Animations behind paywalls is now illegal?

[lanoix]

I assume the new EA policy on mods also includes animations? What will that mean for our animators. I have already heard reports that EA is taking this new policy very serious.

[xordevoreaux]

That's how I'm taking the new policy. Doesn't seem to have much room for interpretation.  The Sims Resource, Turbo Driver, anyone who had anything locked even for 2 seconds behind an early access paywall can't do that any more.

 

https://simscommunity.info/2022/07/31/ea-makes-the-sims-4-mods-policy-more-strict/

[lanoix]

3 minutes ago, xordevoreaux said:

That's how I'm taking the new policy. Doesn't seem to have much room for interpretation.  The Sims Resource, Turbo Driver, anyone who had anything locked even for 2 seconds behind an early access paywall can't do that any more.

 

https://simscommunity.info/2022/07/31/ea-makes-the-sims-4-mods-policy-more-strict/

 

Yeah wow, this is a really big change. I just found this screenshot where EA officially confirms it as well. https://falsetochild.tumblr.com/post/691382445649575936

 

[SoCalExile]

Take a look at The Sims Resource, they aren't doing VIP/Early Access anymore.

[xordevoreaux]

I was just TSR a second ago, they're still listing content under their "released from early access" page

 

https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/browse/category/sims4/earlyaccess/released/skipsetitems/1

 

 

[Crazy Doll]

4 minutes ago, xordevoreaux said:

I was just TSR a second ago, they're still listing content under their "released from early access" page

 

https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/browse/category/sims4/earlyaccess/released/skipsetitems/1

 

 

 There's still the "VIP Early Access" tag on the pic, but content is free you can Download it without beeing VIP. They just didn't updated pictures.

Edited August 1, 2022 by Crazy Doll

[xordevoreaux]

And they're still selling VIP and touting early access on it:

 

https://imgur.com/akdBUCf

[xordevoreaux]

1 minute ago, Crazy Doll said:

 There's still the "VIP Early Access" tag on the pic, but content is free you can Download it without beeing VIP. They just didn't updated pictures.

You could always download most stuff without being a member, the stuff that they hadn't locked away under early access.

[Simsy McSimsface]

Couple of things for starters:

1. Illegal is not the right term to use. Breaking any TOS is a breach of contract at best, that needs to be settled in civil court.
   Also, note that a TOS is NOT law, it's a (one sided) private contract. Mega corpos write all sort of thing in them that are basically unenforceable, especially outside of the US, where local laws might easily trump any claims a TOS might include. Somewhat related example: Microsoft prohibits the re-sale of activation codes in its TOS, but EU laws supersedes that, so even though it's against the TOS, it is still legal in the EU to re-sell Microsoft activation codes.
2. While EA put that new policy out on it's website, the official TOS is - after 10 days - is still not updated to include it.
   I find this actually really telling, for the reason...

...and here comes my hypothesis (warning, conspiracy theory inbound, lol):

They simply did it to virtue signal to the community. They will not actually do any enforcement. Most probably because they simply can't (remember, the TOS is NOT law!), and they would certainly have a hard time outside of the USA. Sure, they might dish out some cease and desists for the worst offenders, but I highly doubt that - and even that will be probably for trademark violations (like using their logo, design elements, etc. without permission).

There's also the possible bad optics of bringing modders into court. Imagine, EA accidentally dragging a poor black trans girl in a wheelchair into court for her to make a couple 100 bucks on Patreon selling her mods. The new woke media would have a field day with that. I exaggerate of course, but you catch my drift, lol.

 

The truth is, EA doesn't give a crap about you, and will never do anything for you out of kindness. They only care about protecting their asses (legally) and money. That's it.

 

TLDR: Even though everybody's seems to be pumped that the world of free stuff is finally here, I give it a 10% chance that anything will actually change.

 

But this is of course just my opinion, I might as well be totally wrong. ?
Peace!

[thaclone]

for TSR

they still can provide VIP... it's just no waiting time for the download and much faster download speed...
yet, you can still download everything for free... just need to wait 10secs and slower download speeds.

totally fine in my eyes with the new TOS of EA

[IKR1994]

29 minutes ago, The Masked Moddess said:

Couple of things for starters:

1. Illegal is not the right term to use. Breaking any TOS is a breach of contract at best, that needs to be settled in civil court.
   Also, note that a TOS is NOT law, it's a (one sided) private contract. Mega corpos write all sort of thing in them that are basically unenforceable, especially outside of the US, where local laws might easily trump any claims a TOS might include. Somewhat related example: Microsoft prohibits the re-sale of activation codes in its TOS, but EU laws supersedes that, so even though it's against the TOS, it is still legal in the EU to re-sell Microsoft activation codes.
2. While EA put that new policy out on it's website, the official TOS is - after 10 days - is still not updated to include it.
   I find this actually really telling, for the reason...

...and here comes my hypothesis (warning, conspiracy theory inbound, lol):

They simply did it to virtue signal to the community. They will not actually do any enforcement. Most probably because they simply can't (remember, the TOS is NOT law!), and they would certainly have a hard time outside of the USA. Sure, they might dish out some cease and desists for the worst offenders, but I highly doubt that - and even that will be probably for trademark violations (like using their logo, design elements, etc. without permission).

There's also the possible bad optics of bringing modders into court. Imagine, EA accidentally dragging a poor black trans girl in a wheelchair into court for her to make a couple 100 bucks on Patreon selling her mods. The new woke media would have a field day with that. I exaggerate of course, but you catch my drift, lol.

 

The truth is, EA doesn't give a crap about you, and will never do anything for you out of kindness. They only care about protecting their asses (legally) and money. That's it.

 

TLDR: Even though everybody's seems to be pumped that the world of free stuff is finally here, I give it a 10% chance that anything will actually change.

 

But this is of course just my opinion, I might as well be totally wrong. ?
Peace!

Thank you and say it loder for all the people who dont know how tos works.

[sailorhat]

One of the things that annoy me the most about the reaction to EA's statement is people either calling it an update to the EULA (TOS) or pointing out that it hasn't been updated. The EULA always made it clear that modders may not profit from their creations and that packaging anything for the game means you guarantee that you have the right to release it for use by all players without getting any compensation. The early access was never in the EULA and was just a compromise a single employee at Maxis came up with when asked. The only thing EA has done is make it clear that this compromise is no longer relevant.

Edited August 2, 2022 by sailorhat

[Monson]

On 8/2/2022 at 10:34 AM, The Masked Moddess said:

Correctly: The EULA always made it clear that modders players may not profit from their creations UGC uploaded to any EA services (e.g. the Gallery)

Like it or not, an article, hidden in the Help section is not a legally binding document.

Except you commonly forget that the game all it's contents are property of EA.. you do not own it...nor does the modders own anything that they use to make CC for the game....it maybe virtual property but it is still property... quit trying to be 15 minute famous for a bunch of folks hiding behind avatars... it makes you look stupid.

[2cool4u_1]

Just to be clear, EA has specified that locking any kind of content behind a paywall is against their TOS. HOWEVER, EA allows people to make money by providing Early Access. That is allowed. They spelled that out clearly.

[thellama99]

On 8/1/2022 at 9:39 AM, The Masked Moddess said:

 

...and here comes my hypothesis (warning, conspiracy theory inbound, lol): ........................................

TLDR: Even though everybody's seems to be pumped that the world of free stuff is finally here, I give it a 10% chance that anything will actually change.

 

But this is of course just my opinion, I might as well be totally wrong. ?
Peace!

I think it honestly had more to do with the little "Kits," they sell now (they're $6.99 ea in my country)

They are slowly trying to figure out how to lure CC's into a model in which EA finally get's a slice of the pie since some Patreon's must make a lot of money (Bergdorfs is $27 LOL)

 

This is just Step 1. These new rules, for the people that follow the rules, will probably cost people money monthly and then eventually EA will swoop in and offer to let them make a Kit. Once they are able to get Kits out rather quickly without issue then Step 2 will be to actively start punishing people who don't follow the rules.

 

Thats my theory anyways.

 

 

 

[MrGrey]

The contract is between EA and the mod author. We little people have no say, we're just sheep to be sheared. EA says no paywall at all,  then says limited paywall, but they don't enforce their contract even with the limited paywall. It's up to EA, it's their IP.

 

It is what it is.