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This is the guy! https://www.cgtrader.com/free-premium-models
I told him to get ***** . I did not see a report button so I have no idea if it's possible to report.
Guy trying to rip 3D models
Discussion started by 3D-Reality
I can't believe that currently there is 3D project on the main page where guy is looking for someone to help him building a tool to rip 3D models from Sketchfab, CGTrader, Turbosquid.
Do you know anything about this techniques? Are they they the actual threat to us and how can we protect against it?
Answers
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Those tools are already available for years, if you do not want to distribute your models for free then simply don't use 3D viewers.
The people using Sketchfab probably don't mind their models get distributed for free, they sell license and as long as they feel enough people buy those license then they don't mind all the free downloading. At least that's what I assume, otherwise I don't get the logic using 3D viewers?
Note, in order for a computer to display 3D graphics there usually needs to get data (vertexes, UV cords, textures and shader data, etc.) tot the V-ram on your GPU from where it can be rendered. Sites like Sketsfab (using 3D viewers) distribute this data to the users computer via the web-browser where an embedded app delivers it to the GPU for rendering.
So the simple act of viewing such models puts it already on your PC. The only thing holding you back from opening it in Blender or whatever 3D app is the format the data is in. However, there are plenty of smart people who know about the techniques behind the encoding and decoding of this data and they provide decoding apps so you can convert this data to regular OBJ or FBX format.
Anyone is free to transmit/distribute his work over public network for free but I find it a bit strange as its kind of opposite of what most license describe?
There is a difference between accepting that piracy is a thing and being ok with your models getting ripped. Having a 3D viewer is good to show potential customers your model from different angles/polycount etc. But it does lead to the possibility of piracy. But do you want to hurt your paying clients just to deterr pirates? It's a tricky balance to make but it does not mean you are ok with it. So we shouldn't encourage it and even if those tools are available we should do what we can to limit it.
Is it a fairly easy process or does it take time and skill to rip the model? Sketchfab says they use algorithms and the orignal file is never exposed, whatever this means
I don't like my models get pirated so I did the test myself to see how easy it was to use those rip apps (a list of them was available at that time) and was shocked how easy it was, never used those viewers from then on and post video instead. Some people might suggest its hard to use those rip apps but the knowledge one needs to operate them is 0,0000000001% what you need to operate 3ds max or blender. If your capable learning apps like 3ds max or blender then operating such rip app is like making cup of thee. People using 3D viewers are freely distributing the 3D data to users PC’s and its actually contradicting most license terms. For example CGtrader license clearly states its not allowed to copy the data and distribute it, yet that is exactly what those 3D viewers are doing. A solution would be to remote render it and send a video feed like Google stadia. There is no 3D data in those but you probably would need to pay for the remote GPU rendering to provide your users with interactive 3D viewing. At this time that is not the case as the user is using his own GPU to render your models.
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I also think that most applicants only wanted to say s..t to project creator.
Otherwise there is no new serious danger. I really doubt that there would be some real programmer/developer among applicants who would create such tool for only 50$.
And the funny thing is about "reselling allowed" so the create could sell the tool here on CGT. :-D
Creator not create
I think it's also possible he will be approached by other scammers who will try to sell him some other already available scripts.
Maybe. But nothing new will appear so the level of potential danger for us will be the same like before. :-)
True, but it's a good opportunity for support to investigate and ban some more scammers along the way : )
Agree, opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.
Don't worry, support will ban him and that will be no problem.
Thanks for your help :)
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There are two possible scenarios, he is a retard because of posting this here on cgt (it's like kicking the hornet's nest) or he posted that here like some sort of provocation wich i think it is, because tools for this kind a thing are in existance for very long time, but there is other side of this, usage of those tools requiere some knowladge, but you can't expect knowladge from someone who is retarded enough to want to rip other peoples hard work, and is even more retarded for posting project like this here on cgt.
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If you want to protect your model just make renders like me. It's not perfect because he can rip it with photogrammetry tools, but in this case, they don't get the UV data, the LOD's, and the lightmap, and it's a ton of work to make it usable.
There is much easier way to rip those models with intact geometry, uvs and textures.
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I don't want to open another topic (I hope that author of this one won't mind) to point out once again a scammer/thief https://www.cgtrader.com/blackbitapps who buys 3d models and than immediately asks for refund for no reason, and although cgt didn't refunded him and already once removed negative ratings from all models he bought, he continue to abuse model rating system in anger, In my opinion he should be banned long time ago, but it is what it is, at least cgt shouldn't allow rating of the model again once they removed rating.
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Look like he registered again with similar user name: https://www.cgtrader.com/premium-models-free and posted the same project once again.
I guess that means his main purpose is to actually advertise the ripper page.
That's yet another reason CGT to stop allowing new users who do not have approved ID info to post projects, models or even forum posts.
Definitely. There has to be zero tolerance for this kind of thing by CGTrader.
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I looked into this deeper. Actually CGTrader has responsibility to act on this. We can't have a site up promoting illegal activity. I have been in large corporation before and moderators have responded to such problems in few hours notice. CGTrader has to act or it might face a lawsuit.
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Hello,
CGTrader acted on this as soon as possible - we have banned this malicious person and deleted the job listings straight after detection. The latest listings were deleted in less than an hour notice. Such activity is illicit and infringing our Terms and Conditions, we are and will be deleting content like this and terminating the membership of the person posting such content as soon as we become aware of it.
We would like to thank our users for their support and involvement, many people have reported the spam conversations and informed us about the listing. We believe this was a provocation rather than actual intention of ordering a copyright infringing tool via our platform, however, we are glad to see this situation resolved. The person was also contacted via email and issued with a warning, it is not likely that they will reappear on our website again.
If you have any questions, please contact us via support@cgtrader.com.
Kindly,
Austeja from CGTrader
Thank you for the response. This is reassuring.
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