The last time I worked a error into a model by mistake. I saw it too late. The slicer irons it out if the error is too small. This is also how I came up with the idea of leaving this error in a specific place. Should the model appear somewhere, you could see whether my STLs were used.
You could also do something similar inside the model by inserting your lettering into the model. However, you would probably recognize it in the layer view when you go through the layers.
However, there are also ways of stealing a model if the features you have incorporated are not visible on the print itself or even after slicing. Some time ago, I reported a model that two users had published identically. One of them wrote that the otherās model was different and not his! But you couldnāt see any difference in the pictures. So I could print a model, scan it with the scanner and republish it. I would have a copy with a different mesh. But it doesnāt even need a scanner. There are programs that allow you to resample a model so that you can use the files in 3D design programs. However, in order not to encourage this, I will not describe it further here.
Perhaps there should be better rules. For example, that models, if they are similar to others, must have significant differences that make the model unique or simply different. There should be certain features that clearly do not represent any particular depth of creation (different patterns on the outside or similar),to be considered an original new creation of a model.
I must agree with @Ri0m0 on this matter. While itās true that concepts can be similar and many variations can draw inspiration from the same idea, this situation goes beyond that. This isnāt merely a similar concept; itās exactly the same variant. It seems that Makerworld is reluctant to acknowledge that what they believed to be the best design is actually taken from a competitorās website.
I do this, but for @MakerWorld its not enough to push it across the line. I had a huge argument over one of my models (I put a measurable defect in a fillet) and pointed it out plain as day. Not evidence apparently.
similar concept, different model ā¦ I have printed both yours and theirs and the models are different enough for you to struggle proving stolen design. Personally I prefer your design anyway but you hid it behind a Thangs subscription.
Are you going to admit your updated version stole their original idea of numbering piece faces for ease of assembly?
You should be pretty sure that Etsy will be selling your design and prints ā¦ are you going to waste your time and money getting lawyers onto that or are you going to simply keep ahead of those thieves and continually updating and improving your work?
Just look at the dozens of āvortexā models that have flooded Makerworld recently ā¦ nothing stays āoriginalā for long and if you did not legally copyright your design you should be appreciative of the fact others are mimicking your idea and creating their own variations instead of whining.
My model wouldnāt have been for yrears if i wouldnāt have worked for a mont on these mechanisms. The idea is so far out.
Numbering the Gears is so obvious. It was mentioned by my Girlfriend immediately and commented on all my social media posts.
So yea call me out on idea theft there.
I have spoken to the guy and this is not about him but MakerWorld. He offered taking it down but wouldnāt even be able to since MakerWorld would just re-upload it. Thats in the agreement of the contest participants.
Iām now going to stay away from this post. I have sayed everything already.
All this was THE reason I no longer upload any of my vital models anywhere.
When we were still dreaming about printing PLA any faster than 60mm/s I created a model for a combination lock.
I based the design on an actual dial combination lock for a safe of the 60ās.
My intention was to provide a ācopyā of this lock as far as it is possible with a 3D printer.
Not even to scale for obvious reasons.
I was eventually happy enough with the function and reliability to share my design on a well know website for creators and DIY projects.
Got a bit of interest for a while but of course people move on and not too many need a 3D printed combination lock to keep things safeā¦
About 6 month later I found MY STL files on Thingyerse, posted by someone as his own creation.
They favoured the thief until I demanded he would show them the original files as STL is only an export format - I include screenshots of my creation filesā¦
They took the model down and a while later banned the user after they found more violations.
Since then my files kept popping up all over the 3D printing world, including in contests.
Often the ācreatorā changed minor and meaningless details like the walls for the housing or the dial on the front.
But the actual mechanical parts and their tolerances were always 100% identical.
I gave up trying to take them, took it as a lesson and gave up sharing my models, well most of them anyway.
And that was not the only model I might add LOL
I take it with a grain of salt as those using my creations without consent and credit given at least value it enough to abuse it for their own gainsā¦
As long as the hosters literally making millions from what we create nothing here will ever change enough.
Exactly 0 because I would never pay for a model. And Iām not the only one.
@Ri0m0 Iām sorry for the loss of your concept but it happens all the time and everywhere, in all industries, and youāre going to have to learn to live with this.
I personally think it does matter, not specifically this case but in general we canāt keep shrugging our shoulders because it happens everywhere. It is up to model websites to maintain their catalogue and weed out ip theft. I donāt think makerworld is strong on upholding their part, guidelines seem to be merely suggestions.
Sorry man, Keep up on the designs. MakerWorld along with Bambu Labs became notable for bring new things to the table. I mean check out [Maker Online] and the clones that got BLās to speed up R&D. Remember itās always the little guys that get got. Iāve stated this many times within these forums but yet again the best and simplest way to not have anything stolen is to not post it online.
You take the cake for the original design and Iāll remember your name and the fact of that being your model whenever I see something along those lines. Creators should be a union of solidarity, not competition.
You who use other peopleās ideas/concepts to make your fidget toys say that other designers who use other peopleās ideas/concepts to make fidget toys are unskilled and uncreative?
Sounds ironic.
You still havenāt explained what fundamental changes you have made to the 13 year old gear models. Itās not asymmetry.
Here is a gear ball that was published 13 years before yours, the difference to yours is that the gears with the same number of teeth are opposite each other. In yours they are next to each other.
This is a change but not a new concept.
Just as big a change as changing the external shape from a ball to a rhombus.
You have revived these models and marketed them well. Awakened the trend and profited very well from it financially.
Congratulations on that!
But this guy basically did the same thing as you and jumped on the trend.
He didnāt use your models. So the title is already wrong.
Two things I find really depressing: that 2011 was 13 years ago, and that the forum does not have an eyerolling reaction-emoji because I would have used it a lot lately.
My 2c:
Models will always serve as inspiration to similar models and they will be stolen as long as they can be stolen because humans are the way they are unfortunately.
If our models are a source of financial gain and we are not willing to share a bit of cash with the āthievesā, we shouldnāt post our STLs online. Ever. Canāt share the plans and then be upset if someone uses them to manufacture the thing.
This still does not prevent others from recreating the model from scratch, and possibly even improving it. 3D modeling tools and skills are within everyoneās reach. We need to be ok with the notion that this might and will happen.
Clinging to the notion of absolute ownership, when it comes to a hobby where everyone creates and prints is largely counterproductive for everyone. The alternative is to pay to register and patent designs and follow through with lawsuits and swim in constant litigation. Do what corporations do and hire a small army of lawyers to defend our IP.
Or we could all just chill a bit, accept that these things are near impossible to enforce and use whatever enforcement tools are at our disposal through MW, Etsy, etcā¦ But even then we shouldnāt expect weād win every lawsuit and that the outcomes will always be in our best interest. In this case MW decided the model was different enough to be considered different and arguably quite a few people in this post seem to feel the same.
100% he insists on the asymmetry of his design but refuses to acknowledge Emmett also had asymmetric designs before his. The contest winning design is as much of an inspiration on this guy as this guyās design is an inspiration on Emmettās.
There are ways and even tools to determine how similar two given geometries are. Since one is behind a paywall, from my point of few, it is up to @Ri0m0 to provide the similarities in detail.
Same concept = standard, we all cook with water
Same Gears = not sure what that means, but tell me more
Same Gear ratio = okay, I may smell something as well
Same assembly = details?!
Outer shape a rhomboid instead of a sphere = not stolen but unauthorized remix? ā inconclusive
From my limited perspective the model is not blatantly stolen, could be an unauthorized remix but in the end @TNTBA very likely made his model all by himself. He also acknowledges your design as inspiration, took his Gear Spheres on thangs down on his own and wrote a public apology to you along with it.
Yes, several things indicate that it hugs very close to its inspiration/predecessor and to me there is no denying that it wants to offer the same experience as the original. - I personally would not be amused either to be honest and I do have to raise an eyebrow on the fact that it was entered into the contest after the previous clash on thangs.
āSubstitutes for currently popular payed models somewhere else as winning entries hereā is something I never thought about and I am not sure that the title of this thread helps it stick.
It is so hilarious watching this conversation play out over and over again.
I find its usually the ones crying about their designs being stolen who are actually stealing designs.
I have personally been accused of such. I created the best bobf jetpack. One of the patreons I subscribed to got jealous and accused me of stealing his work even though I released mine weeks before his.
Then when his wad released I found several of my design choices on his jetpack.
After dropping his patreon he scrolled through my site and started releasing copies of the designs he found there.
It was rather tasteless.
Anywho clearly this guy copied the old school cube and changed it. Its not original or interesting or unique.
So how are you going to get mad that someone copied your copy?
