proper selections?

**airdave** · #6 05-20-2011, 09:13 PM

Bottom line is
NO RE-DISTRIBUTION (IN ANY FORM) WITHOUT THE CONSENT AND PERMISSION OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGNER

Charging for Printing services, charging for time and materials,
acknowledging the models source or the fact that there are FREE versions,
even crediting the original designer...
none of these things matter.

Unless you have made arrangements with the original designer or owner of the design to "redistribute" the files, then you are breaking copyright and ownership laws.

He does not have any rights to do anything with these files....no matter what he thinks or claims to be doing.

If I was the designer of of any of these models I would ask for:
Royalties in some form...a very large cut of what he makes or better yet, a large upfront payment for usage
or demand immediate removal of the model and compensation for any sales thus far.

**Loui** · #7 05-20-2011, 10:16 PM

IMO everyone should send a message to the Buyers and tell them to demand a paypal refund... and tell the buyers 'it's FREE models, you CAN download it from: (...insert link...)'

**Tim Crowe** · #8 05-21-2011, 01:07 AM

If you can get the copyright holder to complain to ebay they will take action.

Last year I reported a U.K. based chap to Modelik and GPM. GPM complained and he was removed from Ebay.

But I fear this will be a perennial problem. All we can do ib be vigilant and try to educate people.

Tim

**damian** · #9 05-21-2011, 02:06 AM

i think its important when you publish your models that you clearly state what is and is not permissible. once you release something as free to download you need to specify that it cannot be redistributed, it cannot be used for commercial purposes, etc etc. you might think this is unnecessary or excessive but the law becomes blurred when you release something as free. its free or its not? if i put an old bike on my lawn and offer it free to a good home and someone takes it, cleans it up and sells it for $50 - its legal and, well, good on them.
there are many predefined usage licenses out there like creative commons which may reduce the work involved for you to decide what is and is not cool - and when you attach a usage license to your designs you do know where you stand.
the upside to this is that there may be a market for your models - you might consider selling printed copies yourself and if people are buying them they are growing the hobby and the community too!

**doctormax** · #10 05-21-2011, 02:54 AM

thats not right, see the only no postive feedback was saying they don't have the instructions so he didn't even bother printing the instructions for the models he is selling that are free.

on something else do can i ask who done the Cobra-mercury 1949 monterey model 1:20 can't recall seeing that one anywhere and does the designer have others like that for the car lover to build. . I am wanting to build some classic cars more and more now and that looks a good one to try.