This was a wonderful surprise! Thank you very much! )
Hello everyone!
This journal is very important, and we mods would really appreciate it if you guys at least read the TL;DR at the bottom.
Anyways, we'd really like to clear some things up because we've noticed a lot of people have been going against many modelers' rules.
Most of it probably isn't intentional, and that's alright. We all make mistakes, and learning from them helps us to make less in the future.
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The first thing we'd like to go over is redistribution.
Redistribution is basically when you post/give a model not using the original download.
Things like uploading the model to mediafire,sendspace,4shared etc, sending the model through e-mail, and trading is illegal with most Hetalia modelers.
Q:"Why is this bad?"
A:
Most modelers find this disrespectful, it's like uploading someone's artwork to another site without their permission.Plus it makes it easier for malicious people who will use them in R-18, grotesque and slanderous material to get a hold of them.
(Hana, the maker of the German models & France originally stopped distribution because someone used her models in R-18/distasteful works.
Ever since then, she's asked people not to publicly give out her website URL and put on a country block to further protect her work. We definitely do not want that happening again.)
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Next is illegal edits and their distribution + illegal distribution of legal edits.
First off, the mods here have nothing against edits! Most of the mods here make edits and we all enjoy seeing your creativity!
Illegal editing/distribution of these edits
Many modelers have specific rules against editing.
Some allow no editing at all.
Some specify that parts are not taken.
Some(like Hana) allow edits withing the limits of decency(meaning no r-18/distasteful edits).
One of the prime examples of a model with specific rules is MkMk no Hito's Hungary.
Hungary can be edited as long as she stays Hungary. This means using her to make Chibitalia/Chibimano models or any other character is against MkMk no Hito's rules.
We are addressing this model in particular because of the large amount of illegal edits of it that have been made lately.
Q: "Why should we care?"
A:
Illegal edits are really no different than vandalizing someone's art. (This is not to say that all illegal edits are awful looking.) Illegal editing can lead to modelers shutting down distribution, whether it be to a certain country or to everyone.
Please carefully read the model's readme before making an edit. And if you don't know/understand we recommend not editing at all.
Illegal distribution of legal edits
So, you've made a legal edit that follows the rules! Good job and we'd love to see it!
However.
Even if editing of a model is allowed, most of the time distribution of said edit is not.
Here's an example:
Let's say you make an edit of Nachi Akira's Romano model and follow the rules about r-18/distasteful work. The edit itself is completely legal!
But, you cannot distribute the model and/or exchange said model for another. This violates the modeler's rules.
Q:"Why can't I distribute? I made this edit, it's my work."
A:
Yes, you may have made the edit, but the original work is the modelers. No matter how original your idea is, what part you used, and how much you edited it, another person's work was used as the base.
Claiming that the edit is your completely original work is like heavily editing someone's art and then taking complete credit for all of the work (base art and all).
If you do choose to illegally distribute, keep this in mind: A modeler has the right to do whatever they want with their work, whether it be ending distribution or IP blocking people/places because of what has been done with it.
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Now for model passwords.
Lots of models these days have passwords, some harder than others.
Most modelers say not to give out passwords directly whether it be in public or not.
This includes comments saying "You need help? Note me for the pass!".
Q: "Why can't I give the pass out? What's the point of it? It's stupid anyways, and inconsiderate of the modeler. It makes it harder for people like us to get it."
A:
The modeler doesn't hate your guts because they put a password lock on the model and it is not inconsiderate.
The passes are there for a reason.
This makes it harder for people who break the modelers rules with edits and use the models for slanderous purposes like r-18 works.
The passes are often a way of ensuring that the model does not fall into the wrong hands.
When you put these passes out in public/give them to known illegal editors, you are putting these models into the hands of people who will violate the modeler's rules and possibly cause the modeler to stop distribution. This ruins things for everyone.
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Now for trading and "helping".
While redistribution was already mentioned, we feel like this deserved a spot of its own.
So, someone has come to you asking for help. They're new(or maybe not) to MMD. They can't find a model, they're searching for an "ultra rare" model, can't figure out the pass for a model, the model has texture problems, or the model they are looking for is no longer distributed.
There are two wrong ways and several right ways you can help them.
Wrong:
-I'm feeling helpful, so I'll email/link you to a not original download of these models! Since you're new/having trouble finding them, it's ok!
-I feel helpful...sooo...Do you have anything I would want to trade for? I might even consider trading for a default model, as long as I get something in return, it's ok!
-I want to help, I'll send you the fixed models I have!
-I can help with the pass. Note me your email and I'll send you the models.
Right:
- I can't directly give the models, but I can give the original link to you.
-I'm sorry that the distribution ended. I can't give you the model but I can find you some legal edits that are made into -insert character-! Or we can just wait for a different modeler to make the character!
-I can't give the pass, but I can give you the hints! (Such as: -word- in romanji)
-I can't help much on my own, but I can send you to the MikuMikuTalia mods/mods of another MMD group!
-Here is how to fix the textures in PMDe! -insert description-
Q: "Why can't I help like that? It seems okay to me."
A:
It might seem okay, but this is one of the reasons the models aren't being distributed anymore.
This is getting redundant, but "helping" in this manner can cause the modeler to end distribution, not re-open distribution, or IP block.
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Model edits or "rare"/no longer distributed models as contest prizes
Yay! A contest! You've made a great picture/model edit for the contest, and are hoping to win the prize.
The catch here is, that the prize is a "rare" model/model edit.
Long story short, we will not feature pictures advertising contests giving out illegal/legal(but not to be distributed) model edits or no-longer-distributed models as prizes.
Q:"Why? That's unfair."
A:
We've lost count of how many times we've said this already, but:
It's not unfair. Such things offend the modelers and make them take actions that they have every right to take.
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