I came across something in the forums, a simmer wanted a couple of T-shirts made with a rock band logo on it.  My heart lurched!!  I wanted to reply the following, but figured it'd be a better blog entry, so as to keep the controversial converstaion to an absolute minimum.

"I was going to do this for my own personal enjoyment, I love the band myself, along with a few Edgar Allen Poe girlie shirts I'd designed for TS2.  I personally would have a real hard time uploading it to the site, though, as I am steadfastly against uploading to a subscriber site (as free content or otherwise) an object with a copyrighted image on it.  I won't even download anything that has obvious trademarks/logos/copyrighted material (spongebob, hello kitty, those really cool x-ray paintings of flowers...) even though they're free content here.  In fact, in a set that I'd downloaded, I didn't realize that there were some paintings made with copyrighted images that I'd recognized, and I deleted them out of my game.  A little extreme, but as an owner of copyrights myself, I don't like (personally) downloading that stuff.  In an article that I wrote about them (the rock band), I wasn't given permission to use their photos, so thus, all I could do was link to their products on amazon, even though it would've enhanced the article and driven more sales to them and their music/merchandise.  On another note, someone over at MTS had created a music channel for the sims 2 (or enhanced the music channel) and used (the rock band) videos and music.  It was taken down, even though it was a free site, because of the copyrights and potential legal issues.

Just a personal opinion on creating items using copyrighted material."

I personally own copyrights.  I can't justify using anyone else's artwork without their permission.  That's why I don't even upload lots to the site with custom content.  I refuse to, even though it's TSRAA and it's a "standing permission" deal.  I personally would need express permission from the artist/creator in written form, mainly just to cover my own butt.  Copyright violation is insane.  Using public domain images, one thing entirely; the copyright expired after so many years, and now we, the public, own it and can use it as we wish.  The wonderful thing about Sims/Maxis is that Maxis encourages the use and recreation of their items.  But, if you look on the website, they had to obtain express permission to use the logos of The Sex Pistols, Shakira, Lil Wayne, Ozzy and Kiss in order to create Sims 3 stuff with it.  That's why you have to pay for it, it's not free.  Permission to use that stuff is pretty expensive, depending.  There are some gray areas in everything, sure.  Technically, you can use the images for your own personal use, just like you can make a backup copy of Windows for your own personal use.  I can make rock band t-shirts till my hair turns white, as long as it's for my own personal enjoyment, and even then, I'm pushing it.  For TS2, I made Edgar Allen Poe girlie shirts that I used for my own game, and didn't bother uploading it anywhere.  Edgar Allen Poe images, even his signature, are all copyrighted by the Poe Society in Baltimore.  Even if I was related to him, I couldn't use it without express permission for uploading to public and/or private sites.  Even as a free download, it's a violation of copyright laws because the creator/artist isn't getting any royalties from it.

In essence, and maybe I'm just paranoid, but everyone's better off if they make their own stuff for their own sims game (using said copyrighted images, of course - I'm not speaking of artists here on this website or in this community as a whole creating original objects for the game from their own ideas and inspiration), and not upload it anywhere.  I praise this community for its originality, creativity and intense artistic talent.  I just don't think it's wise to use copyrighted images/logos in artwork for public use.

Ooof.  I need a coffee, I need to calm down.  *phew!*  Thanks for letting me vent.

PS.  Just for clarification, I'm in no way an expert on this subject.  Don't take my words as the bible.  This is just my *albeit, paranoid* opinion.