Getting permission for skin ports

from WinCustomize Forums
Doesn't it suck when you have this great skin, only it's a port of a skin that was sold, and you have to email everyone and their grandmother for permission, and you hit a brick wall when one of the authors ignores your emails?



I'm referring to Juni's ToonXp skin for Facelift. The great skin that never was. It's great, but unfortunately he never got passed the screenshot phase since one of the authors ignored his emails...

Of course I guess I'm only venting here. The author has the right to accept or deny or ignore whatever he wants. It's his work. If he wants to accept Static's port but reject Juni's... it sucks, but it's fair I suppose. It woulda been nice to have a reason.

Also understand that this is me venting and not Juni. I feel Juni's skin is better than Static's, and it's difficult for me to understand why Juni's wasn't up to par. This post is also on behalf of the many users of Facelift over at Brighthand who begged for this skin after seeing the screenshot.

It's just that - I dunno - are we getting perhaps a bit too anal with this whole permission thing? Back when Juni skinned for Linux no one cared who borrowed what, as long as the work was good. Now I'll be the first to say that perhaps it was a bit too open, but now is it becoming too closed off?

I don't want to attract flames, I'm just - ya know - thinking aloud. Does anyone long for the old days when ports of skins were ok and all good?
6,699 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

There never was an 'old days when ports of skins were ok'.

Back when it all started there was just ignorance and anonymity, that is all.

I've been sitting on my hands for nearly 6 months unable to release a few skins....because the original artist hasn't responded [yet]...

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
plainsong, I hear ya on that one! Having worked long and hard on something just to get stumped by a non-replier stinks! But that's just the cruel way life is!

jafo: "only" 6 months? I've been waiting for nearly two years for a reply from someone - do you think he's read it?!?! Nah, me neither... :/
http://www.skinbase.org/rate.php?id=2591 <-- skin in question. Some LiteStep users might know it
ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ah....a classic LS theme from Doodle...one of the best.....but he hasn't been around foe eons....
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, think of it this way... If your neighbors have been gone for a few weeks you dont just walk into their house and take their stuff lol.
I know how frustrating it can be though.. I've been sitting on an msstyle that I modded and would LOVE to make it available for WB folks.
http://www.jbedigital.com/ibf/index.php?act=ST&f=6&t=21
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wouldn't it be great if there was a brief message left on the news board for all old skinners who may have changed their email address or isp to contact wc privately regarding possible permission requests? It is quite possible some of these old skinners just don't know you're asking for their permission. Not all old email links are returned by mailer daemons. It's also possible these people prefer not to have contact directly with new skinners but would be willing to leave a private message with wc.
Maybe this message could be broadcast over several skinning sites with common links, sometimes skinners drift from their original "web homes" to different skinning communities. also possible, they may not even be skinning anymore, or if they are they might be skinning a different product and have completely forgotten about their wb,ip,wall,etc skins.
Of course it's just possible they don't want to respond and choose to be ignorant, but hey why not give em the benefit of the doubt and try a general announcement of some kind? can't hurt to try, but will always hurt to sit and wonder.



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Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i have made some ports and i think that it is and always must be permissions from all authors. And then i mean both from the one who made the skins and from the one which you may use his graphics. I get so disipointed when i see a new port but not find permissions from all the original authors in the skin. Having done this for some time now, ( i used visual style before changing to wb) i know most of the people who make skins today, and then i mean for visual style. So if i see a port or skin made for wb ported from viusal style, i know who made it. I do wish that when it comes to ports, the wizops and admins should be tougher on it when it goes through. Something like for wallpapers
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Damn....lost the post.

Vachon.....we ARE hard on these ports....probably more so than any other site, but some may be posted before we're made aware of a problem.

Remember also that WB came first, so many more 'unauthorized ports' were done of WB skins by these StyleXP people...more so than the other way round, as WB predates XP by many years...

 

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Remember also that WB came first, so many more 'unauthorized ports' were done of WB skins by these StyleXP people...more so than the other way round, as WB predates XP by many years...


This may have been true in the past but now that SkinStudio has the ability to convert msstyles to WB format you're really gonna have to keep your eyes open for rips. There have been a TON of slick original msstyles released within the last few months.
http://www.hardwaregeeks.com/board/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=68
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?s=&act=SF&f=36
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Plainsong, I don't like your post. You are publicly flaming Treetog and Alexandrie for not responding to a port request. As you said yourself, they have no obligation to accept or even respond.

Having said that, I hope there is a lesson learned, there. One should always ask for permission prior to doing the work, otherwise, there is the risk of a lot of effort for nothing.  And, personnaly (although I know a lot of people don't agree with that) think that publicly posting a screenshot of a port that hasn't been approved yet, lack somewhat in tact. It's not illegal or wrong per say, I just find it tactless. It puts undue pressure on the original artist. He publicly looks like a bad guy if he defuses although he is perfectly in his rights and may have his reasons.

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I usually make the stuff first and ask later if they say no then no big deal I usually make the stuff for myself first anyways...

but paxxy you need to have something to show them prior to asking permission or what if they give permission and then you make the skin after (as you say) and they see it afterwards and then what? shall they say no way! give me back my permission that skin sucks! hehe
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
and plainsong I've neverrr seen juni make a bad skin, so the prob is probably that they are busy that is why they have not responded yet tell juni to try again it won't hurt...
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hmm, the last port I did was waiting for permission a couple of days also. I wrote the skinner in question 3 times (I couldn't wait) just to find out that he was away from home a few days. I felt somewhat ashamed afterwards and I learned a lesson. And as paxx said, some of the top-skinners like Alexandrie, Treetog and Mormegil for example are mega busy these days, so I never would blame them for not answering at once or even forgetting my e-mail. I don't even want to speculate what huge amount of e-mail they get on a daily basis... So think again. And I fully agree to paxx : I believe that such a 'problem' doesn't belong into a public forum.


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