How Sad ...

I just had to write about this here because I've always HEARD about people doing it, but I've never seen such flagrant evidence of this -- content theft.

I'd gotten an invitation to set up a shop in a mall, like most of us shopowner do. I went to check it out, and I have to say, I was ready to pay 2 weeks rent to try it out because it looked like a pretty sweet spot. I ALWAYS look to see who else is there, and lo and behold, there was a shop called SoulFire Creations *snort*

The SNORT is because "creations" implies that you made something yourself ... you CREATED it. Being an avid shopper, I immediately recognized the hairs of two designers I frequent. I could NOT believe it, absolutely couldn't. They didn't even TRY to change it a little.

Having made a few things myself, I know how much work it takes to build anything. I've spent a LOT of time and money on my creations with the hope that maybe a few people will get some enjoyment out of them, and maybe I'd get some spending moolah out of it (chuckles -- I've put more money INTO my projects than I've gotten OUT of them, but that's another story). So, I contacted the designers whose hair designs I recognized ... and I was shocked by the reply I got from one. They were VERY kind and thankful, but they said that they no longer pursue the issue with LL. Why? BECAUSE THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I couldn't believe it.

So, in SL, it's OK to steal other people's intellectual property, pimp it out, call it your own, and try to gain profit from it.

I can't even really explain how that makes me feel. The words I do come up with are ... not adequate.

For my part, I contacted the mall owner, told him he has a great place and that I would rent from them IF they addressed the issue of the one vendor (that I know of) who is selling stolen content. I will NOT shop there or rent a shop from them for as long as the stolen content is permitted to be sold on their premises.

I hope everyone here will do the same. If you're any kind of shopper, you KNOW your designers -- the ones you buy from all the time, the ones whose releases you await with bated breath. You recognized their work when someone else is wearing them, you just KNOW. Don't buy stolen stuff ... I don't care how much money you save.

If you can't afford the stuff that the top of the line designers make, do what I did -- learn to build. Shop lesser-known vendors who are trying to get your attention and make amazing things. There are LOTS of honest creators out there with a lot of talent that you can shop from. ... so please do. If you know someone is selling stolen stuff, do the right thing and don't feed into that system.

I did what I could, I hope you do too.

Thanks for listening to this rant. I just needed to get it out.