And of course in the meantime N3V carry on doing nothing to protect the work others trust them with by uploading to the DLS (while at the same time locking down payware DLC so you can't even move a piece of grass...).
So the fact that the content was removed within a few hours of being reported (and most was non DLS content to begin with) means we're doing nothing to protect them, and after issuing a direct warning for the first offence relating to the DLS and then receiving reports of subsequent uploads, the user was permanently banned.
I seriously don't know how you expect the DLS to prevent illegal uploads via automatic checks, as it would be looking for similarities with other objects (and ANY change will result in it passing, an enterprising individual could do this to every file so it passes).
Or would you be happy to pay someone an hourly rate to check EVERY upload, against EVERY asset in existence for Trainz (and pay for ALL payware content so that person doing the checking can check against all payware content). Remember thing would have to include checking every texture for another texture, and then contact the original creator to check that the upload was done with permission. This would be a full time job checking this. So lets say $1500AU per week minimum (it would need to be 7 days, otherwise the DLS won't process anything on weekends, so that actually means two people), just to try to check for pirated content that occurs once every now and again.
Or we can follow the lead of most other file sharing sites, and require that illegal uploads be reported by the original creator or copyright owner... Even youtube refuses copyright infringement reports from 3rd parties.
As the DLS is a free, and relatively open, resource we are hesitant about implement the 'locks' implemented on DLC packs (which are commercial items). If enough creators requested this lock (remembering this would mean that there would be uneditable content on the DLS...), it might be able to be implemented. However it would likely require a lot of work to make the DLC capable of handling this, and Trainz being able to install them outside of the DLC system. It would not be backwards compatible (so creators making content for TS12, or even current releases of TANE, would not have access to this). At this time, if a creator wants to restrict their content in this way, then at the DLC system is an option to them.
It is unlikely that we would provide locks such as this for 3rd party website distribution, as the 'commit' lock and encrypted .texture files would prevent the content from being installed from cdp files in CM (this is why the DLC system uses the in-game 'asset download' tool).
As it stands, this user was using an out of date Trainz version to upload content for that version to the DLS. Any secure options added into newer releases would have no impact on users such as this, where the content is for previous releases. Again, within a few hours of being reported the content was removed from the DLS. In most cases (especially when there's only one report, and the user hasn't been reported before) we will attempt to contact the uploader, asking them to provide proof that hey had permission to upload, allowing 24 hours for them to provide this. If no reply from them with proof is received in 24 hours, then the asset(s) will be removed from the DLS. We inform the creator that has reported it that we will be investigating the upload and will get back to them in 24 hours. My experience with most other websites is that it takes 4-5 days
minimum for reports to even be responded to, let alone looked at by them. And you need to provide VERY specific proof that you are the owner of the copyright; and where your name is being used you need to provide proof of your trademark and ownership of the name...
Regards
