Okay, so here's the deal. Too many creators of Sims CC have this idea in their heads that they can restrict other people from using their content in certain ways; not including the mesh when recoloring, not modifying the mesh, not posting their creations on other websites even with credit, and worst of all, charging money for "exclusive" content. Sometimes it's just because creators didn't read EA's service agreement... and sometimes it's outright vanity. Note that what I post here comes straight from EA and the Sims team, and are absolute fact.

First off, section five of the service agreement: https://www.ea.com/terms-of-service#section5

"You are responsible for your UGC. You may not upload UGC that infringes a third party's intellectual property rights or that violates the law, this Agreement or a third party's right of privacy or right of publicity.

EA may, in its sole discretion, remove, edit or disable UGC for any reason, including if EA reasonably determines that UGC violates this Agreement. EA does not assume any responsibility or liability for UGC, for removing it, or not removing it or other Content. EA does not pre-screen all UGC and does not endorse or approve any UGC available on EA Services.

When you contribute UGC, you grant to EA, its licensors and licensees a non-exclusive, perpetual, transferable, worldwide, sublicensable license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works, publicly perform, publicly display or otherwise transmit and communicate the UGC, or any portion thereof, in any manner or form and in any medium or forum, whether now known or hereafter devised, without notice, payment or attribution of any kind to you or any third party. You also grant all other users who can access and use your UGC on an EA Service the right to use, copy, modify, display, perform, create derivative works from, and otherwise communicate and distribute your UGC on or through the relevant EA Service without further notice, attribution or compensation to you."

I went ahead and asked for a short of "dumbed down" summary of this section. I was told this: https://answers.ea.com/t5/Game-Information/inquiry-about-EA-service-agreement/m-p/6476531/highlight/false#M1933

• It's EA's game so they own all the content, not you.
• You can upload whatever you want (but the community won't like you)
• You can't charge for it unless you also make it available for free

Also:

"As per the User Agreement, all user generated content (UGC) cannot be restricted by the creator if they use EA game assets. UGC includes not only CC or mods, UGC can also be screenshots from the game, videos, or content you upload to the Gallery.

By restricting we mean the following:

• Requires payment
• Requires creator permission

However, even if not required, it is considered common courtesy to credit a creator if you re-use and slightly modify their created content."

And lastly, from a SimGuru: http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/16175450/#Comment_16175450

"CC/Mods locked behind a paywall and Patreon.

1. CC/Mods Locked Behind Paywalls - Creators cannot lock content they make using our game behind a paywall. While we do not police this content (there is no way we would create a team simply to monitor this) we do take reports sent to us seriously and action accordingly.
2. Patreon - We understand that folks who make CC / Mods for others to enjoy are doing it in their free time and may desire to offset costs to create the content by using this service. As long as the content is still made available FOR FREE we do not mind these types of pages. Folks who have a Patreon page are welcome to provide folks with "early access" incentives for their content but it should be made available to the general public within 2-3 weeks of it being given to folks early."

I think all of that is pretty clear. I myself was under the assumption some time ago that I owned my CC, and that I could say things like, "you cannot recolor without my permission!! You can't include the mesh!!!" Welp, I was wrong, just like many creators are. OR SOME PEOPLE DON'T CARE LIKE PANDORASIMS. That site indeed steals free content from creators and demands you pay a monthly fee to have access to all of it. They even say on their contact page: http://pandorasims.net/contact.html

"READ BEFORE EMAILING! EMAILS that WILL get deleted:

1. Asking about anything not related to this site.

2. Stupid stuff like just saying hello.

3. Requests for free subscriptions.

4. About what I am doing is wrong. Tough tits I'm doing it I DON'T CARE what YOU think! I don't even read these emails don't waste your time!

5. Copyright bullshit. These are unofficial mods they have NO copyright so All your mods are belong to me!

6. About how you paid for mods your paying for the convenience and the self installer which makes YOUR life easier that's what YOUR paying for!

7. ANY spam will automatically get deleted and your email BLOCKED FOREVER. So your wasting your time!

8. ANY urls or web address's will be blocked. SO kiss my ass spammers!"

As far as I know, the site is ran by one person, and they sound like some angsty teen who likes to break any rule because that makes them "hardcore." On the FAQ, it says: http://pandorasims.net/faq.html

"Q: Do you realize what your doing is unethical and wrong?!
A: No it's not because everything created in the sims is unofficial mods and they have NO copyright."

That answer is NOT correct. But of course, if you were to try and email them with the correct information, they'd "delete it sucka!" Some of YOUR stuff might even be on PandoraSims. Please urge anyone with an account to cancel it, and report the site to EA to help get it shut down. It's not just unethical, it's illegal.

As for actual creators, yes, we must have common courtesy and credit anyone whose work we use, but creators must also know that they cannot put such restrictions on their content. All of this should not be used as an excuse to claim other people's work as your own, but it SHOULD be used to broaden creative freedom and abolish fear mongering. We may all use any CC however we want, and that opens up new and broader opportunities for artists developing this content, but we should not be rude about it.

If you're on Patreon, and you have exclusive content only available to people who donate, please consider the facts and operate honestly, allow all of your content to anyone, and simply switch to the early access option mentioned above. Know your rights as creators.