A victory!

Today we would like to take a short moment to celebrate a victory for supporters of original content all over Second Life. Over the course of last week a creator by the name of Aerofly has lost their Bell 212 helicopter to a DMCA take down request. The evidence for it having been taken down is simple, it is no longer available on Market Place suddenly having only been released for a short time.

BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE!

  A concerned resident has shared with us the following emails (name has been blanked for respect for the provider):

Dear ***************,
Thank you very much for bringing this into our attention. They even stole the liveries which shows that they have zero respect towards us. Blatant stealing and laugh in the face.
We will take the necessary measures.
Thank you very much again.
Best regards,Nemeth Designs Development Group.


Sent from my Samsung mobile device.

-------- Original message --------
Date: 2015/05/16  19:08
To: support@nemethdesigns.com
Subject: Reporting IP theft of a Nemeth EC-135 on Second Life


Hi there,
I wanted to report that a user "AeroConstructor Firehawk" in the 
virtual world Second Life is using a Nemeth design's Eurocopter EC-135 
model and textures in their own product and is distributing it as 
their own creation on Second Life's Marketplace. I have supplied a 
comparison image of the two products as an attachment to this email.
Link: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/AeroFly-EC-135-Eurocopter/5358427

You may want to have your development team observe the marketplace 
images for comparison.

This seems to be a breach of your company's Copyright and Intellectual 
property rights. If you wish to take action, you can file a DMCA claim 
against this user. Here are the instructions: 
https://secondlife.com/corporate/dmca.php

If you need more information please feel free to contact me.

Regards,
***************

The helicopter in question is the Aerofly EC-135

And its original model and livery provided courtesy of a short search for the Flight sim creator's EC-135 gave us this:

Given the creator has already said that this is indeed thier product without their permision we will offer no further evidence at this time and simply say:

Aerofly is a confirmed mesh Thief

Dani Airplanes Airbus A-318

It has been a while since we have felt the need to post on this blog but again comes the time when new and distressing information comes along. Today I present to you evidence that is not my own but has come to me by way of an anonymous member of the community. We will not do our usual trick of posting pictures and explaining to all of you who are unfamiliar with the ins and out of modeling as we feel this bit of forum post on a Microsoft Flight Simulator X creator's forum is fairly self explanatory.

Project Airbus' forums

Here yet a second anonymous resident in our community has found and the creator confirmed the source of Dani Airplanes' Airbus A-318. It appears to be this airbus from Project Airbus, a group of FSX modelers creating various renditions of the Airbus line for add-ons for the ever popular flight sim.

Also by yet a third anonymous resident in our short story today we seem to have found the download source for many of Dani Airplanes' downloads. A coincidentally Brazilian blog featuring many pay ware downloads shared openly for free. Take a look, see a few familiar faces? It is sad to see that even when caught red handed such people continue and attempt to cry as the victim. So to close us out with an old and worn out phrase that we all know:

 Buyer be ware Dani Airplanes is a known and confirmed mesh thief

AEB&W - LTV A-7 Corsair II

AEB&W, owned by Annitah Babii, is an SL Marketplace based merchant that sells mostly Military jets. An anonymous tip lead us to the believe that these planes had been taken out of a game called Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X, a video game created by Ubisoft.

Here's a list of our findings:

The product: AEB&W LTV A-7 Corsair II

The Original: A-7 Corsair II from Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. by Ubisoft, model found on TF3dM.com

(top) AEB&W's A-7 Corsair II

(bottom) H.A.W.X. A-7 Corsair II on TF3dM.com

You will notice on the vendor picture that under the cockpit is the name "W.T.PATTON". This name is only used on official  H.A.W.X aircraft and is a spoof name used for the pilot. You will find this on many H.A.W.X aircraft.

Let's start with a proper texture comparison.

 (top) AEB&W's Corsair II template (bottom) H.A.W.X. Corsair's official in-game skin

The UV map and texture quality are an uncontested match. It looks like AEB's texture has been lightened and sharpened in a photo editing program.

We could put the template texture that was supplied by AEB&W from Second Life, and assign it on the official H.A.W.X. model in our 3D program. This is defiantly the same texture.

(top) AEB&W's A-7 Corsair II

(bottom) H.A.W.X. A-7 Corsair II on TF3dM.com

 (top) AEB&W's A-7 Corsair II

(bottom) H.A.W.X. A-7 Corsair II on TF3dM.com

(top) AEB&W's A-7 Corsair II

(bottom) H.A.W.X. A-7 Corsair II on TF3dM.com

After viewing these wire frame comparisons, it is very clear that the body (not including landing gear and weapons) has been taken straight out of  Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. The only original content in this aircraft is the recolored default livery that comes standard with the plane. 

These models are protected by Ubisoft's Intellectual Property rights which this developer has breached. Annitah Babii will be held responsible for all violation if a DMCA report is filed by Ubisoft.

AEB&W is a confirmed Mesh Thief 

☆Corey's Cache O' Crap☆ - Multiple products

☆Corey's Cache O' Crap☆, owned by jjws888 Resident, is a Second Life Marketplace merchant that sells a variety of items. We've found that most of their products are stolen and rigged video game models.
All of these models are from official Nintendo 64 games. Here's is a list of our findings:

The product: ☆MESH☆ Princess Peach rigged mesh avatar
The original: Princess Peach from Super Mario 64, Nintendo 64

The product: ☆MESH☆ Adult Link rigged mesh avatar
The original: Link from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Nintendo 64

The product: ☆MESH☆ Happy Mask Salesman rigged mesh avatar
The original: Happy Mask Salesman from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, Nintendo 64

The product: ☆MESH☆ Malon rigged mesh avatar
The original: Malon from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, Nintendo 64

The product: ☆MESH☆ Sheik rigged mesh avatar
The original: Sheik from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Nintendo 64

The product: ☆MESH☆ Zora Link rigged mesh avatar
The original: Zora Link from Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Nintendo 64

And there are so many more..

Everything listed here has infringed Nintendo's Intellectual Property rights and Copyright for using official trademarked logos. Game ripped and copyrighted models make this a big Terms of Service violation.

Please avoid purchasing any of these products from this store and support original content creators. 

jjws888 is just another Mesh Theif

MFP - Meshes Full Perm - Multiple products

Meshes Full Perm, owned by Pater Taurog, is a Second Life Marketplace Merchant that sells a variety of objects. We picked out many items that were from video games and other 3d model websites.

Here are some of the obvious game rips:

The product: ARM OF ODIN AXE or "VIKING AXE"
The original: "Wuuthrad" Greataxe from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The product: PAIN OF KURIIS AXE
The original: Steel Battleaxe from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

These meshes are from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in which the intellectual property rights belong to Bethesda.

If you want to buy some full perm mesh from MFP, please avoid these 2 items as they can be removed with a DMCA report.

To be expanded on...

Meshes Full Perm is a confirmed Mesh Thief

Fastronnix - Bell UH-1H Huey and CH-53

UPDATE: This product has since been removed from SL by the uploader, we can only hope more follow their example.

UPDATE: We had previously listed Sal Fireguard as the creator of the Fastronnix UH-1H Huey. New evidence has surfaced that only the root prim of the helicopter contains Sal's name as the creator, but the rest of the aircraft was uploaded by Tronnix Tairov.

We formally apologize to you Sal Fireguard, as we had mistaken you for the aircraft's original creator.

Fastronnix Productions is a business that produces vehicles for Second Life. This merchant has in-world stores based at Blung, Hollywood Airport (SLHA), and a Second Life Marketplace page. 

We've found a couple of suspicious mesh products in their Hollywood outlet, one of which was a Bell UH-1 Huey. Following the previous source of downloaded mesh models, we came across the exact same model and textures on TF3dM.com.

The product: Fastronnix Bell UH-1H Huey

The source: UH-1H 3d model, from TF3dM.com

(top) Fastronnix Bell UH-1H Huey 

(bottom) Bell UH-1H Huey from TF3dM.com

 Here are some wirefrime comparisons.

The Fastronnix wireframe is an exact match the the TF3dM model, eliminating our doubt. The only difference is that the engine's exhaust pipe has been pulled further back.

Here's some texture comparisons.

(top) Fastronnix Bell UH-1H Huey 

(bottom) Bell UH-1H Huey from TF3dM.com

(top) Fastronnix Bell UH-1H Huey 

(bottom) Bell UH-1H Huey from TF3dM.com

(top) Fastronnix Bell UH-1H Huey 

(bottom) Bell UH-1H Huey from TF3dM.com

The only difference that's been noted is the yellow rapiers crossing on the nose and sides of the helicopter, and a red band around it's mid-tail. Besides these differences, the markings and texture quality between both models are exact.

The product: Fastronnix CH-53 Helicopter

The source: MH-53 Pave Low, found on GTAGarage.com

(top) Fastronnix CH-53

(bottom) MH-53 Pave Low from GTA Garage

The only model source we could find of this game rip was from a GTA: San Andreas mod. You'll find that the marking positons and overall quality between the two models match. The rotors and hub have been replaced with another prim or mesh.

The aircraft's creator is Tronnix Tairov and will be reliable if a DMCA report is filed.

This UH-1H Huey can only be found in-world and inadvertently conceals the product from being searched on the internet.

Either way you look at it, these products are in violation of the Terms of Service and shouldn't be on Second Life.

We're yet to find this model's true origin of the CH-53 and we will update this post whenever the information becomes available.

Customer's of Fastronnix should consider this information before purchasing any further products from them.

Vlad Blackburn - Multiple products

Vlad Blackburn is a merchant on Second Life Marketplace who sells a variety of products, from accessories right through to vehicles. A couple of vehicles showed suspicious signs of video game originated models. Here's a list of our findings.

The product: Blackburns Flying Second Space Ships 01-02

The original: F-Zero GX Blue Falcon, produced by Nintendo. Model found on TF3dM.com

(top) Vlad's space ship (bottom) Nintendo's F-Zero's Blue Falcon

This was a very easy find for us. This model has been ripped from F-Zero GX, produced by Nintendo for the GameCube, and put up on TF3dM.com, which is  the most probably area in which Vlad found this model. Despite there being no writing or logos, the markings in the texture are the same and the texture has simply been tinted. 

This design is Copyrighted by Nintendo and will most likely be removed from Second Life if a DMCA is filed.

The product: Stealth F22 Raptor Trainer Scripted aircraft

The original: F-22A Raptor from H.A.W.X, by Ubisoft. Model found on TF3dM.com

(top)Vlad's F22 Trainer (bottom)H.A.W.X F-22A Raptor

Again, another H.A.W.X model from the same website we've listed before in this blog. You'll find that the marking, vents, and lines match up exactly to Vlad's "F22 Trainer". The over all texture quality, by color and clarity, is also equal of that to the H.A.W.X model.

It is without a doubt, 

Vlad Blackburn is a confirmed Mesh Thief

UXU Designs - Multiple products

UXU Designs, owned by Uberluco Resident, is a Second Life Marketplace based merchant that produces Vehicles. In this store, is quite a number of obvious ripped game models. Here's the list.

The product: Marine Shuttle
The source: Mass Effect 3 by Bioware and EA Games

(Top) UXU's Marine Shuttle (Bottom) Mass Effect 3's UT-47 Kodiak Drop Shuttle

(Top) UXU's Mercenary Shuttle 

(Bottom)UT-47 Kodiak Drop Shuttle skins from Deviant Artist nach77

This is most defiantly a game model rip. The textures on UXU's "shuttle" are unaltered and identical to Mass Effect's model. A deviant Artist by the user nach77 made a few skins for this UT-47. You'll notice that the Mercenary shuttle and the bottom left skins are an exact match. 

Even if this was a hand-made mesh, this design is within Copyright of Bioware and EA Games. Either way you look at it, it's not supposed to be on Second Life. Deviant Artist nach77 will be notified of his stolen artwork as well.

The product: Marine Transport pack

The source: D77C/H Pelican from Halo Reach, produced by Bungie and Microsoft

(Top) UXU's Marine Transport pack 

(Middle) Halo Reach D77H Pelican 

(Bottom) Halo Reach D77C Pelican

These "Marine Transports" are most definably taken from Halo Reach, and this can be proved by comparing the markings and vents on the textures between the models. 

Just like the Mass Effect models above, these designs are Copyrighted by Bungie and don't belong on Second Life at all.

The product: Alliance Gunship

The source: Mass Effect 3's A-61 Mantis Gunship

(Top,Upper Middle, Lower Middle) UXU's  Gunships 

(Bottom) Mass Effect 3's A-61 Mantis Gunship

As stated above from the UT-47, these are Mass Effect game models. More Copyrighted content being sold and another artist's work being stolen.

Anyone buying product from UXU Designs should consider this information. If a DMCA is filed by any of these companies regarding there Intellectual Property rights, your product will be removed without warning. 

UXU Designs and it's owner, Uberluco Resident, is a confirmed Mesh Thief.

VORTEX - Multiple products

VORTEX, owned by Rogue Harsley, is a Marketplace based merchant that sells vehicles.
Most of the aircraft available show signs of video game ripped models. After a quick Google search, we found that most of the models used in VORTEX's products came from a collection of free downloadable mesh, which included video games models as well. Here is a list of the products that we've uncovered to be in breach of Intellectual Property rights.

The product: VORTEX P-51 
The source: P-51 Mustang 3d model from TF3dM.com

(Top) VORTEX P-51 (Bottom) TF3dM P-51

The only object that doesn't match the rest of the aircraft is the Propeller cone. Otherwise, texture quality and marking positions are an exact match.

The product: VORTEX F-117A Nighthawk
The source2: F-117A Nighthawk 3d model from TF3dM.com, Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X

(Top) VORTEX F- 117A (Bottom) TF3dM F-117A

This is pretty much an exact copy. The odd shades of purple in the texture match up exactly in the same place. These textures have been compressed with a restricted color pallet, and the TF3dM uploader admits to have ripped this model from Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X, which was produced by Ubisoft. The creator could end up in a lot of trouble if a DMCA filed against them by Ubisoft for this aircraft.

The product: VORTEX F-15C Eagle

The source: F-15C Eagle from Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X, model from TF3dM.com

 (Top) VORTEX F- 15C (Bottom) H.A.W.X F-15C

 (Top) VORTEX F- 15C (Bottom) H.A.W.X F-15C

Despite this aircraft displaying a user-made skin, some of the markings in both of these F-15C's textures are in the same spot. This indicates that the original H.A.W.X texture was just painted over. 

There is also no topology smoothing on the VORTEX model. The image highlights roughly where the VORTEX's model topology lays in comparison to the H.A.W.X model. You'll see that the topology of the aircraft's Nose is a convincing match.

More to be added..