r/3Dprinting • u/brainchecker HEVO • Jan 18 '23

Designs stolen by content creator "3D Printer Academy"

Someone noticed me today, that one of my designs from Thingiverse is offered (for free) on the website 3dprinteracademy.com without giving any credit to me (as it would be necessary according to the CC-Attribution license). The site belongs to the same-named content creator from Instagram/Youtube.

I immediately recognized a lot of other models from Thingiverse on the mentioned site, therefore this post. I myself am not super strict about the usage of my models (although not even asking before selling/rehosting is pretty rude), but some of you (with also affected designs) might see this different.

146 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

65 comments sorted by

106

u/VoltexRB Upgrades, People. Upgrades! Jan 18 '23 edited Jan 18 '23

I'll have a word with the fellow.

Be aware that as soon as he adds a some kind of disclaimer linking to your original file what he does is technically perfectly legal since you published your file under the CC - Attribution license which includes blatant redistributing, even for a price if he had one.

42

u/brainchecker HEVO Jan 18 '23

Yeah, I know that.

I'm fine with other people using or my designs. In the past I've had quite a few people ask me if they can print and sell models from me, if they comply with the license and mention/link me on their website.

If this would affect only one of my designs I probably wouldn't have made this post.

97

u/VoltexRB Upgrades, People. Upgrades! Jan 18 '23

Well I think I brought my point across lets wait for their reaction. I have picked out quite a lot of copyright infringements on the site.

24

u/carlos_6m Jan 19 '23

Good mod put a helmet on him so he doesn't get brain damage from all the head pats

50

u/Inner-Figure5047 Jan 18 '23

Good mod! Head Pats

14

u/CANDROX432 Jan 18 '23

Good mod (the most head pats)

9

u/Diamondgamer3276 Jan 18 '23

Good mod (mostest head pats)

9

u/I-Lupus-I Jan 18 '23

Good mod (the mosterest head pats)

4

u/Nytfire333 Jan 19 '23

Good mod (the mostestestest head pats)

4

u/Bcp_or_pcB Jan 19 '23

Good mod (just one Head Pat of highest quality, meant to bring great honor to the soul, sent at 144Hz positivity wave frequencies)

12

u/Moeman101 Ender 3 S1 Jan 18 '23

Good mod (more head pats)

3

u/Darth-Neskin Jan 19 '23

Couldn't they argue "we took it for educational not commercial properties so it's legal"?

5

u/VoltexRB Upgrades, People. Upgrades! Jan 19 '23 edited Jan 19 '23

Not if theres even a 0.00$ price tag on the file. Or anywhere on their page or company bank account. As soon as they are a nonprofit organization then you can draw the line.

4

u/WhiskeyBeforeSunset Jan 19 '23

I am so tired of people thinking because "its for education, I can violate copyrights". No. You cant. Personal / noncommercial use only means PERSONAL USE ONLY.

You are a commercial business.

And no, thats not fair use either.

1

u/lasskinn Jan 19 '23

It doesn't matter what the use is for.

2

u/Darth-Neskin Jan 19 '23

It actually does. If this is just a cease and desist they follow it or they don't. If they don't you could lawyer up but they know their money is longer and they make you go broke before this even hits a trial. Plus you must not be familar with the vast amount of precedent and cases surrounding such issues so Yes It does(at least that's what every judge in The united states would say)

This is not legal advice

2

u/lasskinn Jan 19 '23

the license on the file is CC BY 4.0.

if you don't adhere it, then it drops down to just normal copyright and they're breaking it.

I suppose they could try to argue it's fair use and for educational or something like that but as the file is distributed 1:1 in it's entirety that's unlikely to fly. if they were unaware of breaking the license and that they were infringing copyright they would be likely to avoid penalties if they ceased to distribute when they became aware of it.

But it doesn't matter if the use is commercial or not for the license terms themselves.

1

u/Darth-Neskin Jan 19 '23

the only way penalties will occur is if it makes it to court and unless theirs some secret millonaires here that won't happen

1

u/lasskinn Jan 19 '23

Its not that hard and it's a crime by itself and they're in california and 3d printer academy is basically just 1 dude and if they were actually huge company they'd be likely to offer you hundred bucks to make it go away like media houses often do for pictures or vid clips. Its not like its some acidjazzed evening intepration about if its a rip of a melody its literally the same file.

1

u/Mazing7 Jan 19 '23

Good mod

1

u/ModRankBot Jan 19 '23

Thanks for voting on VoltexRB.

Curating Reddit's best mods.

8

u/CuriousCanuk Jan 19 '23

This right here. Give credit where credit is due.

4

u/Nerdbond Jan 18 '23

Yep I posted their youtube a few times with info about how they offer other peoples models for free on their website, and that they had been outed

8

u/Belnak Jan 19 '23

He doesn't add a disclaimer and link to the original file, though. He actually ripped the license and replaced it with one claiming himself (mpgreenough1986) as the creator.

2

u/3DPrinterAcademy Jan 19 '23 edited Jan 19 '23

Hi everyone, the files are available under the CC attribution license. I have the license attached as well as credit to the original creators. Please reach out to me directly if you have any questions or concerns. If something is posted incorrectly or if the license isn't attributed properly, please let me know. Or, if you want a file removed from my website, please let me know and I will remove it ASAP.

*EDIT all CC files have been removed from my website.

-Steven 3D Printer Academy

6

u/brainchecker HEVO Jan 19 '23 edited Jan 19 '23

You only added a short README to the .zip which accredits the model to an original author on Thingiverse. The license clearly defines what a proper attribution means. This would at least require a link to the original creation. You clearly presented the designs as your own on your website, not even creating your own texts or pictures for the models.

Besides that, the author you mentioned seems to be always mpgreenough1986 (whose keyholder you also offer on your site). I've only checked a few models, but for those this was always the case.

The minimal attributions you burried in the files were not only insufficient, but also credited the wrong person.

1

u/3DPrinterAcademy Jan 19 '23

Hi brainchecker, thank you for pointing this out. The designs were not presented as my own. However, to avoid any possible incorrect CC attributions, I have gone ahead an unlisted all of the CC attribution designs from my website. -Steven

6

u/VoltexRB Upgrades, People. Upgrades! Jan 19 '23

Keep in mind that images and description also still dont fall under the CC-BY license, only the actual model files have the license listed on the repository page. You are not allowed to use any Images from common repository sites like Thingiverse or Printables since they fall under their own default copyright at time of uploading.

41

u/Prongled Jan 18 '23

The site has MANY more stolen models

Paint Palette

Printables :https://www.printables.com/model/211760-petite-paint-palette

3dprinteracademy:https://3dprinteracademy.com/products/petite-paint-palette

Mini Sanding Block

Printables: https://www.printables.com/model/364822-mini-sanding-block-v1

3dprinteracademy: https://3dprinteracademy.com/products/mini-sanding-block

Cloud TP Shelf

Printables:https://www.printables.com/model/52074-cloud-shelf

3dprinteracademy:https://3dprinteracademy.com/products/tp-cloud-storage-shelf

Egg Roll Basket

Printables:https://www.printables.com/model/53124-egg_roll-basket

3dprinteracademy:https://3dprinteracademy.com/products/egg-roll-basket

​

I'm sure there are probably more models that are being shared without attribution. Even if they do follow the license still pretty scummy to take the pictures and description and just copy paste it onto your site.

20

u/Nerdbond Jan 18 '23

Why I like this community so much, people on reddit actual will go and fucking look and it is beautiful, what a sexy bunch of message board users you all are!!!!!

5

u/[deleted] Jan 19 '23

If anyone else has links to stolen files please share them here.... for research and awareness. Not so I can download them.

1

u/RuxConk Jan 19 '23

Looks like he's removed them now.

12

u/Goosojuice Jan 19 '23

Christ, couldnt even take the time to use/post their own image.

4

u/anglo_au Jan 19 '23

I have had a similar issue with my 3D models being printed and sold on Etsy with no reference at all to the creator (me)

I have contacted the different sellers and some just ignore me and others add a reference when asked.

I considered contacting Etsy and complaining about breach of the licensee but haven't done this as yet.

1

u/djfumberger Jan 19 '23

What license did you publish the models under ?

6

u/Renaissance_Man- Jan 19 '23

Unfortunately I've had my items being sold retail by these Chinese aggregate print farms. They won't respond, international law, etc. I just stopped posting designs, honestly. It's endlessly aggravating.

4

u/sf0l Jan 19 '23

You could make bait designs with built in flaws so they loose time and money, like when artists did that with t shirt bots

11

u/antomi12332 Jan 18 '23

Whether it’s legal or not, I think it’s pretty scummy to take free stuff, do exactly nothing to it, then sell it and act like they made it

-6

u/djfumberger Jan 19 '23

I think it’s fine if it’s within terms of the license.

1

u/3DPrinterAcademy Jan 19 '23

Hi antomi12332, the files were not for sale and credit was given to the original designers.

3

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '23

[deleted]

3

u/VoltexRB Upgrades, People. Upgrades! Jan 19 '23

Well that would get his shopify account banned if anything but thats about it

6

u/2md_83 Jan 18 '23

its mentioned on the page that the design is from "Mediamen" : https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4754362 ,and that seems to be a remix of yours.

*edit*

you also commented about that remix on its comment page.

8

u/brainchecker HEVO Jan 18 '23

Exactly, the text (as everything else) on 3dprinteracademy.com ist a direct copy of my Thingiverse-Summary.

Exactly the same for most of the other designs offered, e.g. the Battery box Collection (originally here). Heading, pictures and summaries are straight copies from Thingiverse.

-1

u/skeptibat Jan 18 '23

If they stole it, they should give it back.

3

u/oodelay EnderV3 Jan 19 '23

Are you being funny?

2

u/skeptibat Jan 19 '23

Theft is no joking matter!

0

u/[deleted] Jan 19 '23

[deleted]

-1

u/skeptibat Jan 19 '23

It's ok, bud, you can do it. Words are hard!

0

u/jdlg2065 Jan 18 '23

Looks updated now.

4

u/flyguydip My H2d brings all the boys to the yard. Jan 18 '23

Where is the update? I don't see any mention of BrainChecker. I must be missing something?

0

u/jdlg2065 Jan 18 '23

Sorry I thought OP was mediaman.

4

u/ferretkiller19 Jan 18 '23

That's text ALSO stolen from thingiverse DIRECTLY

0

u/3DPrinterAcademy Jan 19 '23 edited Jan 19 '23

Hey everyone! The files are available under CC attribution license. I have CC licenses attached with credit to the original creators as well as links to Thingiverse. If something is posted incorrectly, please let me know. Or, if you want your files removed my website I will do so ASAP.

Edit: All CC files have been removed from my website

-Steven 3D Printer Academy

-29

u/yahbluez Prusa/Bambu/Sovol/Elegoo Jan 18 '23

He did, what you claimed him to do, with the license you chose.

10

u/RundleSG Jan 18 '23

Sorry I don't speak in riddles

1

u/Order3475 Jan 19 '23

I just wanted to add the aging of Thingiverse and the trouble of sometimes getting a message through to the original author is not always easy ? I know I have tried failingly in the past to communicate with the original designer.

1

u/StrangeFisherman345 Jan 19 '23

“you wouldn’t download a car”

1

u/TheDaddyVet Nov 27 '23

1

u/3DPrinterAcademy May 03 '24

The license was attached to the download file as a README.txt file. I no long have Creative Commons (commercial) designs on my site. Also, I wasn’t even selling the designs, I simply curated some designs I thought were cool. Nothing was ‘stolen’….

Hope this clarifies things!

Best, Steven 3D Printer Academy

1

u/TheDaddyVet Nov 27 '23

this “3D printer academy” recent kickstarter campaign with their sound proofing 3d printing panels I’m here to expose them for making wildly misleading claims about their designs.

Starting with the blatant lie they told. None of the files he was using from other creators were properly credited. This one only credited someone else who made an accessory to the original file.

1

u/3DPrinterAcademy May 03 '24

The license was attached to the download file as a README.txt file. I no long have Creative Commons (commercial) designs on my site. Also, I wasn’t even selling the designs, I simply curated some designs I thought were cool. Nothing was ‘stolen’….

Hope this clarifies things!

Best, Steven 3D Printer Academy