Textures Pack Down
by Apparatus · 12/10/2008 (8:57 am) · 25 comments
Hi there everybody
If you recall the Textures Pack I released earlier this summer, well, there is something you need to know and I am not proud to say it. A good portion of the reference textures are from CGtextures.com, a very well sourced website for free maps and textures. I am using it in particular when I am in a hurry and don't have time to dig my texture collection, which is rather large; I have tons of them laying around on CD's and DVD's, many I took myself back in the days I had time to travel.
In any case, even if not all the textures used in the Textures Pack come from CGtextures, I am taking it down for a very serious reason; I failed to understand the license on CGtextures.com and missed in particular the bit where sale of textures as ..textures (modified or not) is forbidden.
I really don't want anyone to understand this wrongly, it was a blatant mistake and I am taking the blame and responsibility.
edit: I think it is fair to put something back and I am thinking to create a similar texture collection with references from Bucharest (i had that in mind anyway) only this time with specular maps in the alpha channel, normal maps and materials.cs. This will be a free release.
Regards
Apparatus
If you recall the Textures Pack I released earlier this summer, well, there is something you need to know and I am not proud to say it. A good portion of the reference textures are from CGtextures.com, a very well sourced website for free maps and textures. I am using it in particular when I am in a hurry and don't have time to dig my texture collection, which is rather large; I have tons of them laying around on CD's and DVD's, many I took myself back in the days I had time to travel.
In any case, even if not all the textures used in the Textures Pack come from CGtextures, I am taking it down for a very serious reason; I failed to understand the license on CGtextures.com and missed in particular the bit where sale of textures as ..textures (modified or not) is forbidden.
I really don't want anyone to understand this wrongly, it was a blatant mistake and I am taking the blame and responsibility.
edit: I think it is fair to put something back and I am thinking to create a similar texture collection with references from Bucharest (i had that in mind anyway) only this time with specular maps in the alpha channel, normal maps and materials.cs. This will be a free release.
Regards
Apparatus
About the author
Tarakibu Studio
#2
(a dvd or a large source imagery pack download)
You can never have enough source imagery IMO.
12/10/2008 (9:54 am)
I would buy a dvd of your travel-photos if you would grant a similar license to that of cgtextures.com.(a dvd or a large source imagery pack download)
You can never have enough source imagery IMO.
#3
12/10/2008 (10:03 am)
No worries Aparatus, better to take care of this now rather than later. 
#4
12/10/2008 (10:18 am)
Yikes! Sometimes these things happen. Null sweat ... we won't lead a screaming mob with torches and stakes your way ;) 
#5
12/10/2008 (11:08 am)
Licensing in this day and age gets real confusing. Mistakes are made, but as you can see it doesn't bother anyone. We're glad we have honest sellers working with us! 
#6
Yet, you provide a valuable service by getting these textures ready, creating the materials, for torque. If you would release the texture pack for free, I'm sure plenty of people, myself included, would donate via paypal for your time.
12/10/2008 (11:22 am)
@Apparatus -Yet, you provide a valuable service by getting these textures ready, creating the materials, for torque. If you would release the texture pack for free, I'm sure plenty of people, myself included, would donate via paypal for your time.
#7
12/10/2008 (11:51 am)
And, this actually means that anyone using those textures are violating things as well, and have to stop using them I assume.
#8
(I didn't, but I wonder.)
12/10/2008 (12:58 pm)
So, what are you going to do for the people who bought it? They SHOULD be compensated with a full refund.(I didn't, but I wonder.)
#9
12/10/2008 (1:02 pm)
Actually, people should be okay to use the textures in games just as they would be through cgtextures. They just cannot be included in a texture pack. They can be used an modified for games, movie posters, film work, etc. The problem was with redistribution of the textures. You can go to CGTextures right now and start downloading similar textures. They won't have the extra work that Apparatus did on them, but you will have some of the base textures to work with in your game. 
#10
12/10/2008 (2:44 pm)
yes people that bought the pack are fine you are just not allowed to sell as a "TexturePack 
#11
It's a pity that you have done all the work without seeing any return on investment in the end (if you don't consider the frustration as a 'return', it certainly wasn't what you set out to obtain I'm guessing :-) )
12/10/2008 (2:47 pm)
Hat's off for Apparatus for taking this so responsibly. I wouldn't even say it's a mistake. I have loads of stuff on my pc and on CD's lying around of which I really cannot remember the provenance. Most images (certainly not those that have been altered to work on them) don't include metadata with copyright information or something similar. It could happen to anyone of us.It's a pity that you have done all the work without seeing any return on investment in the end (if you don't consider the frustration as a 'return', it certainly wasn't what you set out to obtain I'm guessing :-) )
#12
12/10/2008 (3:00 pm)
No worries Apperatus. Stuff happens. I have, like David, a ton of images and scripts on my hard drive that I have no clue where they came from anymore. (ok, not tons litterally, but a lot of them)
#13
Other than that, I hope people who used it got some insight on how to write basic materials. It certainly didn't get me anywhere near rich or something.
The true value of this shows up when people thank you for pointing out a good shortcut to knowledge.
And as always the community is great so I'd like to thank you.
12/10/2008 (3:07 pm)
The only frustration comes from my lack of attention; Other than that, I hope people who used it got some insight on how to write basic materials. It certainly didn't get me anywhere near rich or something.
The true value of this shows up when people thank you for pointing out a good shortcut to knowledge.
And as always the community is great so I'd like to thank you.
#14
Dumb question but I have to ask... why would you try to take free textures and sell them as your own in the texture pack? I just don't understand that. Maybe I'm understanding or reading that wrong but you don't take some one elses work and call it your own, ever. Maybe you took some by mistake and thought you created them, then yes, I'm in that boat. I've had times I thought I created something and even in audio, and whoops, thats not mine, but it found its way into my art or sounds folder or package, yeah, that has happened to me to and I would guess that's what this is about?
Nice for standing up and taking the hit on this one. I would have done the same thing. Your work is great, and the free pack will be well received by everyone. Keep up the outstanding work man,
Will
www.dlsstudio.com
will_zettler@dlsstudio.com
dlstorminc@yahoo.com
Waskom, Tx
12/10/2008 (3:48 pm)
Apparatus:Dumb question but I have to ask... why would you try to take free textures and sell them as your own in the texture pack? I just don't understand that. Maybe I'm understanding or reading that wrong but you don't take some one elses work and call it your own, ever. Maybe you took some by mistake and thought you created them, then yes, I'm in that boat. I've had times I thought I created something and even in audio, and whoops, thats not mine, but it found its way into my art or sounds folder or package, yeah, that has happened to me to and I would guess that's what this is about?
Nice for standing up and taking the hit on this one. I would have done the same thing. Your work is great, and the free pack will be well received by everyone. Keep up the outstanding work man,
Will
www.dlsstudio.com
will_zettler@dlsstudio.com
dlstorminc@yahoo.com
Waskom, Tx
#15
I have just gained even more respsect for you. Mistakes happen and people sometimes make dumb decisions, after all, we're only human.
You've got ballz, the community needs more people like you.
-Pete
12/10/2008 (4:58 pm)
@Apparatus:I have just gained even more respsect for you. Mistakes happen and people sometimes make dumb decisions, after all, we're only human.
You've got ballz, the community needs more people like you.
-Pete
#16
12/11/2008 (12:17 pm)
My question left in the dark?
#17
12/11/2008 (12:44 pm)
If anybody wants a refund please send me an email. It may take a day or two however since my country is not eligible yet to feed a paypal account, w is weird since they recently granted seller accounts.
#18
On what grounds? you can still use them legally for your projects.
@Apparatus:
a suggestion for "technically" avoiding this in the future would be to sell material pack and not textures. there there are demonstration models and material scripts included. This is permitted by the CG textures EULA.
12/11/2008 (1:34 pm)
@Neill Silva:On what grounds? you can still use them legally for your projects.
@Apparatus:
a suggestion for "technically" avoiding this in the future would be to sell material pack and not textures. there there are demonstration models and material scripts included. This is permitted by the CG textures EULA.
#19
@Neill
From your post you indicated you did not purchase the packs, so why worry about it? I am sure Apparatus can/will work with anyone who DID buy the pack and contacts him.
12/11/2008 (2:36 pm)
I really hope no one takes you up on the offer for a refund. You could actually provide a model for those textures (which could technically be a simple cube) and it would be within the limits of the lic agreement. But I know you are not looking for that answer....@Neill
From your post you indicated you did not purchase the packs, so why worry about it? I am sure Apparatus can/will work with anyone who DID buy the pack and contacts him.
#20
- A Materials pack is essentially, a textures pack with a little torquescript added. Adding something to someone elses work does not make it legal.
- A dummy-models pack would license the use of the texture with the specific model it was made for and without right of re-use of the texture for any other purpose besides for use on the specific model for which it accompanied/was applied. (this statement is specific to online texture resource use)
I bet that you guys could debate that all day ..but trust me, a lawyer/solicitor does not look at things in such the "cozy" way you guys do.
//
WAIT! ..forget the legalities part...where did the respect "for other peoples' work" go ?
12/11/2008 (3:41 pm)
I do NOT agree with the idea that making a textures pack into a materials pack or dummy-model pack is ok.- A Materials pack is essentially, a textures pack with a little torquescript added. Adding something to someone elses work does not make it legal.
- A dummy-models pack would license the use of the texture with the specific model it was made for and without right of re-use of the texture for any other purpose besides for use on the specific model for which it accompanied/was applied. (this statement is specific to online texture resource use)
I bet that you guys could debate that all day ..but trust me, a lawyer/solicitor does not look at things in such the "cozy" way you guys do.
//
WAIT! ..forget the legalities part...where did the respect "for other peoples' work" go ?
Employee David Montgomery-Blake
David MontgomeryBlake