It emerged last week that user-created LittleBigPlanet levels were being deleted without warning over copyright issues.
Levels containing IP from other games like Sonic and Metal Gear were found to be removed from the online server. Media Molecule said at the time that it was "reviewing the moderating system".
Today Sony has issued CVG a lengthy statement regarding the moderation process and how best to avoid having your levels deleted. Here's the important bit:
"The vast majority of content uploaded to date has been fun and suitable for all of our community members. In a very few cases we have upheld complaints regarding unsuitable content or infringement of intellectual property, with less than 0.5% of levels actively moderated as a result of complaints from other users.
"Sony Computer Entertainment are committed to continually improving our moderation procedure and the methods of communication we use, in particular regarding the reasons that user complaints are upheld. In the meantime, here are some suggestions for all of our creators:
Ensure that the content you share with other users is suitable for all ages - everybody has access to your level if you publish it
Please respect other people's intellectual property rights. For example, don't use images, brands or logos that you're not entitled to use.
If you come across any content that you feel the need to report, then please do it responsibly. Hoax reports will be considered inappropriate behaviour.
"Thanks to everyone that has contributed to LittleBigPlanet so far. Keep enjoying yourselves!"
So, basically, no cock monsters, rip-offs or Mario. You have been warned.
So a level based around a game/film or brand, e.g. the "Sack to the future" level or "Mirrors Edge" are okay as long as they don't show an actual Logo or Screenshot, but merely imitate the design of the original IP?
I think Sack to the Future would be okay, but I wouldn't go using the exact name of anything, especially something so new as Mirror's Edge. Besides, puns are awesome and everyone should use them where they can
I'd also expect that dressing your Sackboy up as another character should be okay as long as you haven't photographed anything to do it. After all, what he may or may not look like is all down to interpretation and any similarity could, theoretically, be accidental
Seems fair guys we dont see sony making a game with mario in it so why should you? If you want to do that then dont publish it and enjoy your creation at home with you family and friends. Remeber a good creation can get you noticed in a good way so its not all doom and gloom folks.
I think Sack to the Future would be okay, but I wouldn't go using the exact name of anything, especially something so new as Mirror's Edge. Besides, puns are awesome and everyone should use them where they can
I'd also expect that dressing your Sackboy up as another character should be okay as long as you haven't photographed anything to do it. After all, what he may or may not look like is all down to interpretation and any similarity could, theoretically, be accidental
Because Nintendo (for example) could very easily sue Sony for distributing copyrighted material. The creator may be liable by themselves, but it's a Sony system that's sending the creation to everyone's console so they'd get into even more trouble.
It's the same thing as distributing mp3s or torrents. The person who makes it can't really be touched but the people who share it can be taken down for a lot of money.
As long as users are not profiting from their creations I can't see why there would be a fuss about the copyright.
The same issue came up with Lionheads 'The Movies'. Basically, if you use someone elses music/visuals/whatever and then upload it to a commercial product, like The Movies or LBP, it's seen as being used to make a profit or some other such garbage. In theory, if you got permission from the owner first, you'd be cool. In theory.
Personally, I don't see what the fuss is about. If I was a songwriter, or in the music bizz, and someone wanted to use my creation in their creation, I'd be flattered. *shrug*
I think you can get away with references or similarities to another persons IP, as long as you put effort into making it different from the original work, so exact copies of a Mario level might be out, but you can mix and match and make a similar level. Then claim it's a parody, or something like that.
I understand the deal with mp3s, their distribution take revenue away from the creators and record labels, but someone making an MGS level isn't harming Konami financially.
Ha ha i love how its 'Three Speech' telling you what you can and cant put out there! Surely no one is making money off these copyrighted images used in shared levels thus not preventing money being made by the owners of the ip so how is it damaging them? In fact its just giving it free publicity really! I hate the deal with the material needing to be for everyone, not that i want a bunch of c**ks or other such 'offensive' material floating around everywhere, but couldn't they maybe make what an account can view be directly tied to what the parental settings on the console are? This way parents have no excuse to blame 'evil videogames' as this means any material they don't want they're children seeing will have to be decided by them and they will have to put effort in just like any other medium! Won't some one please think of the children? The children are our fuooture!!
Ha ha i love how its 'Three Speech' telling you what you can and cant put out there! Surely no one is making money off these copyrighted images used in shared levels thus not preventing money being made by the owners of the ip so how is it damaging them? In fact its just giving it free publication really!
They aren't - but it's seen as using someone elses IP to promote their own game, which is where they come unstuck. Like I say, the same issue happened with The Movies. LBP and The Movies are both commercial/money making ventures - anything that is uploaded to their site is, in essence, an advert for their games. Using someone else material on their site, without their permission, is breach of copyright.
Damn bureaucracy, what ya gonna do eh? In my opinion tho in a game where user generated content is paramount anything should be aloud free reign, offensive or not, copyrighted or not. The levels are made by users for users to share, not profit off of! The guys/gals who made this have put enormous effort in and come out with one of the coolest and few titles deserving of next-gen labels in this console cycle, censoring levels is a dis-service to it i think.
Damn bureaucracy, what ya gonna do eh? In my opinion tho in a game where user generated content is paramount anything should be aloud free reign, offensive or not, copyrighted or not. The levels are made by users for users to share, not profit off of! The guys/gals who made this have put enormous effort in and come out with one of the coolest and few titles deserving of next-gen labels in this console cycle, censoring levels is a dis-service to it i think.
Preaching to the converted there dude. The Movies community DEMANDED that an age restriction tool be added to movies, so they could clearly mark, and stop under age users getting their hands on inappropriate material. My thoughts are, free reign should be given to all.
Sadly, when it supposedly dents peoples pockets, they get p**sed. Despite the fact that, in all probability, it does nothing of the sort - and occasionally the complete opposite (the 'wow, this was based on X - man, I gotta check that out'!)
Check this out!!http://community.eu.playstation.com/playstationeu/board/message?board.id=b_EN_GAMES_general_lbp&thread.id=33834&view=by_date_ascending&page=1
Check this out!!http://community.eu.playstation.com/playstationeu/board/message?board.id=b_EN_GAMES_general_lbp&thread.id=33834&view=by_date_ascending&page=1
More negative publicity. It's a shame. And a sham, if they are actually going to charge people for those new costumes and yet not even give the winners of the competitions any credit.
They have now apparently credited the winners properly.
Although copying "non winning" designs and charging people for them is pretty disgraceful. They really should send some money or prizes from the DLC costume pack revenues to the creators they have ripped off.
Sadly, if they do that for the winner, they'd still get nothing!
This story is nothing but Sony's attempt at damage control for their perceived cash cow.
I have spoken with other authors of levels and very few, including mine, had any chance of copyright infringement or being inappropriate.
Sony made the mistake on a mass deletion of levels based upon users Good Grief. Rather than take the time to contact the authors and do some honest evaluation, they have just deleted the levels.
Sam, the person from Sony/MM said that all that could be fixed in a morning that there were so few levels affected. Obviously that is not true by any means as they would have done that.
I have been in direct email contact with Sam and it has been 4 days now and my level has not been undeleted - err re-moderated. No explanation, in fact he hasn't looked at my level.
So you can see this story is nothing but damage control attempt and the real story is that Sony isn't devoting manpower to helping determine whether levels are inappropriate or not - they are just performing mass deletions.
They have now apparently credited the winners properly.
Although copying "non winning" designs and charging people for them is pretty disgraceful. They really should send some money or prizes from the DLC costume pack revenues to the creators they have ripped off.
Sadly, if they do that for the winner, they'd still get nothing!
What a bunch of bottomholes! Surely doing something like this is illegal - or is it all covered by the usual list of legal bollocks they make people agree to when online?
By the way Rustyoldtown - very unfortunate about them ripping you off like that, but the shark's still awesome!
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