SoliD_NuTs, on the upload page at the very bottom it has a notice reading

"In submitting these files for upload, I agree that they may be included by Stardock in future compilations or libraries. (for example, as extra samples included with an Object Desktop CD)."

This gives permission for them to do so. Permission is the key.

Uh, it's a checkbox actually not a notice, and I always uncheck that box.

OK, sorry to have ruffled all the feathers,but what I was getting at is what proof do you have that you created a theme, wall, etc? With musical recording I think that is different, there is a record of it, how do we know that the person claiming to be ripped, isn't actually doing the ripping?There is no way without some kind of public legally recognized documentation I would think.I could say that I created every skin on here,but without proof, no one would believe it. And I personally am not a skinner,and I wouldn't steal others work, that's just wrong. I was just adding my 2 cents worth.....

Nope, we don't sell info.  We just put the stuff that is on WC on a CD and
sell it to support bandwidth.  Nobody has to do it.  They can uncheck
the box and still submit.

No.75....you're not 'ruffling feathers', but are simply mis-informed. There are many methods to show authorship of skins and graphics....either by time-line...where the age of a work predates the rip or by being in possession of the original psd or other graphics used to create the work/s.

Also, with time and actual experience in the 'industry' you get to recognise an artist's style and can often pick the 'rip' a mile away.

There is absolutely no difference between a 'published' song/music and a 'published' graphic/skin when it comes to rights of ownership in the public domain.

When you become a site Admin responsible for checking a work's validity....and you see your OWN work being submitted by someone else as 'theirs' then you will fully understand the reality of the what, the how, and the why....

Jafo takes Styl outback for a kickin'.....

honz....your content at Wincustomize.com is accessed by more people than all of those other sites put together.....the price 'someone' needs to pay for this VERY WIDE exposure is ideally to be willing to provide saleable content to assist in this same capacity for exposure.

It is only out of respect for an artist's copyright that the option is given to exclude one's content...and a decision to exclude is entirely up to the individual....but it is fair to say that by allowing the work to be included in a CD compilation, those who do are doing 'more' to assist the costs of band-width than those who don't.

I for one have/had no qualms at all about including anything/everything of mine to help in any small way I could.

But as I say, the option is entirely that of the contributor....

I take and hear your points, but I still don't agree. I hate to name names, but just as examples: deviantART have never asked if they could sell any of my skins to help pay for their bandwidth, neither have customize.org or any other skin site I submit to. Wincustomize is the only site I know of who do this. All I am trying to point out is that I think the 'selling skins on CDs' is an unfair way for this site to make money to help pay for itself.

At DA for example there is the subscription service. If you don't subscribe you get the popups, if you do the popups are gone and you also get access to a subscribers area. The subscribers area hosts unique skins and art which the regular visitor can't have. It's a thank you for subscribing (supporting) and the artists who provide that exclusive content also get a cut in the money made from members who subscribe for that month their skin/art is submitted. That way, the skin is being sold to help promote/fund the site and the author sees some return on his investment (other than a huge swelling of the heart with pride for always being so generous)
Of course I realize that DA has lots of other money-making ways, but I'm only trying to show the two sites different ways of selling skins. For me, one is fair, the other is far from fair.

Boxxi: Yep, OK, my wording of profit was wrong, I realize that any money made goes towards paying for bandwidth and is not directly stuffed into wallets.

btw. Can I just point out before I get bashed that I really do love Stardock. Brad has been very generous to me in the past, and although I may not agree with the cd thingy I like to think I do support them with the skins I make for their applications.

I don't understand...... why is it o.k. for DeviantArt to have ways of making money, but not WinCustomize? The methods may be slightly different but the result is the same: ways of paying for bandwidth. This site also has exclusive subscriber areas where there are exclusive skins etc, and I can assure you that the authors of those skins will have been well rewarded too. And yes, Brad IS a very generous person, I have first hand knowledge of that generosity. I still don't see the problem with the CD thing though, just uncheck the box and no one will sell your skin......simple.

roger that

cheque please!

Tiggz orders a taxi...

I see it as Wincustomize.com sells CD.....and site stays alive for me to have my stuff accessible on the biggest skinning site on the net.....fuzzy feelings don't really come into it......BTW...I buy the CDs....even have one still in the packaging....don't 'need' them at all...but the site needs the sale/s...