I guess we should also apply this to roleplay and story characters. If anyone wants to insert another author's character in their story, I think it's best to ask for their permission first. Same goes for characters based on someone's build.

BTW is it okay if writers make references to another author's story? IMO I don't think it counts as content theft.

Kaiser, this is a hard one to answer.

Reason being is there are so many different levels.

On one side:

There's more than a few times where writers have delved into another writer's territory then added a twist of their own, moulding an idea given by the author's chapter/story. How many times has one of us added a comment saying, 'this has given me an idea'? 

On the other side, we've had writers adding in other members characters and including them to some degree or other. Such a thing hasn't been looked at in the past but I know it can cause certain issues. 

As far as plots go, every member of TSC, CB, FOCB, Lore ect is guilty for we have all taken things from a game and used it for our own means. The fact that no one cares about it or Bethesda hasn't closed in with a thousand fully modded werewolves and tore us apart has nothing to do with it. Plots ire impossible to deal with. 

This leaves characters as you have mentioned. 

By characters we mean characters created by the writer from either their game or just as a character in their story, build ect. NPC's can't and won't count at all. (if they did then I have dibs on Aela. Aww come on, you all knew I'd mention her somewhere...)

If the member's want such protection, we might be able to implement a rule in TSC stating that characters from other people’s stories need to have permission as Kaiser has said. 

As to making references to another member’s story/build lore article ect. This I would happily allow provided it is not done in a way where it will have a negative impact on their story or done by undesirable means. Provided this is adhered to then it could actually benefit the other writer. This can only be a good thing.

@Teccam

I'd agree with you if this were an isolated incident. However, the little b@&ches that run the other "site" have done far more to interrupt what we do here. Maybe they just lack fresh content. Seems like the majority of their discussions (when not involving stolen content) involves the same recycled builds and videos. 

[blockquote][b][url=/profile/Patriarch]Patriarch[/url] said:[/b]

@Teccam

I'd agree with you if this were an isolated incident. However, the little b@&ches that run the other "site" have done far more to interrupt what we do here. Maybe they just lack fresh content. Seems like the majority of their discussions (when not involving stolen content) involves the same recycled builds and videos. 

[/blockquote]

Whatchoo call me?

Anyway, I am gonna have to go with Teccam on this one. For me, I hope that whoever started the thread on this site cited the hundreds of other riddle threads from hundreds of other gaming sites! I mean, that would just be plain bad manners to not cite all of them, right? Give credit where credit is due.

Also, as Soly pointed out - shouldn't everyone who has used artwork found on the web without permission be banned due to this rule? That would include me.

I, for one, am pleased that Tamriel Vault has taken steps to protect my content, regardless of the nature of the thread that spurred this change in rules. I could only imagine if Straag Rod was posted by someone else. Or one of my stories with the Lorc. 

[blockquote][b][url=/profile/Aysleph]Aysleph[/url] said:[/b] 

I use both sites so I'm not going to bash either one, but I've always wondered, why do so many people who use the Vault dislike the Skyforge and the ones who run it? I mean, apart from the original split following the platform change, I haven't seen much conflict, just the hatred continuing even after both sides moved on. Also, apart from the Riddles of Humility, were there other instances of content theft and disruption in Vault activity? I usually don't keep up with these things so I'm still confused.

[/blockquote] Some of us are just being protective of what we do here. And why take all this fiery action? Because there are some people (not everyone), currently on the other site (whose names I will not mention in order to not seed conflict over there), who at times make auxiliary accounts on the TamrielVault. These accounts are under different names and through them, they try to disrupt the activity here by posting rude and disrespectful comments on discussions which content creators have worked hard to come up with. If you think we're paranoid, let me tell you that we tracked the IPs on these accounts and we know exactly who we're dealing with. I'm not a fan of interacting with these shady people but I will not stand idle as they try to troll or insult the hard work of both new and old members here.

[blockquote][b][url=/profile/Noodles]Noodles[/url] said:[/b]

[blockquote][b][url=/profile/Aysleph]Aysleph[/url] said:[/b] 

I use both sites so I'm not going to bash either one, but I've always wondered, why do so many people who use the Vault dislike the Skyforge and the ones who run it? I mean, apart from the original split following the platform change, I haven't seen much conflict, just the hatred continuing even after both sides moved on. Also, apart from the Riddles of Humility, were there other instances of content theft and disruption in Vault activity? I usually don't keep up with these things so I'm still confused.

[/blockquote] Some of us are just being protective of what we do here. And why take all this fiery action? Because there are some people (not everyone), currently on the other site (whose names I will not mention in order to not seed conflict over there), who at times make auxiliary accounts on the TamrielVault. These accounts are under different names and through them, they try to disrupt the activity here by posting rude and disrespectful comments on discussions which content creators have worked hard to come up with. If you think we're paranoid, let me tell you that we tracked the IPs on these accounts and we know exactly who we're dealing with. I'm not a fan of interacting with these shady people but I will not stand idle as they try to troll or insult the hard work of both new and old members here.

[/blockquote]

Thanks, Noodles, that really helps clear things up for me. Hopefully, everyone will be able to work something out eventually, but again, I just hope to remain neutral and participate in both sites.

[blockquote][b][url=/profile/Teccam]Teccam[/url] said:[/b]

[blockquote][b][url=/profile/Henson]Henson[/url] said:[/b]

What was taken? Did the thieves have the Perfect Touch perk?

[/blockquote] This discussion was stolen. They kinda' did actually!

Guys, is this for real? Let's take a step back and think rationally for a moment. If this whole "community alert" is over a freaking forum game, this is unacceptable. Plagiarism is VERY BAD. But "stealing" a generic game that has been posted on hundreds, if not thousands, of message boards since the early 1990s is NOT content theft. If you see someone stealing your story, your build, your T&T writeup or mod spotlight, yeah that is messed up -- it's plagiarism. That should not fly, ever (and as far as I know, it never has here, regagdless of written rules). But if we're talking about banning people over a silly generic off topic game that wasn't even conceptually created here, that is beyond unreasonable.

Apologies if my opinion offends anyone here, but despite having largely drifted away, I still want the best for the Vault like any of you, and totalitarian and over-generalized rules like this aren't in ANYONE's best interests. I hope y'all reflect on this some more and consider my input, and feel free to reach out if you want to chat more.

[/blockquote] [/blockquote]

I don't really care if someone was to take that idea and use it. It's not original by any means. Hell, I wouldn't even care if he just used the same title. But if you copy and paste my own fucking thread, word for word, that's plagiarism, buddy.