What a slow site. Yeah they got almost all of them allright. I got mixed feelings now. My first ripping! Woo Hoo. At least they credit the original authors. I assume it won't be difficult fot the powers that be to take care of it. Nice catch Boxxi.

P.S. Didn't want to start a new thread so I will leach onto this one. I passed 100,000 downloads! Woo Hoo again!
[Message Edited]

I was ripped too....mixed emotions > Couldn't download it though

#1 by Skinner NightTrain2002

I passed 100,000 downloads!

Folks seem to like a party here Get that new thread started and celebrate

They haven't changed the files. They are just hosting them. And they are giving credit to the original authors. I made my skins to share, so It's not really a problem for me.

Now, if a site takes credit for the work, then we have a problem. >

Design Caddy: That is just the kind of attitude we DON'T need concerning artists rights. Those are MY skins, I want them to be available where I want to put them, not where other people think they should be. I don't want or need free marketing from some chinese website thank you.

Just because they display my name next to them does not give them the right to distribute them without my permission. They belong to ME.

I feel the same way as BoXXi. The Koreans seem to love my icons but I really don't think there's anything I can do to stop them from distributing them. At least they're giving me credit, I guess.

There is only one side to this particular 'coin'....and that is BoXXi's side.

The situation wher a site 'hosts' your work without permission means that they have STOLEN your copyright.

You and you alone determine who copies what and where.  You retain [or are supposed to retain] all rights as to how your work is distributed and/or disseminated publicly....and 'should' have full and final say if and when you wish to alter or vary those rights and controls.....such as passing rights to an agent or site for display [such as is the case at Wincustomize.com].

If you have not consented to your works being displayed somewhere it is an added effrontery to have to attempt to contact the wrong-doer to correct the situation, yet that is the case with situations such as this.

Think.

This site could just as easily be a warez and/or kiddie porn site where your 'works' are merely an adjunct.....my guess is you won't feel quite so magnanimous....yet who is to know ....since your name is listed...perhaps you endorse the other 'product' on display.

Why does Wincustomize.com make such a fuss over being 'a family site'?  Because it means no-one will be uncomfortable to have his/her works hosted here.

Why does the uploader have a 'delete' button for his works?  Because they are his...and his alone to control.

This is all about Artist's Copyright....and ensuring the artist is afforded the respect he and his work deserves.

Do not be fooled by the 'oh but they list our names'.....they didn't ask to list your names EITHER.

Doubly damned....

Kona...it's not 'politics'...it's responsible management of an artists' site and their works...

"This site could just as easily be a warez and/or "kiddie porn site where your 'works' are merely an adjunct.....my guess is you won't feel quite so magnanimous....yet who is to know ....since your name is listed...perhaps you endorse the other 'product' on display."
I never thought of that side of it, that Jafo mentioned. After reading the above, I remembered that I was looking up chinese girls names (my daughter and son-in-law) are adopting a chinese baby) for my daughter and when I sent her the link to a page that had a list and their meanings, she said it went right to a porn site.
And after reading what Boxxi had said earlier and then all of what Jafo said, things I did not think of, I apologize for making lite of it , with my earlier comment.

This looks interesting. It's annoying since no one here can read simplified Chinese. I can read traditional, but not simplified. I don't have any software that'll allow me to type it either. So the main way to contact them seems to be out.

In regards to all the points made just remember this: You as an artist can often think about what you want to tolerate and believe in. A lot of people demand to have the final say simply because it gives them the feel of power, of control. Not many people are willing to give it up when they've got it in their hands. It's just a fact of life.

If you're an artist, and you feel like your works are there for people's enjoyment, you may not find a problem with someone liking it enough to share it with their friends. You have every right to shrug it off and accept it just as someone else has every right to feel rather offended by it. That doesn't mean you're wrong in any way in regards to your work. It just means you see things differently. There is always that broadened belief (edit: Believe didn't make much sense there) that one opinion applies to all that catches a lot of people. It's your work. You decide whether you want to tolerate it or not. What you believe, however, will not apply to someone else.

(Addition)
If you're one of those people who download other people's work without permission, simply know that you will probably get a couple of emails from those who do mind having their work distributed without consent. Quite frankly, in this case, you remove the work, apologize, and if you wish to host it again, ask for permission. It is not difficult. If one gets rejected, simply know that someimtes, one deserves it. It is also from here where most of us may understand why some people (like BoXXi) become so annoyed by it all.

An artist has the last say regarding his/her own work. The decisions may differ.

[Message Edited]

Since we're on about sites having works from people here without permission, you all might as well check out:
http://www.topdownloads.net/wallpapers/browse.php

Just browse for your stuff... ... [I didn't give permission, either]

So the main way to contact them seems to be out.

You don't get it and probably never will...the artists SHOULD have no REASON to contact them....they should not be 'hosting' their property.

Shameless Designs....Elfkura knows exactly what I mean.

There is a history here which dates back long before your arrival on the scene...and long before Wincustomize.com, for that matter.

I'd respectfully request that you leave well alone....