eBay

Read 11 Comments

 Trader Sam  |  September 12, 2009

Forty bucks, huh?

As a reminder, and as a notice to everyone new: please do not sell the paper models. It’s illegal, it violates the attached license agreement, and it violates at least two points in an official Disney contract. You WILL be reported.

Paper models are to remain FREE (hence, no selling!), and the Disney Experience has sole distribution rights (you can’t get them anywhere else). Selling on eBay takes advantage of those who don’t know they’re free. In this particular eBay listing, the seller has gone a step further and posted copyrighted photos from my Flickr account. Even the website name & logo and the copyright notice with my name are on the images. Don’t do that, either.

Thanks go to those who keep an eye out for such things and report them to me. If you do see a violation on any website, contact me. Violators will deal with me before dealing with Disney legal, and they don’t play around!

Both the post author and this website have not received any compensation for writing this post. Both the post author and this website have no material connection to the third-party brands, products, or services that have been mentioned. This is being disclosed in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


There are 11 comments.

  • robert:

    that ad on ebay is a fake, someone only wánt’s some money. If the ad was real. They put up a photo of their own model these guys are really stupid.

  • Joe:

    I’ve been trying to find a way to do this! I mean I want to print on laser. Is there any way I can contact you to see if you can print me some of Sam’s models?

    • Trader Sam:

      I’m afraid I cannot permit that. It’s still illegal, and allowing you to exchange contact info would make me an accessory.

      Have you tried finding a FedEx Office location (formerly known as Kinkos)? I don’t know of many printing locations that will allow you to bring in computer files (viruses and such).

      • Joe:

        Yes actually. And they charge about the same. But I rather do it at FedEx than have you get in trouble. Thanks for all the magic SAM!

  • Kurt:

    Ya know,

    I would like to state, That I am not the seller of this, however I have in the past offered Laser prints of others work, I do acknowledge in all cases, it is the work of others and can be found for free. What I offer is good quality color printing in laser not ink jet (yes get it wet with glue or even water and it wont color bleed YAY!) However, I must admit selling it without any acknowledgment is just downright wrong. But 40.00 for a printing, isnt really that bad. I always tried to keep My average for pieces at about $1.10 per sheet. and .10 cents for each instruction sheet.

    • Trader Sam:

      The pictured offender must be a regular visitor, because the item was changed to a Gundam Megablock set very quickly.

      There are a couple more out there for $8.50 (Sleeping Beauty Castle) and $24.99 (The Wicked Wench). Steps have already been taken.

      I can see your point of view, Kurt. You’re basically offering a printing service. Still, it’s the item itself (not the printing) that is going to sell the product. I considered that once, but decided to do CDs instead. I figured that if everyone else is profiting from my work, why not me? Now that I have backing by Disney, I don’t need to do that.

  • Elias824:

    hahah thats stupid, it is taking adventage!!!!

  • Trader Sam:

    I should note that the model was removed from eBay within a day of this post. Obviously, the person is a regular site visitor, or has contact with one. As long it’s done, there won’t be any questions asked, and we’ll all move on as normal.

  • Will T.:

    Ouch. This is the kind of thing that’s always kept me afraid to release any of my own creative work anywhere (I write my own instrumental music). You’re lucky you’ve got Disney’s legal department to back you up. Good luck stopping these guys – although it sounds like it’s nothing new to you (unfortunately).

  • Alex:

    WOW!!! That is sooo wrong!!

  • becky:

    40 sounds a bit low, needs a few extra zeros due to the quality of your work! Free shipping too, so you know it’s not someone selling the assembled model. They’re not the first to try it, but hopefully they’ll be the last.

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