The work must be your own ..... or consent is required.

from WinCustomize Forums

"When you use another's skin to create your own you need to alter/create ALL of the images to be your own. Half of the files here date back a year older which indicates they are not original to your work."

I think it's time there was a nice, clear new list of what is expected of a skin submission....and why.

If a 'flag goes up' with a skin submission whether due to clear 'familiar' appearance with something else, or the uploader has 'got it wrong' in the past, the submission is looked at more closely.....especially if another member has brought it to our attention as well.

Sometimes it's a per-pixel comparison combined with dates to determine the original work and the 'copy/derived'.

Image creation dates are a clear indicator that not all images were original to that skin....then the only thing to determine was whether all images irrespective of date were original to that author....or whether consent was included for any that were not.

This isn't usually a complicated task...but it IS time-consuming...which is where the general community has the chance to lessen the load on the volunteer admins.

2 ways.

1. Help find them and clearly provide links to original and 'copy' for the admins to deal.

and better...

2. Do not add to the workload by uploading any 'problem' works yourselves.

6,557 views 32 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't envy you, but do admire your tenacity.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Will do, Jafo.

My plan is to perhaps use some of the pixel dimensions of skins that I know work well, and create my own images and artistic design using those dimensions to create my first skin (i.e., taskbar thickness, button sizes, start menu height and widths, etc.).

I gather this is acceptable, please advise at your convenience. It will be a while before I complete a full WindowBlind Skin.
SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My plan is to perhaps use some of the pixel dimensions of skins that I know work well, and create my own images and artistic design using those dimensions to create my first skin (i.e., taskbar thickness, button sizes, start menu height and widths, etc.).


Absolutely nothing wrong with that. I often use other skins for reference in this manner.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Could we make this a sticky? And I could probably find at least 2000 rips EASY in something like object dock or wallpapers, but jeeeeesus where to start? If there was an easy way to show you I'd go through every single entry one at a time. In the past I either emailed you or posted link here but using email for everyone of them would be like, uhhhhhh.... you know painstaking?. If this was made a perma sticky, could I just like paste the link for the ripped work, and the place it was ripped from? I'd love to do a little "spring cleaning" in some of the junked up overflowing library's that people go "OMGZ A KOOL PIXURE, I SHALL UPLOAD IT ON WIZCUSTOMIZE!!!!1111oneone"
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

horiz0n ..... no, as much as is humanly possible it should be left 'private'.

There's nothing worse than publicly airing a false accusation of a wrong-doing....

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
lol thats what I figured sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I was wondering if maybe in the the sparingly spare time the mod's have working on this site that someone could make a new tab, next to the "store" perhaps, to anonymously and quickly report possible rips by having a little place to write a message, post links and so forth, then click a button submit it?
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
it would be a concept to post rips to a board section that only the mods could read ...we could post links and stuff to possible rips .. but only the admins could read the board so there would be no public humiliation on any side ....
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
like this .. you see a rip .. then come to the boards .. hit the RIP tab and it opens a "rip report" page with a text box you fill in the info and submit .. and it appears in a rip reports section on the admin boards .. away from the publics view .. so it is handled decretely....
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think the method Jafo posted is still the best. An anonymous pointing to a rip for an Admin to checkout doesn't seem to me to have as much validity as one that has a name attached to it.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

well it shouldn't matter if they know who reported, hell i'd prefer them to know i reported it, the "private" part is so people that shouldn't know you're reporting them (general public or the person that's potentially the ripper) are kept safely away from any embarrasement. Besides I'm sure if it was made a tab, or if there was a sticky that only admins had access to read, you'd have to be signed in. So you would always have a name attached to it, and pointing at something and saying it's a rip isn't what we're referring too, although some thats about all you'd need to do and really don't need further proof, it's like a no brainer rip. Like if I submitted this claiming it's a wallpaper I made......


[edited and removed as it is a copyright infringement in itself...by Admin]

it doesn't take a genious to KNOW thats ripped without any proof, but if it's needed getting the proof usually takes 3 minutes or less on google, and if you post the link to the place it was ripped from, case closed. Common sense goes a long way on this. And making a billion emails and sending off all these letters, deciding which ONE!! of the many mods to email to, then finding another one again later and having reload email client, yadda yadda as opposed to...

being on this site....

1 click "rip" tab
2 identify the rip and include any proof you may have found
3 click send button

DONE! you can't get more simple than that.

Now you identified it, ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL THE ADMINS CAN SEE IT, and take any neccesary action, and they know who reported it. Though even with your name attached I don't see the difference between me reporting or Shirley Temple's ghost. But I'm all for the admins knowing who reported and needing to be a registered user to do so, since that would eliminate possible abuse.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You know, I've sat around and actually tried to complete a Window Blind skin. It's too damn time consuming! That's why I make music. It's easier than trying to figure out sizes of images or whatever. When I feel inspired, I go to the keyboard and play. I don't have to wait 10 years to finish my song like you have to with making a skin. Keep in mind I'm exaggerating on the 10 years thing.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
like this .. you see a rip .. then come to the boards .. hit the RIP tab and it opens a "rip report" page with a text box you fill in the info and submit .. and it appears in a rip reports section on the admin boards .. away from the publics view .. so it is handled decretely....


I like that idea, HG! Good thinking mate
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The system in place at Deviantart would be the most viable....and worth a look...
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just a idea i have, seeing the Admin,Wizop,at wincustomized are already overloaded with work, what about if you are sure that it is a rip report it to the authour with a link to the rip and from there the authours could take care of it asking to have it removed or excepting the rework making less work added to the Admin,Wizop Just a idea
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

butch....no, unfortunately the onus is on the uploader to not 'rip', and failing that it is upon the site's administrators to deal with it.

No-one can expect the innocent party to be obliged to police something outside his own physical control...

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Admin Jafo OK will try to think of something new
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Jafo, that is a great idea..I have only been around this site and this skinning and customization community for a few months, and it amazes me the things that I see that are blatant rips...I can only imagine what the skinners and so called "Old Timers" around here see and could probably report all day long about it..thumbs up for the idea, I hate to see wannabes with no talent or morals try to get stats and a name here for what is not theirs
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
thanks snowy .. i was just expanding on horiz0ns idea...either way, like at DA having a rip report button on each item uploaded that you can press and send a report or with a single tab.. it would be a great feature
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have a quick question, maybe somewhat related...I uploaded a port of a visual style last week or so and have added a compact start menu...do I need the authors permission to update the skin with the compact start? I would imagine so, but just would like to know. Thanks much
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i would imagine it would depend on the permission given .. if it states that you can do what ever you want with the graphics then i wouldnt think you would need to "reask"..but i could be wrong ...
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
to anonymously and quickly report possible rips


That's what I read anyways.

Anyhow, tab, button or email, I'm guessing you mean out of the public's eye via a tab or button that creates a list for the admins to see. I went to DevArt and I think the button idea is good 'cause you're right there looking at the skin.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What we mean is, a quick link on the site to report a possible rip and show any evidence the user might have gathered, toss a couple lines of text in there and send it. Only the admins would have knowledge of the person being reported, and the person doing the reporting. So yeah, anonymous and quick sounds about right