Logo

I was perusing the SL forums and other forums (like I do every time I am procrastinating), and I found quite a few posts from newbies regarding the sale of copyrighted content or knocking off copyrighted RL items. I really am flabbergasted at how people think that "Just because it's on the internet" it is free and anyone can use it. Let me tell you now - it isn't free and NO you cannot use it.

SecondLife has come under fire lately because of wide-spread content theft in game but there is another form of content theft and that is the use of copyrighted textures from other sources (renderosity, turbosquid, istock, getty, etc.) or the use of photography from flickr or google or even the use of a trademark to sell items under that name (Nike, YSL). It is wrong. It is stealing and it isn't right. I can understand the misconception but people who do this must know on some level that what they are doing is wrong (that little voice in the back of their head saying "warning, warning, warning" is being ignored).

If you do make content there are some things you must know:

• Buying a texture from a texture site does not give you the rights to sell it unless you have written permission to do so - even in SecondLife. This includes merchant content found on Renderosity - no you do not have the right to take a "texture" rebake it into SL template and then sell it.
• Creating a knock-off of a shoe or item by a major chain is "ok" as long as you DO NOT use their logo or images and do not imply or use their credentials to market the shoe or item. That being said - proceed carefully because giant corporations have a lot of money, lawyers and time and really do go after the little guy. It is only ok if you are making an artistic representation - this is very thin ice and I wouldn't suggest anyone make an exact replica of anything to sell.
• Taking an image off of google and then modifying it DOES NOT MAKE IT YOURS - you do not have the rights to sell that image or distribute it. There are no "grey" areas - look it up. I don't know how many times I have seen textures that were taken off of google and being sold here - way to get sued people!
• Creating a Celebrity Skin and then naming it after the Celebrity using photos you found in People or US or on google is definitely a way to get sued. Create your own textures and skins using verified texture sources like this one: www.3d.sk and DON'T use celebrity names or images to market your skin otherwise you are implying celebrity endorsement which will get you a DMCA notice, subpoena, and ban from SL.
• If you make a certain style of clothing - you do not own rights to the "style" only your name and only the images you created to make the clothing. I have heard a lot of whining from other designers in regard to "So & so makes clothing that looks really similar to mine they are stealing" Look it's really simple - unless they stole your textures or are using your logo, they haven't stolen anything. If you both used content from the same source odds are the clothing is going to look the same. Now this is going to be a slap in the face to some designers but unless you can prove that someone actually is using your digital file, and all they are doing is creating a "similar" look; the only thing you can do is out maneuver them in the marketplace. It's called free-enterprise. I am not commenting on the out-right copied textures (I have had that happen to me) I am referring to instances where two designers often come up with similar looks because their art is very similar or they have similar tastes. I am also not referring to Nicky Ree's problem - she has had a person copy her textures and then modify them to hide the fact they were copied, this is definitely wrong. What I am talking about is similar looks and designers fighting over the market.
• If you are a prim builder - document your work by taking pictures every so often and keep a journal of some sort. This will help you if you have to file a DMCA. Also keep a record of when you created the item - just another way to cover your butt.
• For ultimate protection - file your name and logo with the U.S. trademark and copyright office. This will prevent anyone from using it without your permission and gives you the legal firepower to go after them if they refuse to do so.

This is the last day you can get the SWA swimwear at such a steal. You have until tonight at midnight to purchase one of the lovely swimsuits at such an amazing price. Hurry and get your bathingsuit - or if you need to purchase it for a friend or lover, go to SLX or ONREZ.

Twisted Gliter/Sparkle Bikini is only L25 the Tranquil Escape Monokini is only L25, the O-Ring-Bikini is only L20 and the Bikini Short Set is only L25

Store locations:
Plush Omicron: Secondwave Apparel
SC Design: Secondwave Apparel SC Design
Malia: SWA @ Malia Mall

All of the SWA swimwear is only L25 and L20. Now I know I only have the O-Ring-Bikini, Tranquil Escape Monokini, Twisted Glitter Bikini, and the Bikini Short Set; but if you take into consideration the range of colors for each swimsuit - well you are looking at a tsunami of swimwear. If you don't have a swimsuit - or just need a new look, stop by and pick one of these up. You won't be sorry.

Twisted Gliter/Sparkle Bikini is only L25 the Tranquil Escape Monokini is only L25, the O-Ring-Bikini is only L20 and the Bikini Short Set is only L25


Comments from other bloggers:

Gogolita: "Glitter bikinis rooooooooock!!!!"

Fashionable Heart: Heidi Volare - The texturing on it is wonderful.

Ana Luetitia on the O-Ring-Bikini: My favourite is the white. I love to see a tanned body wearing a white bikini!

Dakota Lubitsch: What I love about them is that the top is available on 3 different layers and the bottom on 2!

Store locations:
Plush Omicron: Secondwave Apparel
SC Design: Secondwave Apparel SC Design
Malia: SWA @ Malia Mall

Or pink, or purple or emerald... I have just released these lovely items - the SWA Suede Mini-skirt and Vest set. I could have released them separately but that would have been a crying shame - so here they are together in a range of colors that should match almost anything in your wardrobe. Only $L125, the vest comes on 3 layers and the skirt on 2 layers, you also get two miniskirt prims - a medium and small. Everything is copy/mod-no transfer. But hey I'm not heartless you can get your girl a gift via SLX here: SWA..::Suede Mini-skirt and Vest::..

These vests can be found at all 3 of my stores:

Plush Omicron: Secondwave Apparel
SC Design: Secondwave Apparel SC Design
Malia: SWA @ Malia Mall

Waaaaaaaah! the grid is down AGAIN!

I was on last night - did some work, straightened vendors, uploaded a new skirt (coming as soon as the grid stabilizes long enough for me to do work). I even went to a meeting about copyright etc (thank you Flipper!). But I was kicked off repeatedly, and there was more than one time that I froze and couldn't move... Same ol', same ol' at LL. I remember when the internet first started out - you had AOL and another company (I can't remember the name) and the connection was super slow and sometimes you couldn't connect at all. Granted that technology was JUST STARTING. It was a baby and could barely walk. You also had to pay a premium for it - $24.95 a month AND they charged per minute. I kind of view SecondLife similarly - it is still in it's infancy and has a long way to go but I think that it will get better over time (it has got to or I'm going to go nuts). So be patient - take a valium or a prozac and find another hobby (Renderosity, and Turbosquid come to mind) to hone those skills but still make a little spare cash, but most of all be patient - or the baby with be eaten by a dingo. Ok that made no sense - but I'm on my 3rd cup of coffee, so please only think I'm mildly cuckoo.

Anyway... the reason I opened up the blog was so that I could tell you that I have a new building at my main store location. I think it goes much better with the SecondWave Brand and I feel a little more comfortable with it. Although I am going to have to make some more adjustments and possibly add a second floor. But that is in the future - at least a few months away.

I do like the overall look and feel of it though, I especially like the windows and the little ponds in the front. Stop by and take a look if you're are not busy or just in a shopping mood. I'm sure that there is something you missed the last time you were at SWA....

MAIN STORE LOCATION:
Plush Omicron: Secondwave Apparel

NEW SWA Satellite Store!
I've opened a new SWA satellite store in hopes to garner more traffic and increase awareness of the SWA brand. You know the main store at Plush Omicron and the satellite store at SC Designs, now there is a third store at Malia Mall. To celebrate the store opening everything in the store is half off - NOTE THIS IS ONLY AT THE NEW LOCATION, and only for a few days.

Come by and check it out! It is a great mall and there are quite a few other designers here!

NEW STORE LM: SWA @ Malia Mall


































City of SC Design: Secondwave Apparel SC Design

MAIN STORE LOCATION:
Plush Omicron: Secondwave Apparel

I have noticed a steep decline in people in my store(s). More so than usual. Did I miss something? Is there another mega sale somewhere? I want to make a success out of my business here and I do try. Maybe not hard enough though. I notice some people churning out item after item. I realistically cannot do that (I work FT at a job in Atlanta). The most I can do is 2-3 items a month, sometimes more if I have a lot of caffeine that day, but I digress. Any suggestions (other than the ones I have pointed out before) are welcome. Are my items not good? Do they not hit the spot. Maybe they just plain suck? I look around as a strong vacuous sound fills the room.

So help, drop me a note - comment here. I just need to know what it is that I'm not doing that others are. Maybe all I really need is a shoulder to cry on. As I've said before - my moods are like roller coasters so next week, maybe I'll be more glib.