Often you will hear me telling people not to pass items through FabFree chat. Have you ever questioned why?
By passing items that you did not personally make, this aids in content theft throughout the grid. Distributing items without permission from the original creator makes you just as guilty as a copybotter.
Content theft is the number one reason designers leave SL. Without creators where would SL be?
How can you check to see whether an item is legitimate? If you find a store that seems a bit shady you might have wondered if the creations are from legitimate designs. The simple way to check without purchasing is to right click edit the prim. Click the content tab and for each item within the box you can click properties and see who is named the creator. The items should be made by the store owner, unless it is a resell establishment and in that case the resell is a business negotiated with the original designer. Many designers have business partners. Check the creator’s profile to see if the location is in the original creator’s profile.
If you find a place offering stolen goods file an Abuse Report, this helps to get the Linden’s attention. To Report Abuse click the help tab in the top left side of the SL window. Select the appropriate category and include as much information as possible.
Also, send the landmark and pictures (if available) to the original creator. The designers may not respond, but they will be grateful for your concern.
Together we can stop content theft!
~Renee Lowenhart~
