Thursday, April 5, 2012

Illegal Dances


Illegal Dances 120405


This is an update on illegal dances that are being sold in SL.


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120405

In DANCE QUEENS chat today two additional sellers of illegal dances were identified:

1. Urban Motion selling MyAnim and Sine Wave copied dances,
2. Elfy Clip selling Harem Dances on Marketplace.

I am not mentioning the names of the DANCE QUEENS members who reported the stolen dances, so they don't get attacked by the thieves. I have reported the stolen dances. As always, do not buy from these vendors.

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120312

A quick update on illegal dances ... Artoo Magneto sent me this note about Aliana Animations:

[03:07:19] artoo Magneto: (Saved Mon Mar 12 03:52:29 2012)hi nottoo
[03:07:19] artoo Magneto: (Saved Mon Mar 12 03:52:38 2012)thanks for the info about that Alana animations
[03:07:19] artoo Magneto: (Saved Mon Mar 12 03:52:55 2012)i let the reseller know about it and surely report alana


YAY Artoo!!!

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120310

A DANCE QUEEN member sent me a possible SL Marketplace vendor selling pirated Sine Wave dances. Here is the note with the DQ member's name omitted:

"Hi Nottoo,

In searching SL Marketplace for info on the Vista HUD I encountered a collection of 85 dances that I suspect might be pirated.  Several years ago, as a newbie, I purchased a set of 85 dances, cheap, that I later decided were probably pirated from Sine Wave.  This may be the same set.  Mine came from a store with a name similar to "Radio Shack" (a RL chain store in the US), that soon disappeared.

I know you are busy now, but sometime you might want to take a look at this:
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/85-Great-Dances/3210431

Here is the ad copy:
85 Great Dances
Great Dances From Creators All Over SL Perfect To Ad To Your Dance hud/Vista AO Or Chimera Or Use As Singles.
 Try them out For this Price Even If You Only Liked One You Would Be Getting Your Moneys Worth!!

 Great Goods
Visit The Store
Sold by: jazie1

L$299         $1.58 USD"

I went online and looked at them. There was no indication of where they came from, so I IMd the seller. Here are the notes (I know I am violating the SL TOS service by printing this, but I will gladly take a penalty to get Linden Lab to do something about pirating):

[10:51] Nottoo Wise: hello jaxie1
[10:51] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[10:51] Nottoo Wise: jazie, i saw the 85 dances that u r selling on marketplace
[10:51] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[10:52] Nottoo Wise: someone IMd me that the dances might be the same as those sold by Sine wave
[10:52] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[10:52] Nottoo Wise: can u confirm that they r not sine wave dances before i purchase them
[10:52] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[10:52] Nottoo Wise: ty
[10:52] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
===
[13:00] jazie1: hello the dances are from several creators not realy shure who they have been compiled from all over sl from several full perm stores and friends
[13:00] Nottoo Wise: ok ty
[13:00] jazie1: your most welcome=)

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So I bought the dances. Unfortunately, I was busy and it was only several days later that I opened them to discover 85 Sine wave dances with Easy Babcock as the creator ... WOW PIRATED DANCES

So today I sent this note ...

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[06:31:53] Nottoo Wise: Hello Jazie
[06:31:54] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[06:32:18] Nottoo Wise: last week I imd u abut the 85 dance that u have for sale on SL Marketplace
[06:32:18] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[06:32:35] Nottoo Wise: i asked u if the dances were copies of sine wave dances
[06:32:35] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[06:32:45] Nottoo Wise: u said they were full perm from all over
[06:32:46] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[06:33:21] Nottoo Wise: i bought them and found them to be copies of sine wave dances
[06:33:21] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[06:33:30] Nottoo Wise: with easy babcock still as the creator
[06:33:30] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[06:35:04] Nottoo Wise: i ask u to remove the dances from sale on SL Marketplace and return my purchase price
[06:35:04] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[06:35:05] Nottoo Wise: ty
[06:35:06] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.


===

So, as always, don't buy these dances. I will let you know what I learn.

This got me excited again about illegal dances, so I decided to revisit all the previously active illegal dance stores. Here is what I found:

* Belle's Breath of Lust - Still selling pirated Sine Wave dances.

Aliana Animations - This store is still selling pirated dance poles and chairs. The surprising thing is that they are located right next to an AKEYO outlet. I have IMd Artoo Magneto the owner of AKEYO to ask him what his relationship is with Aliana:

[14:03:49] Nottoo Wise: hi Artoo xxx
[14:03:49] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[14:04:24] Nottoo Wise: I have found a store called Aliana Animations that appears to be selling pirated dance poles anims and chair anims from Sine Wave
[14:04:24] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[14:04:48] Nottoo Wise: i was surprised to find the store connected to one of your outlets
[14:04:49] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[14:05:03] Nottoo Wise: is this store yours or do you have any connection with this store
[14:05:04] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[14:05:16] Nottoo Wise: here is the slurl Dark Desires (33,158,2282)
[14:05:17] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.
[14:05:20] Nottoo Wise: ty xxx
[14:05:20] Second Life: User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.

I will let you know what Artoo responds.

AnimAlive - This store appears to have stopped selling pirated Sexy Jesse's dances. I will stop reporting on them ... YAY!

BBCS #5 - This store has changed its location ... here is the new LM. This store seems to have stopped selling pirated Sine Wave dances ... another YAY.

Dance Animations - This store appears to be out of business ... WOW maybe we are having success.

Fly Nation Animation - This store is out of business ... HAHAHAHA ... DOUBLE YAY!!

MiChiGaNs ShAcK MAIN SUPERSTORE! - HAHAHAHA ... I have been banned from this store. WOW, at least they are reading this blog. I asked a friend to take a look ... yep, they are still selling pirated Sine Wave dance poles. It's too bad because this store has a lot of stuff for sale. I wonder how much other stuff is stolen.

Rolik's Workshop - Awww, they still sell pirated Sexy Jesse anims.

Wooden furniture - Another awww ... still selling pirated Sine Wave pole dances.

===

Well, we are having some success. I guess it's time for another abuse report to Linden Lab that they can trash ... but maybe one day LL will realize that their Intellectual Property rules need adjustment.


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120206


The illegal list is growing. Here is another * Belle's Breath of Lust selling pirated Sine Wave dances and a few originals. As always, I recommend that you not shop at stores with illegal dances.


Here is the current list of illegal dance sellers:
* Belle's Breath of Lust
Alana Animations
AnimAlive
BBCS #5
Dance Animations
Fly Nation Animation
MiChiGaNs ShAcK MAIN SUPERSTORE!
Rolik's Workshop
Wooden furniture


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120114


Another dance seller is offering pirated Sine Wave poles, chairs and stools ... Alana Animations.


A well-established furniture maker is also now selling Sine Wave dance pole anims ... Wooden furniture.


Do not shop here.


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111231


One new dance seller has been identified selling pirated dances:


1. Fly Nation Animation is selling pirated Sine Wave dances. For the first time I have seen the Sine Wave dance chair being pirated.


As always I recommend that you not purchase anything from this store.


Here is an update on the other illegal dances reported previously:


1. MiChiGaNs ShAcK MAIN SUPERSTORE! is still selling pirated Sine Wave pole dances.

2.
Dance Animations is still selling pirated Sine Wave dances.
3. Rolik's Workshop is still selling a dance pirated from Sexy Jesse's.
4. AnimAlive is also still selling dances pirated from Sexy Jesse's.


5. BBCS #5 is selling pirated Sine Wave dances. The seller has not even changed the name of the creator.


It appears that neither Sine Wave nor Linden seems to care about the intellectual property represented by these dances. I have sent notes to Easy Babcock and other Sine Wave representatives five times. I have filed abuse reports four times with Linden Lab. I believe the only way that copyrights are enforced is when the owner files a report with Linden. This protects the owner of the intellectual property, but does not protect the customers of the stores where illegal dances are sold. When Sine Wave finally decides to complain to Linden, the customers get replacement dances and no money back. Plus, it messes up your dance HUD if you have replacement dances in it. This is an unfortunate situation for us, the customers, so I continue to recommend that you avoid these stores.


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111115


One new dance sellers have been identified selling pirated dances:


1. BBCS #5 is selling pirated Sine Wave dances. The seller has not even changed the name of the creator.


As always I recommend that you not purchase anything from this store.


Here is an update on the other illegal dances reported previously:


1. MiChiGaNs ShAcK MAIN SUPERSTORE! is still selling pirated Sine Wave pole dances.

2.
Dance Animations is still selling pirated Sine Wave dances.


3. Rolik's Workshop is still selling a dance pirated from Sexy Jesse's.


4. AnimAlive is also still selling dances pirated from Sexy Jesse's.


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111104


Two new dance sellers have been identified selling pirated dances:


1. Rolik's Workshop is selling a dance pirated from Sexy Jesse's.


2. AnimAlive is also selling dances pirated from Sexy Jesse's.


As always I recommend that you not purchase anything from these stores.


Here is an update on the other illegal dances reported previously:


1. MiChiGaNs ShAcK MAIN SUPERSTORE! is still selling pirated Sine Wave pole dances.

2.
Dance Animations is still selling pirated Sine Wave dances.

I have again filed an abuse report on all of these dance sellers. I have reported this to Sexy Jesse's. Sine Wave appears not to be interested in protecting its intellectual property, but I think Linden labs has a responsibility to act even without Sine Wave. Linden Lab is knowingly allowing people to purchase illegal dances and risk losing their investment.



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111006


Here is an update on previously discussed locations selling illegal dances:


1. MiChiGaNs ShAcK MAIN SUPERSTORE! is still selling pirated Sine Wave pole dances.


2. Dance Animations is still selling pirated Sine Wave dances.


3. GCD Club Equipment is no longer selling pirated Sine Wave and Henmations dances. I recommend that you not shop at this store.


4. C&G Animations is no longer in business.


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110813


I have sent this report to the major MOCAP dance makers and have again filed an abuse report. DANCE QUEENS members who buy dances at these locations eventually will lose their dances and their money. I do not believe that LL should permit this.


1. Another vendor, MiChiGaNs ShAcK MAIN SUPERSTORE! is selling pirated Sine Wave pole dances. For example, take a look at the pole dance Catapiller and compare it to Sine Wave's pole 26;22.9. As usual, I recommend that you buy nothing from this store.


2.  This location called Dance Animations is still selling pirated Sine Wave dances and has added more. For example, compare Dance0009 in the 298L vendor and Sine Wave's crimson breeze. I recommend that you not shop here.


3. This store, GCD Club Equipment, is still selling pirated Sine Wave and Henmations dances. For example, compare Dance 19 with Henmations f_dance_20. Avoid it.


4. C&G Animations - Although most of the illegal dances have been removed, there are still some here. This guy is very creative. Take a look at STREET 11 then compare it to Ministry of Motion's Catepillar Limbo. It seems he has taken parts of Catepillar Limbo and included parts of another dance. As before, avoid this place.


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110803


1. Dance Animations  -  This location is selling pirated Sine Wave dances for 198L or less. As you know LL will remove these dances from your inventory and HUD even if you have paid for them once they determine that the dances are illegal. I recommend that you not shop here. Thanks to Diawa Bellic for finding it.


2. GCD Club Equipment  - This is a section of a store that sells musical instruments. In the back is a set of dance machines and dance balls. Last week I looked at the dances. They seem to match Sine Wave dances and some may also match Henmations dances. There is a lot of stuff in the GCD stores, but I recommend that you buy nothing here.


3. C&G Animations - Most, but not all, of the stolen dances here have been removed. I have heard that the owner, Brow Abrahams, has been suspended from SL for seven days. I recommend that you buy nothing here.


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110718


Yesterday, I learned about what appears what appears to be a copyright infringement by C&G Animations, which is owned by Brow Abrahams (􀂓). I went to see and found a brand new MOCAP dance site. Since I own all of the MyAnimations Sensual dance series, I looked at the Sensual series made by C&G. Sensual 01 by C&G is identical to My-SENSUAL-46. Since My-SENSUAL-46 has a creation date much earlier than that of SENSUAL 01, I agree that SENSUAL 01 is a copy of My-SENSUAL-46. I then checked SENSUAL 02 and found it is a copy of My-SENSUAL-35.


Although I had heard that dances from Akeyo, Henmations and Studio4D had also been copied. I did not confirm this. There are a lot of dances at C&G. I recommend that DANCE QUEENS members NOT purchase dances at C&G. Eventually, Linden Lab will remove illegal dances even if you have paid for them.


I am copying this note to Ramona Criss (MyAnimations), artoo Magneto (AKEYO), Hendrik Schroeder (Henmations), Live Gears (Studio4D) and to Brow Abrahams (C&G). If I learn in the next day that the dances are legal, I will alert you. If it continues to appear that the dances are illegal copies, I will file an abuse report. Although I leave it to the dance creators to protect their intellectual property, I do not want DANCE QUEENS members paying for dances that they will lose.


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101109


Some of you may have received an email from Linden Lab recently about illegal dances (Intellectual Property Notice about Second Life Content). It stated that if you had certain dances, they were illegal copies and had been replaced by a simple animation. My note identified six dances:
f_dance_25
f_dance_26
f_dance_27
f_dance_28
f_dance_29
ST_PG-02_AKEYO



When I checked my inventory and my HUD, all the dances were there and were correct. In a group IM exchange I learned that others had the same experience. All of us had legal dances purchased from the creators and they had not been replaced.


I am aware of two sets of illegal dances. One is a copy of several Akeyo dances (but not the one mentioned) and one is a copy of about 20 Sine Wave dances. The illegal Akeyo dances were exchanged some time ago. I had both sets and had contacted the creators about them.


First, if your dances have not been affected, I recommend no action.


Second, if you have illegal dances, I recommend that you delete them. Illegal dances reduce the income for the dance makers. If they stop making dances, we have no fun. I would not only delete them but report to Linden Lab anyone who gives you illegal dances.
This Wiki page has info on how to recognize fake things.


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xxxx
Nottoo