Is this illegal?

First of all I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place to post this but its directly related to unity assets.

I was browsing kickstarter and found this project that looked awfully familiar. I visited the website and it turns out the guy is selling other peoples Unity Assets for like $799 to people.






website:
http://www.gamesmiths.com/

kickstarter campaign:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/246336969/polywar?ref=category#

 

No, it's not legal. You can use the assets to create a game, but can't redistribute them as-is.

--Eric

 

You seem unbothered by this....

 

I guess it's not that he's unbothered. It's something that will eventually get reported and this guy will definitely get in trouble, but Eric is a moderator of Unity's Forum and it does not really touch him, I guess?

 

Not...sure what you expect me to do. If I had a breakdown every time somebody did something obnoxious on the internet, I would have keeled over long ago. I'm not the internet police (AS FAR AS YOU KNOW), but good work bringing attention to this.

--Eric

 

Is the same company that has the kickstarter and the wepage ?

Also did they copy the Candy saga exactly or made their own game that just plays like it ?

 

The fact that they have a Kickstarter running on for this... for real?!

 

I just had a skype conversation with him.. I'm egging him on about the "Poly War" game which is literally this package cut and paste: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/22817

I'm asking him to sell me ownership for $25,000.... READ:


[7:04:41 PM] ME: hello Clive

[7:04:52 PM] Clive Smith: How can I help?

[7:05:13 PM] ME: I'm interested in your game mechanics

[7:05:26 PM] ME: The candy crush

[7:05:36 PM] Clive Smith: ok

[7:05:41 PM] Clive Smith: what did you want to know?

[7:07:00 PM] ME: Are you selling ownership of Poly Wor

[7:07:12 PM] Clive Smith: no

[7:07:24 PM] ME: Disappointing

[7:07:26 PM] Clive Smith: I am selling investment though

[7:07:36 PM] Clive Smith: I have 3 investors so far

[7:07:42 PM] ME: How much have they invested?

[7:07:43 PM] Clive Smith: $10k for 10% profits

[7:08:04 PM] Clive Smith: we have invested 50k already

[7:08:10 PM] ME: That's a lot!

[7:08:15 PM] ME: I can invest much less

[7:08:16 PM] Clive Smith: its a huge game

[7:08:33 PM] Clive Smith: what are you offering?

[7:09:06 PM] ME: I can offer many $ for ownership

[7:09:21 PM] Clive Smith: no sorry its not for sale

[7:09:30 PM] Clive Smith: it would cost you $100,000 to buy it

[7:10:14 PM] Clive Smith: game smiths don’t launch many games in the stores, we usually sell to other developers, this

is my own idea and concept and I would not want to sell it unless the price was enough to cover everything

[7:10:55 PM] ME: What are we looking at minimum

[7:11:07 PM] Clive Smith: to buy it?

[7:11:13 PM] Clive Smith: or to invest for % profits?

[7:11:22 PM] ME: To buy in ownership %

[7:11:41 PM] Clive Smith: what investment can you offer and I will tell you if its possible

[7:12:59 PM] ME: 10.5% ownership + 10% profits on top of ownership profits. For $25K

[7:13:29 PM] Clive Smith: why would you want 10.5% ownership?

[7:15:33 PM] ME: It means I make some minor requests. You otherwise don't get my 10% ownership OK

[7:15:48 PM] Clive Smith: depends on the requests really

[7:16:03 PM] Clive Smith: the game is already in development so I would not change any part of the game design

[7:16:15 PM] Clive Smith: unless it was logical

 

what sort of requests would you be making?
[7:28:16 PM] ME: Minor changes to graphics

[7:28:43 PM] Clive Smith: sorry I won’t sell part of the game, only profit sharing

[7:29:29 PM] Clive Smith: graphics are everything and I won’t be changing them at all

[7:30:24 PM] ME: Ok

[7:30:29 PM] ME: Thank you

[7:31:04 PM] ME: 5k for 10% profits

[7:31:52 PM] ME: Ok 9K otherwise I cannot

[7:32:30 PM] Clive Smith: $9000 for 10% profits

[7:32:40 PM] ME: Yes $8500 for 10%

[7:32:45 PM] Clive Smith: no

[7:32:49 PM] ME: $9000

[7:32:51 PM] ME: sorry

[7:32:55 PM] ME: I must try

[7:32:55 PM] Clive Smith: lol

[7:33:16 PM] Clive Smith: I will do $9k for 10% but no lower, this is going to be a big game

[7:33:30 PM] ME: Alright deal

[7:33:39 PM] Clive Smith: paypal or bank transfer?

[7:33:45 PM] ME: bank transfer

[7:33:49 PM] ME: Fees are on you

[7:34:09 PM] Clive Smith: no thanks

[7:34:24 PM] Clive Smith: what fee will it be?

[7:37:01 PM] Clive Smith: and what country are you paying from?

[7:37:23 PM] ME: bank fee's probably $300-500

[7:39:40 PM] Clive Smith: where are you paying from?

[7:40:03 PM] ME: Dubai

[7:40:59 PM] Clive Smith: you will have to pay $9250 total that will cover most of fee

[7:43:08 PM] ME: That's not fair I already pay $9000

[7:43:18 PM] Clive Smith: but it won’t be 9000 after the fees

[7:43:29 PM] Clive Smith: your already getting 10% for less than the other investors

 

This guy is in huge trouble, lmao!

 

Masterful trolling him, friendly.

 

Wow, it is so much worse tham i though. Puts the case where Ludum Dare assets were sold from another party to shame.

[7:10:14 PM] Clive Smith: game smiths don’t launch many games in the stores, we usually sell to other developers, this is my own idea and concept and I would not want to sell it unless the price was enough to cover everything

This part is precious, the next step is to sell the "Steal assets and sell them for 10x the price" idea itself. Imagine what will happen when all investors start releasing games that they dont own.

This is one of the worst frauds of all time, since besides the money paid and lost upfront, it may make you start working years on something that cant be sold and is open to lawsuits.

 

The best part is that due to his greed (going on the Kickstarter) his identity is confirmed so proper authorities will reach him very soon. He should start packing his toothbrush...

 

I guess the owner (who appears to be @beffio ) needs to take any required action

 

I'd think its a small case if he sold these for little amount of money like 5 dollars but 10000?! What the f!

 

Some assets on the store would be easilly above that ammount if they were made from someone working full time and getting paid from a company. The difference is that in the store it is the volume of sales that matters.

Obviously those that buy them (if any) may think that will be very unique and sold to very few other developers at that price, thus would seem like a good investment.

 

True that, actually. The price just sounded ridiculous to me I hope this guy gets what he deserves! I wonder why he'd get incredibly greedy and start a whole Kickstarter project for this though? Does he not know that he'll get in HUGE trouble or does he just ignore the fact, that's what I wonder :O

 

The price would be rediculous to anyone that knows these are sold for $70 instead of $700 pr $7000 , no matter what the true value is.

 

But the fact that HE is the one selling it/them... thats what makes it ridiculous.

 

Indeed

 

Isn't he just looking for investors for the compiled game and not the actual kit license? I'm not sure I understand how his Kickstarter is "illegal". Outrageously unethical, since he appears to be taking credit for someone else's hard work but illegal?

Edit - Nevermind. Just went to his website. Totally illegal unless he has an agreement with the authors.

 

As far as I know, this guy takes payment for assets and stuff that are created and published by other people, where this whole case becomes illegal.

 

Well just send King an Info that this guy is cloning their stuff and they will shut him down (he's also using images from the original games ...)

 

[1/24/2015 8:00:04 PM] Clive Smith: if you want pro licence for candy crush you can pay with paypal

[1/24/2015 8:00:24 PM] ME: How much for both crush and poly wor

[1/24/2015 8:00:32 PM] Clive Smith: let me check

[1/24/2015 8:01:16 PM] Clive Smith: if you want to do multiple reskins of candy crush (change the graphics and make lots of them) then usually its $5k

[1/24/2015 8:01:34 PM] Clive Smith: so if you do payment now via paypal for both I would charge you total $13000

[1/24/2015 8:01:45 PM] Clive Smith: so your getting $1000 off candy crush

[1/24/2015 8:01:56 PM] Clive Smith: and we guide you through the process with it as well

[1/24/2015 8:02:13 PM] Clive Smith: we also have hundreds of stock images you can use as well

[1/24/2015 8:02:25 PM] ME: Good

[1/24/2015 8:02:41 PM] ME: Can you please do $12k please

 

for 13K? that is just so fn awesome! What a deal...

Gotta give you props for keeping up with it.. instead of telling him to go screw.

 

[1/24/2015 8:19:29 PM] ME: I have already sent payment

[1/24/2015 8:20:02 PM] Clive Smith: nothing showing

[1/24/2015 8:20:02 PM] ME: your paypal transaction it should appear in 5 minutes or less

[1/24/2015 8:20:07 PM] Clive Smith: ok

[1/24/2015 8:24:45 PM] Clive Smith: still nothing showing

[1/24/2015 8:25:14 PM] ME: Please it must show it say in 5 minutes

[1/24/2015 8:25:26 PM] Clive Smith: ok I will wait 5 more minutes

[1/24/2015 8:25:34 PM] Clive Smith: what address you pay sales@gamesmiths.com

[1/24/2015 8:25:44 PM] ME: sale@gamesmith.com

[1/24/2015 8:25:48 PM] Clive Smith: sales

[1/24/2015 8:25:52 PM] Clive Smith: not sale

[1/24/2015 8:25:56 PM]ME: Ok

[1/24/2015 8:25:59 PM] Clive Smith: and its gamesmiths

[1/24/2015 8:26:00 PM] ME: sale@gamesmith.com

[1/24/2015 8:26:03 PM] Clive Smith: not gamesmitjh

[1/24/2015 8:26:06 PM] Clive Smith: NO

[1/24/2015 8:26:10 PM] ME: write me correct

[1/24/2015 8:26:13 PM] Clive Smith: sales@gamesmiths.com

[1/24/2015 8:27:37 PM] ME: I send screenshot of invoice

[1/24/2015 8:27:41 PM] ME: OK

[1/24/2015 8:28:03 PM] Clive Smith: there is no payment

[1/24/2015 8:28:47 PM] ME: Look

[1/24/2015 8:29:11 PM] ME: Do you not see yet?

[1/24/2015 8:29:19 PM] ME: Last check please

[1/24/2015 8:30:45 PM] Clive Smith: ok

[1/24/2015 8:36:23 PM] Clive Smith: nothing

[1/24/2015 8:36:46 PM] ME: Here is screenshot

[1/24/2015 8:37:33 PM] ME: Are you ready?

**I SENT HIM THIS IMAGE:

 

I am not a lawyer.... but I'm guessing if what we suspect is true that its a likely case of Wire Fraud

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail_and_wire_fraud

 

Yeah perhaps... I was just waiting last night for a 8 hours baking session to finish... I guess egging him on wasn't the best way to spend my time away from unity.

 

Heh just read through this.. very entertaining! and masterly trolled!

 

beautifully done FriendlyHo!

 

did anyone actually report him to anyone? authorities? anything? Or was this just a waste of time to scare him.

 

It doesn't feel like a waste of time. Me and a friend spent an hour laughing and trolling.. plus was unity baking my scene for 8hrs+

 

yea thats a long bake.... whatever lol

 

Had you seen this one then too @FriendlyHo ?

https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/14415

Four animal buddies who look precisely like "Pet Rescue Style" game make bundles. Offered for direct sale.

 

That's Dogzer dude, have you background checked on him? I've bought some stuff from him before, I'm pretty sure he made those. Might have the same style, but not a scam.

Edit: scratch that, not even the same style.

 

For clarity @MarioRuiz what I am saying here is that someone appears to have co-opted (possibly basically stolen) @dogzerx2 Unity asset into bundle and sell "Complete Rights for $10000'. Did you think I meant it the other way round? If you read this whole thread and visit the dubious web site in question then you should understand that I did not.

What we have been discussing is the possible appearance of Unity Asset Store sourced assets for sale at grossly inflated prices - all of which is a breach of the Asset Store agreement.

The four 3D pet models appear to be the exact same ones. I guess its possible they were granted re-sale rights by @dogzerx2 but given all that appears in the thread above... I doubt it.

It's interesting that in both the KickStarter project and the so-called 'Pet Rescue' clone there isn't a great amount of effort being made to even modify that which is apparently being taken without consent. Those four animals are the ENTIRE asset pack and they appear right there on the front page of the game.

 

Got it, just didn't quite visit the website...