Ejecting a Tenant
At Mystic we believe in fair and honest business practices. I also believe in healthy competition in business so this is in no way related to a monetary matter but the integrity of a Tenant and my need to protect other content creators from the same sort of morally reprehensible actions of a former tenant.
Here is, in brief, what transpired to leave me no choice but to eject a tenant. The tenant stood there as I filled the store with extremely simple and low cost items for Valentines Day. These items are priced at a mere $10P of inworld game currency, which is very low cost. The reason these items are priced so low is to have affordable items even for the newest of residents to Island Oasis. The tenant had just rented a store next to mine less than 24 hours previously.
The following text has in no way been altered and is copied and pasted straight from local (public) chat:
[23:56] GAM 002 entered chat range (9.23 m).
[23:56] GAM 002: nice work
[23:56] GAM 002: are they prims or are they mesh?
[23:57] GAM 002 left chat range.
[00:03] GAM 002 entered chat range (19.70 m).
[00:04] GAM 002: hmm
[00:04] GAM 002: XD
[00:08] GAM 002: I AM A copying that idea
[00:08] GAM 002: XD
[00:08] GAM 002: brb
[00:08] GAM 002 left chat range.
00:09] Alysin Darkstone: Be careful about typing into local chat that people can use as proof in chat log of a copied idea
[00:09] GAM 002: oh
[00:09] GAM 002: well
[00:09] Alysin Darkstone: leave it open for others to file a DMCA
(see images below- click to enlarge)
Here is, in brief, what transpired to leave me no choice but to eject a tenant. The tenant stood there as I filled the store with extremely simple and low cost items for Valentines Day. These items are priced at a mere $10P of inworld game currency, which is very low cost. The reason these items are priced so low is to have affordable items even for the newest of residents to Island Oasis. The tenant had just rented a store next to mine less than 24 hours previously.
The following text has in no way been altered and is copied and pasted straight from local (public) chat:
[23:56] GAM 002 entered chat range (9.23 m).
[23:56] GAM 002: nice work
[23:56] GAM 002: are they prims or are they mesh?
[23:57] GAM 002 left chat range.
[00:03] GAM 002 entered chat range (19.70 m).
[00:04] GAM 002: hmm
[00:04] GAM 002: XD
[00:08] GAM 002: I AM A copying that idea
[00:08] GAM 002: XD
[00:08] GAM 002: brb
[00:08] GAM 002 left chat range.
00:09] Alysin Darkstone: Be careful about typing into local chat that people can use as proof in chat log of a copied idea
[00:09] GAM 002: oh
[00:09] GAM 002: well
[00:09] Alysin Darkstone: leave it open for others to file a DMCA
(see images below- click to enlarge)
After just a few minutes the tenant types into my IM box this unaltered text:
[00:16] GAM 002: :)
[00:44] GAM 002: DMCA?
I then return to the store area and find he had actually done exactly that. He had copied the idea. Which is in very poor taste, low in moral fiber and a reprehensible business practice. I can't imagine if he had further time who else at the Mystic Strip Mall he may decide to "copy their ideas" and immediately rezz it out. For the protection of the other merchants there I made the decision to eject this tenant (after refunding him his rent of a whole $20P). I have returned his items and ejected him from the Merchant group.
I welcome people who create items, make it their own, change it up a bit if its a template or licensed item from a kit or whatever, do something to have your own items or your own spin on the items you are selling. I respect merchants rights to sell template items they have chosen not to change as long as its licensed. And yes I realize that anyone can make letters, signs, decor etc. Again this isn't about business competition which I welcome and encourage, instead its about moral fiber and protecting other Merchants. To state in public chat your intention to copy then to do so, is just wrong period!
I do not have proof of copybotting, nor is the accusation there, thus the reason for refunding his money and simply ejecting him from group. But I have no problem whatsoever of very publicly showing the screen shots and sharing the associated text. Please be aware of this person and their potential to repeat such action in other grids and locations.
The above is merely an example of one reason here at Mystic a tenant could be ejected. If you had previously heard that about a year ago I had ejected another tenant, it is NOT a rumor. It is a fact! The person copybotted from a creator in Second Life and attempted to sell those copybotted items at the Mystic Strip Mall. When I was made aware of it I immediately ejected the tenant, no refund. Please note: I will always try to do my best to protect content creators from thieves and those lacking in moral fiber and from those with reprehensible business ethics and practices. Mystic Estates will always have a zero tolerance policy for these types of actions!
AND YES I DOCUMENT EVERYTHING! ALWAYS HAVE, ALWAYS WILL!