Sideshow now interfering with Custom Work on Facebook

[Sweet Rabbit]

Recasting SS headsculpts? Who the **** would want to.

It happened with a number of them.

Did they come out better?

 

[**16k**]

Did they come out better?

Actually they came out as good... Not sure it's a compliment there

 

[RIDDICK]

They actually did come out better.

 

[Chicky]

My initial response to the e-mail (and it's NOT my copy posted above, if Jennifer is reading this thread!) was very much like Raddtitan's there. Only in my case Sideshow affiliate sales are not a huge source of revenue. I have perhaps a couple hundred in outstanding commissions, nowhere near $7k.

And with the halving of commissions and now trying to dictate content... Like I said, it's ONLY because I want to keep a good relationship with Sideshow that I haven't cut the ties already. I like being able to reach out to them and ask them questions for our show. But yeah.... it's an overreach and overstep on their part that makes me VERY uncomfortable.

Hey ArnieC,

Thank you for your post as well as feedback on this thread. It looks like the original email to our affiliate group was posted for the public to see in its entirety and as such you can also see that we are talking about those that are producing unlicensed product in multiples. We are not talking about artists making original creations, repainting items for their collection or doing a one-off sculpture for their own collections.

As advertising partners, affiliates in our program need to maintain certain standards, since we have contracts for official licenses. It is a part of the terms that they have agreed to in becoming an affiliate. Some of our affiliates have been openly promoting and facilitating sales of unlicensed product. We have asked them to help us define the line between someone being proud of their creation and where it becomes a revenue generating business.

If any of our affiliates feel that this request is somehow dictating content or a 'strangle hold on content' for their platforms, then that is their right. They can post and curate their content as they desire, but Sideshow will not be able to participate in the manner that we have been. In addressing Radd Titan's concern about timing, if our affiliates need time to modify and curate their content to make sure that they are celebrating the art and not unwittingly participating in or promoting unlicensed sales, we of course will work with them to make that happen.

We appreciate the collector's feedback and having been reading through the threads, the constructive posts as well as the unfortunate, foul ones. We are always open to a civil discussion and encourage our affiliates, who may be unclear about the terms of the program, to contact us.

 

[Chicky]

I think this board has too many problems now to stay. Sad,, I liked it here. All this focus on custom figures and affiliates and yet the owner can’t log in and make the board even work. I say there’s plenty more on the list to do here then start getting rid of your artists over a paycheck. Not too mention as long as the artist aren’t using licensed names for the products they’re selling it should be protected under the 1st Amendment. (For those artists in the US). Sideshow can try to do this but as soon as they pull someone’s art off that has the money for a lawyer they better be ready.

FYI-Simply omitting 'character names' but still reproducing likenesses, logos, etc. of properties in mass qtys for unlicensed sale does not circumvent the rights of the creator/holder or qualify as protected by 1st amend. free speech. Apple, Disney and Marvel have already litigated stuff like that.

Or were you referring to your 1st amendment right to assemble?

 

[user 1190]

FYI-Simply omitting 'character names' but still reproducing likenesses, logos, etc. of properties in mass qtys for unlicensed sale does not circumvent the rights of the creator/holder or qualify as protected by 1st amend. free speech. Apple, Disney and Marvel have already litigated stuff like that.

Or were you referring to your 1st amendment right to assemble?

Wow how did I miss that original post? It’s such a gem.

 

[crows]

FYI-Simply omitting 'character names' but still reproducing likenesses, logos, etc. of properties in mass qtys for unlicensed sale does not circumvent the rights of the creator/holder or qualify as protected by 1st amend. free speech. Apple, Disney and Marvel have already litigated stuff like that.

Or were you referring to your 1st amendment right to assemble?

where does something like this falls on?

infringement or allowed by law?

 

[RiggsMcClane]

FYI-Simply omitting 'character names' but still reproducing likenesses, logos, etc. of properties in mass qtys for unlicensed sale does not circumvent the rights of the creator/holder or qualify as protected by 1st amend.

License dispute aside. Define mass quantities. Because many talented artists who will be hurt by this rarely produce more than ten or twenty items. Artists like that aren't always out to make a quick buck. They do it for the love of the characters and the hobby. Just like you.



Note: By hurt I don't mean financially.

 

[user 1190]

where does something like this falls on?

infringement or allowed by law?

I am guessing that was made outside where the copyright is controlled.

 

[Asta]

In a nutshell:

​ Jane Erso Hey everyone! I wanted to clarify that unfortunately, the practice of producing unlicensed custom items has evolved into a for profit, illegal enterprise in many instances. Sideshow believes that artists create, not illegally duplicate. While we believe it is extremely important to maintain a collaborative and encouraging relationship with our advertising affiliates, Sideshow has a responsibility to the license owners we work with to protect and support their original intellectual property and deter this illegal practice. As such, we expect advertising affiliates to reciprocate this support in that relationship by not openly allowing or condoning the discussion of sale of unlicensed, illegally produced custom items. It doesn't mean that you can't post artists work. It only means that you cannot sell it and still be an affiliate of Sideshow.

8h

 

[SwedishHeat]

You can do whatever you want, just don't expect Sideshow to pay you advertising dollars to do it.

Rather simple actually.

If I'm getting paid by my boss, and he tells me not to do something, I'm not going to claim "Muh Furst Ammendmunt rightz" and keep doing it. Come on now.

 

[crows]

You can do whatever you want, just don't expect Sideshow to pay you advertising dollars to do it.

Rather simple actually.

If I'm getting paid by my boss, and he tells me not to do something, I'm not going to claim "Muh Furst Ammendmunt rightz" and keep doing it. Come one now.

going into facebook groups? how the hell is that sideshow paying advertising? wtf are you talking about dude

 

[SwedishHeat]

going into facebook groups? how the hell is that sideshow paying advertising? wtf are you talking about dude

Sideshow sent that letter to the people who are part of their affiliate program. Did they not?

Not knowing what specific group you are referring to, I can imagine that some groups also have a web page on which they place Sideshow affiliate banners. Hence Sideshow tagging them.

 

[crows]

they are sending it to any group

 

[Asta]

They sent it to their affiliates - the places that profit when you buy a Sideshow product after clicking a link on the affiliate's page.

Such as SSF, One Sixth Society Facebook, or One Sixth Republic Facebook.

OSS say they'll continue as normal because they didn't allow sales in the first place.

OSR say they dropped their affiliate status in order to remain free to post what they want.

 

[RavenEye]

From what I gather from a board member who will not be named who sent me the actual email. It was sent to SSF, One Sixth Republic and all other affiliates of 1/6 communities. The fact One Sixth Warriors isn't probably affected because their site isn't affiliated.

 

[SwedishHeat]

I'm happy to see the afilliate program shaken up anyways. I understand the origins of it, but the entire industry of it has grown to the point where it doesn't do anybody any good.

It's just paid promotion, and biased reviews.

"Sideshow sent me this figure to take a look at. Check it out, it's great, it looks just like him, look how poseable it is, pick up your own right now at Sideshow.com."

So many sites and blogs are created simply to collect affiliate dollars, it's just icky.

 

[Asta]

The fact One Sixth Warriors isn't probably affected because their site isn't affiliated.

There's a chance they might be in the future.

The forum was taken over by Vertical Scope a while back, a company that specialises in acquiring websites they can squeeze for cash. I just turned my ad blocker off to see what ads they run, and they haven't tapped into Sideshow affiliate market yet.

 

[Asta]

I'm happy to see the afilliate program shaken up anyways. I understand the origins of it, but the entire industry of it has grown to the point where it doesn't do anybody any good.

It's just paid promotion, and biased reviews.

"Sideshow sent me this figure to take a look at. Check it out, it's great, it looks just like him, look how poseable it is, pick up your own right now at Sideshow.com."

So many sites and blogs are created simply to collect affiliate dollars, it's just icky.

 

[SwedishHeat]

The one thing I will fault Sideshow on here, is that they're picking on the little guy.

If Sideshow was actually serious about this, they'd ask their retail partners to stop carrying unlicensed merch. You know, asking BBTS, Timewalker, etc. to stop ordering that stuff, or else SSC will yank their own product.

I'd say selling unlicensed product is more illegal than talking about it/promoting it, but wateva.