A question of ethics, or contributory copyright theft ?

So an item on the marketplaces, which is a rip of a known commercial product found elsewhere on the internet.

The said item, can be purchased for $29 at the original authors website.

On here it can be bought for $15

So here is the dilemma.

In reality, if you buy something off someone knowing it is stolen, you are as guilty as the thief.

Ok, on here the case could be that the buyers were unaware ? Fair I suppose…

However since the item on here was flagged to staff by me, and reported on the item comments by numerous people, this items sales have increased ….

Crazy huh, and trust me its a bad rip.. Disgusting ui, and poorly executed, demo is hideous etc…

So begs the question, it is arguable that those now buying this ripped script, are buying it knowing it is ripped and because they can buy it here at half price.

So is it a question of ethics, does envato punish the buyers also.. As the item is still for sale…

My point being, envato need to STEP on such cases without delay, to mitigate losses to original authors. To prevent dillution of intellectual proprietory property.

So whats your thoughts … I am not going to link to the item, I know the rules…

To add, the author on here has admitted he has stole it !

I can’t agree more. It is a bit said seeing people so vicious as to buy it more, knowing it is a rip.

Hi SportTipsWorld, These “authors” are disrepectful with others authors and also buyers. I’m a buyer and I would buy ONLY original script and no ripped scripts… But all are not like me… We must report these authors. But what about the buyers who buy thinking that they buy an original script with licence and use this script to build their website with? They got an Envato licence and what is done is done… In France (I can only speak for this country sorry) a such case is the responsability of the marketplace which can turn against the seller.

That is a point I meant to address Babahed.

Due diligence is one thing. DMCA is another.

However Envato appear to fail miserably to act without haste in addressing reported issues.

In fact it is left to a Kayako script, to report such items. It seems kind of 1980’s to have to go to another domain, to report such issues … When within the forums a comment can be reported with one click ….

Kind of smacks in the face of good concise policing.

I have already often thought of some kind of feature allowing to disable files temporarily. Like a button saying “This offends copyrights” which other authors can press and when about 25 authors pressed it, the file gets disabled and has to be checked by envato stuff. Of course this cant be implemented due to tries of manipulation etc… Sad thing, we just have to deal with the fact that they will keep getting sales as long as they´re up. The only thing that would help is a faster acting support team.

I have reported an author recently, who use many scripts and graphics from other Envato authors and obviously without extended licenses… This author is still in the marketplace and always uses the same process : sell an (unlicensed so illegal) script and remove it few days after, always in saying “I remove it because the users were very disrepectful”... Envato is aware for few days now. And he can sell today.

I got a badge for reporting a blatant copyright violation and the original author of the texture that was stolen has told me he still hasn’t been compensated for the artwork that was stolen and generated multiple sales.

It’s pretty clear that Envato doesn’t want to responsibility for copyright materials found on their website and they are also not within the letter of the law, at least not here in the US. For an Online Service Provider, like YouTube, to be protected from copyright violations, they must be a registered OSP with the US Copyright Office. They are not registered.

I can’t even upload files on here anymore because I get letters from reviewers stating there is too many files on the site that look similar to what I’ve uploaded. Funny thing is, most of the files I seen were stolen from my deviantart account where I gave away a ton of free text effects. The authors change font, move gradients, modify the custom bevel and reupload as their own with no repercussions…. in result, I’m the one with repercussions because too many items look like what I uploaded. It’s becoming a huge problem that Envato isn’t willing to battle. Why should we be doing their job? They don’t even FREAKING pay us for finding copyright infringement and reporting it.

Also, where does this money go when it’s found to be copyright?

xstortionist said
Also, where does this money go when it’s found to be copyright?

Exactly, i would hazzard a guess.. They could and do ( as buyers ) play the innocent, buy plaguerised file knowingly, wait for it to be pulled then push for a refund !

Personally, if the plaguerised file, gets pulled. Then all proceeds should go to and compensate the original innocent author where possible.

The only winner in all this seems to be the pirating author and Envato.

SportTipsWorld said
So an item on the marketplaces, which is a rip of a known commercial product found elsewhere on the internet.

The said item, can be purchased for $29 at the original authors website.

On here it can be bought for $15

So here is the dilemma.

In reality, if you buy something off someone knowing it is stolen, you are as guilty as the thief.

Ok, on here the case could be that the buyers were unaware ? Fair I suppose…

However since the item on here was flagged to staff by me, and reported on the item comments by numerous people, this items sales have increased ….

Crazy huh, and trust me its a bad rip.. Disgusting ui, and poorly executed, demo is hideous etc…

So begs the question, it is arguable that those now buying this ripped script, are buying it knowing it is ripped and because they can buy it here at half price.

So is it a question of ethics, does envato punish the buyers also.. As the item is still for sale…

My point being, envato need to STEP on such cases without delay, to mitigate losses to original authors. To prevent dillution of intellectual proprietory property.

So whats your thoughts … I am not going to link to the item, I know the rules…

To add, the author on here has admitted he has stole it !

I know about you’re feelings, i remember you was the first person who point out the script is rip-off on Codecanyon, You done you’re good job and after that the item was removed from marketplace.

Don’t worry mate these type of scripts will not sale more if we are monitoring it constantly, Like you