A little over three years ago, I found myself in a difficult situation. My mother had fallen down a flight of stairs and shattered her arm, so we moved her to our town where we could look after her -- "we" being my disabled husband and I. As a teacher, I had the summer off to move her and get her settled -- but as the new school year approached, I wondered how I could go off to school each day and leave only my husband to look after my mother. Sometimes he was up to it, but sometimes he was not.
So I took a big risk and resigned my position and began creating and running my store full time. And by full time, since I am a very slow creator, I mean 10-12 hours a day most days. A house can take me months. But it worked out, and I was able to just about replace my teaching income with my store income. I am able to work from home and be on hand to help with caretaking tasks.
Never a day goes by that I do not recognize what a miracle this is.
And now I discover that most of my store, including houses and furniture, has been copied and is being handed out free.
And I wonder what I ever did to make someone want to destroy my livihood. But I know this kind of maliciousness is simply beyond my comprehension. I cannot imagine inflicting such an injury on another human being. I have some idea that they justify their attacks by asserting that 3D artists (or musicians) should not be able to make a living, but I am not clear why that is. It doesn't matter; everyone who does evil has some justification for it.
I don't know what the effect of this attack will be long term. But there is nothing for me to do except this: Be grateful to those who do think the work of 3D creators has value and that we do deserve some compensation for the goods and services we devote so much work to providing.
To all honest customers, let me just say "Thank you for making a miracle possible!"
It remains to be seen whether the attackers have put an end to it or not. I know I cannot spend 60 hours a week working to provide free content for others to distribute. However much I enjoy creating, I have to make a living.
So I took a big risk and resigned my position and began creating and running my store full time. And by full time, since I am a very slow creator, I mean 10-12 hours a day most days. A house can take me months. But it worked out, and I was able to just about replace my teaching income with my store income. I am able to work from home and be on hand to help with caretaking tasks.
Never a day goes by that I do not recognize what a miracle this is.
And now I discover that most of my store, including houses and furniture, has been copied and is being handed out free.
And I wonder what I ever did to make someone want to destroy my livihood. But I know this kind of maliciousness is simply beyond my comprehension. I cannot imagine inflicting such an injury on another human being. I have some idea that they justify their attacks by asserting that 3D artists (or musicians) should not be able to make a living, but I am not clear why that is. It doesn't matter; everyone who does evil has some justification for it.
I don't know what the effect of this attack will be long term. But there is nothing for me to do except this: Be grateful to those who do think the work of 3D creators has value and that we do deserve some compensation for the goods and services we devote so much work to providing.
To all honest customers, let me just say "Thank you for making a miracle possible!"
It remains to be seen whether the attackers have put an end to it or not. I know I cannot spend 60 hours a week working to provide free content for others to distribute. However much I enjoy creating, I have to make a living.
you are over thinking. they don't know. they don't think about it. they are frequently from third world countries where they simply don't realize the damage they are doing.
ReplyDeletethere is not a malicious thought. there is just no thought, and no understanding about it. they want to have nice things. this is a cartoon looking world, what could be wrong?
i hope you can recover from this and go on. this has happened to most of the content creators in second life. frequently your things handed to an honest resident will cause them to AR the person with your stolen things and turn in the folder to you.
you can ask linden to search for your things in peoples inventory but the folders are usually renamed.
there are actually very few copybotters in sl, but yes, it only takes 1 copybotter 1 minute to rip your whole store. at least they cant get your scripts.
take care and i don't think it will have an impact on you. only in certain non mainstream communities.
ps
there is a thought though. if you tell poeple your store has been copybotted, will people go looking for that free copybotted content? therefore losing you sales?
good luck. this was meant in a good way. i admire your work.
thank you.
Thank you, I appreciate your thoughts. And yes, it can be dangerous to make anything public. Trust me, I have kept quiet about much.
ReplyDelete