Does anyone know what is going on with crowkillers? Very Odd messege p

[dolittle]

In my experience, this is a waste of time. I made instructions for Grazi's 5000 part tow truck and posted them for free on Bricklink, then I found people on eBay selling them for $30. My name (and Grazi's) are on the instructions. I contacted eBay and filled out all the right forms, but they didn't really seem to care and nothing even happened. As far as I know, this guy is still selling my work.

Hi,

If you have a lawyer (friend) he can contact them via real mail/fax, that gets their attention at least - a response and the process going.

Not necessarily will get it off their site.

I believe it is hard hard to prove copyright on instructions, as you are essentially already "violating" LEGO's copyright by using their bricks without a written authorization.

Thanks,

Noam

[RoscoPC]

So I guess there's nothing we can do about the fact that some people taking advantage from other people's hard work. But it sucks bigtime !! However, it will not stop me from making new instructions and providing them for free. And I hope Crowkillers will do the same.

I usually don't spend time making instructions for my MOCs, but I normally provide the MLCad files to anyone who ask for them: I simply ask them a confirmation (in writing) that they will use my files only for personal building and not for business purpose.

This way you can keep your work available for free and you may know AFOLs really interested in it while sharing your experience (hopefully) whitout such kind of problems.

Btw it's a shame, and I hope Crowkillers fears are not real, but only a consequence of its deserved success (i.e. many people building its creation worldwide).

[tulatin]

I usually don't spend time making instructions for my MOCs, but I normally provide the MLCad files to anyone who ask for them: I simply ask them a confirmation (in writing) that they will use my files only for personal building and not for business purpose.

This way you can keep your work available for free and you may know AFOLs really interested in it while sharing your experience (hopefully) whitout such kind of problems.

Btw it's a shame, and I hope Crowkillers fears are not real, but only a consequence of its deserved success (i.e. many people building its creation worldwide).

So, has anyone actually found proof that someone is re-selling something built from his instructions yet, or is it possible that he's just seeing certain items be bought up and freaking out?

[TechnicJuan]

So, has anyone actually found proof that someone is re-selling something built from his instructions yet, or is it possible that he's just seeing certain items be bought up and freaking out?

I went through many of the items on his parts list and they were in fact bought up in large numbers in September and the beginning of this month. I e-mailed Paul a few days ago about this and got a response back yesterday. He seems pretty sure that something is going on and basically said that this sin't the first time that people have sold his work, so who knows. He also said something about the holidays coming up and that is a prime time for people to try and make a buck. In all honesty, I would not be surprised if he is in fact right about this. Someone spent a ton of money buying up technic parts in the last month. Then again it could just be someone looking to resell on Ebay. But even if he is right, I don't think that there is anything that he can do about it.

[skyliner]

I bought my instructions for crowkillers gallardo by blakbird for £15GBP early on on ebay. Later the instructions are free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sky

Edited October 13, 2010 by skyliner

[TechnicJuan]

I bought my instructions for crowkillers gallardo by blakbird for £15GBP early on on ebay. Later the instructions are free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sky

Not to beat this dead horse again, but I built Paul's model just from the pictures that he supplied on brickshelf last year, which were posted way before instructions ever became available. If you purchased instructions early then you got them much quicker than the people who waited until he posted them for free. I also read your post before you edited it about why is he complaining now because he already profited from selling kits and instructions, so let me ask you this, since he already made a small profit from supplying kits and instructions, does that mean that it is acceptable for someone else who had nothing to do with the design of the model or instructions to now take over?

Edited October 13, 2010 by TechnicJuan

[roamingstop]

I bought my instructions for crowkillers gallardo by blakbird for £15GBP early on on ebay. Later the instructions are free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sky

Seems you got scammed (Or perhaps not?)- if you can, place a claim for a refund. Crowkillers has his own special Ebay service and not an intermediate.

Edited October 13, 2010 by roamingstudio

[TechnicJuan]

Seems you got scammed (Or perhaps not?)- if you can, place a claim for a refund. Crowkillers has his own special Ebay service and not an intermediate.

Paul posted detailed pictures of how to build his Gallardo on Brickshelf long before instructions were offered. Then Blakbird made instructions for the Gallardo. Blakbird and Paul were both selling instructions, then months later after Paul had stoppped selling instructions, Paul had them up at his website for free. I already had Paul's model built and bought the instructions anyways back in Jan or Feb. There was no scam here. Paul could have continued to sell instructions and profit, but he apparently chose not to.

[skyliner]

Not to beat this dead horse again, but I built Paul's model just from the pictures that he supplied on brickshelf last year, which were posted way before instructions ever became available. If you purchased instructions early then you got them much quicker than the people who waited until he posted them for free. I also read your post before you edited it about why is he complaining now because he already profited from selling kits and instructions, so let me ask you this, since he already made a small profit from supplying kits and instructions, does that mean that it is acceptable for someone else who had nothing to do with the design of the model or instructions to now take over?

from what i can gather paul made the model then blakbird made the instructions.

The instructions are pauls/blakbirds to sell and only they should sell them, or offer them for free.

and as for a third party offering kits, after paul has done so, i think there is little point.

sky

[Meatman]

I would like to chime in here. I also bought crowkiller's instructions earlier this year as well, but the only way that anyone could claim that they were "scammed" would be if you paid for something and never received it. Yeah he may be offering them for free now, but if you wanted them earlier in the year, they had a price.

It's like if one of my kids wants a new PS3 game for $60, sure I can wait a year until it is in the greatest hits collection for $19.99, but that isn't going to feed the desire now.

And as far as this whole who is stealing what, I think crowkillers should wait until there is hard evidence to support his suspicions. But if he is correct with his assumptions, I know that I personally would be P.O.ed if someone was biting into my ideas like that. I also remember seeing something about crowkillers not making much money off of selling kits(Which is understandable because collecting all of the needed parts is really expensive) so if in fact someone is going to try and market his kit for profit, then they are more than likely in for a big surprise.

Just my 2 cents.

[DLuders]

[bUMP]

"Does Anyone Know What Is Going On With Crowkillers? Very Odd Message" (seen today on his website):

COMING SOON...

[Meatman]

Looks like he is working on a new website. Hopefully it is a little more organized than his previous one. I appreciated what he had done, but It was kind of all over the place.

[DLuders]

Yes, Crowkillers (Paul Boratko) has "revamped" his website and it features his "Vampire GT" and lots of his other excellent Lego Technic Supercar models: