Crowdfunding "weird"?

[comecome]

I have one “problem” with crowdfunding campaigns, the comments section in the campaigns are only for backers, i want to back one project but i have questions to the dev. I don’t go to donate money for nothing if some questions are in the air.

I think every campaign need a comments section for all users.

And another thing, i see some campaigns with “1 year” use of the product for the backers and not free after finished, i think is better to make all projects obligatory free for personal use and unlimited (for the backers at minimum).

And it’s great for the community if some advantages are applied to campaigns if the digital product are totally free to public domain.

It’s what i feel, sorry but i don’t like to pay to a dev for make their project and later i have to pay for this finished product (if the dev make a bad product and doesn’t sell isn’t a problem because backers payed the dev time…)

[R3d-Five]

I think most will say “just don’t back it then”. I don’t know if I agree with that or not. I have backed about 7-8 but have looked at more. I’m not a fan of the 1 year, or the parametric ones that give limited access for a set time either. I just skip them. I’m also going to skip ones with very long times, as most are funded within the first couple of days, yet go on an on. I’m sure the dev appreciates the extra, but c’mon.

TLDR: Just forget those that draw a flag for you. Oh, and yes, I agree on the comments.

[RetroSharky]

@comecome

i want to back one project but i have questions to the dev

I understand and agree with your request, but I find your reasoning a little strange. You can contact the developer at any time via the messaging function.

It is also important to understand that these designers often do this as a profession and cannot answer every question. The paywall serves as a certain protection, allowing only serious discussions to take place. However, you can still contact the designer!

@comecome

And another thing, i see some campaigns with “1 year” use of the product for the backers and not free after finished, i think is better to make all projects obligatory free for personal use and unlimited (for the backers at minimum).

You will receive the files: Of course, you can use them for personal use as long as you want. The only difference is the software, but you have to read the terms and conditions carefully. Here’s an example of something you can use for private purposes for as long as you want:

• They include digital files for 3D printing, a complete BOM with part types and sourcing references, and assembly documentation.

As mentioned, you need to read it carefully. The one-year period often applies to resellers who want to sell this product. This gives you a one year licence to customise the design however you want, and sell the product on Amazon, for example. But not all of them are time-limited! As a private individual who does not want to sell, this does not affect you.

That’s why there are also sometimes tiers:

• Basic: Personal use, access to all box types, but no logo/texture customization.

• Premium: Personal use, access to all box types plus premium customization tools.

• Commercial: Sell printed packaging as part of your product/service, with access to all box types plus premium customization tools.

@comecome

and unlimited (for the backers at minimum).

As I said, it depends on the project; there are plenty that are also unlimited for resellers. I’m not sure if you realize that we’re talking about licenses and IPs here. It is up to the company itself whether it grants unlimited rights or just limited ones.

I think you should take another look at this whole topic.

[comecome]

Ok, Thanks for share this, awsome tutorial for dumb people (private message pictures included).

All public, because maybe another people more clever than me make a better question and help me to understand more parts of the project (good or bad). And imagine a dev with 1000 messages of same question…

@RetroSharky

You will receive the files: Of course, you can use them for personal use as long as you want. The only difference is the software, but you have to read the terms and conditions carefully. Here’s an example of something you can use for private purposes for as long as you want:

• They include digital files for 3D printing, a complete BOM with part types and sourcing references, and assembly documentation.

As mentioned, you need to read it carefully. The one-year period often applies to resellers who want to sell this product. This gives you a one year licence to customise the design however you want, and sell the product on Amazon, for example. But not all of them are time-limited! As a private individual who does not want to sell, this does not affect you.

That’s why there are also sometimes tiers:

• Basic: Personal use, access to all box types, but no logo/texture customization.

• Premium: Personal use, access to all box types plus premium customization tools.

• Commercial: Sell printed packaging as part of your product/service, with access to all box types plus premium customization tools.

This depends on the project, not all are the same.

IP’s for me is zero important because all i said is for personal use and only for the project backers, not for future projects or future things of the “IP”.

FOR ME if i invest in a project i want one of this two things, the investors are part of the project and don’t need to pay yearly nothing of this particular project (only this project) or the project is free for all.

Because i founded this project, and the Developer sell this project for this own profit but if this project is a disaster no problem is founded by the backers, win win for the dev.

And if this project is cloud based and have servers online they can charge a little payment fee (because backers isnt the final users in reality, backers are investors who believe in this project and help with money a developer).

All depends in every point of view i don’t want to convince to anyone everyone it’s free to see their point of view (with respect).

The last comment of “you should take another look at this whole topic. ” is unnecessary

[RetroSharky]

@comecome

…

Whatever floats your boat!

No one is forcing you to support anything. Nobody wants to change your views. You’re now talking more specifically about cloud services, i.e. software. These represent a minority of projects, so just avoid them.

@comecome

don’t need to pay yearly nothing of this particular project

That’s also the exception. After reading all this, I think you’re talking about a specific project?

You do realise that maintaining software and a cloud, which you have specifically mentioned, costs money? No company offers these things for free for life.

@comecome

The last comment of “you should take another look at this whole topic. ” is unnecessary

As I said, don’t take this personally, that was also well-intentioned, but it’s clear that you still need to familiarise yourself with the topic. Of course, I understand that you want free lifetime maintaining the cloud/software, but no one offers that - unless you support maybe open source projects.

In return, you have lifetime access to 3D files, such as stl. Which accounts for 90% of projects.

_____

What I don’t understand is: Why don’t you just ignore the few projects that deal with software and cloud? It’s slowly becoming clear what your actual disagreement with this matter is. In any case, the majority of projects deal with normal 3D models.

At first, your topic was about crowdfunding - but it’s actually about software and cloud.

_____

@comecome

All public, because maybe another people more clever than me make a better question and help me to understand more parts of the project

…and once again on the subject of contacting the creator: Most of them also offer other communication channels such as Twitter/x, Discord, etc. There are possibilities, you just have to use them.

[R3d-Five]

@comecome

I have one “problem” with crowdfunding campaigns, the comments section in the campaigns are only for backers, i want to back one project but i have questions to the dev. I don’t go to donate money for nothing if some questions are in the air.

Circling back around. I think I didn’t understand with my first reply. As has been mentioned, you can contact the Maker through their MW page, or any social they have set. The number of questions they have to reply isn’t a concern for you. It’s up to them to respond and if they don’t I think that’s just a reason to skip.

@comecome

I think every campaign need a comments section for all users.

This I do disagree on. Being a backer of several I like that the questions posted are relevant to the project at hand, and not “what about” this and that which are distractions.

@comecome

And another thing, i see some campaigns with “1 year” use of the product for the backers and not free after finished, i think is better to make all projects obligatory free for personal use and unlimited (for the backers at minimum).

While I’m not thrilled with these either, I think you’re not understanding how it works. 1 year commercial license around $100 is too much. Yes I could make that back. Just seems like a the Maker wants to then move to a subscription service afterwards. Not a fan. So you and I can simply ignore them and not purchase a commercial license.

The other reason is to have income to support a webpage for parametric items, and I can see the need. However, I won’t support those either. I just skip them and you should too if it’s not your thing. No one is making you back them, nor support them.

@comecome

And it’s great for the community if some advantages are applied to campaigns if the digital product are totally free to public domain.

No one is going to pay to support a project if the project ends up free for everyone. There’s already been one (although it’s stated that this was intent) and some haven’t been thrilled with it. That aside I don’t think you’re going to see a backed project hit the public until a set amount of time and I’m sure even then it’ll be stated. Probably a long time as well.

@comecome

It’s what i feel, sorry but i don’t like to pay to a dev for make their project and later i have to pay for this finished product (if the dev make a bad product and doesn’t sell isn’t a problem because backers payed the dev time…)

This confuses me a little so I hope I get it. If you back a project then you will receive the project at the tier you picked to back. It’s yours at that time and you won’t be charged to download it. You can go to your completed backed projects at anytime and download again.

The are backed. You offer money to help the project come to fruition. If it does, you get it. If you don’t then you don’t. You can’t buy them unless you’re buying a printed project from someone who has a commercial license. I haven’t had a failed project yet but it’s my understanding that if it fails to reach goal you are not responsible for your pledge. The money isn’t even taken until the project is over.