Posted Nov 10, 2008 at 11:13AM by Isaac C. Listed in: News, Games, LittleBigPlanet Tags: Sony, Media Molecule, EULA, LittleBigPlanet
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LittleBigPlanet levels removed over copyright fears - Image 1If you found your LittleBigPlanet level was deleted (or to be more accurate about it, moderated, but potato- po-tah-toh), it was probably marked either unsuitable or a breach of copyright.

Unfortunately, the screening process for this is expedient and abrupt. Some users have found that the level they worked long, loving hours on was just gone, with narry an explanation of why it was deleted.

Media Molecule is currently "reviewing" the moderating process, to give an explanation on why levels were found inappropriate. Says one Sony rep in the forums:

We're reviewing the moderating system currently to provide better feedback on why levels are moderated.


Primarily, any level that is reported using the grief tool will be checked over by a moderator, at which point they'll examine it in line with the EULA. If a level is found to be in violation of the EULA it will be moderated and you'll receive a message to that effect.


We're moving towards a system where additional information is given, however for the time being if you don't want your level moderating avoid anything unsuitable for users of all ages and copyright content.


There is light at the end of the tunnel though. Sony says they hope to be able to communicate how users can tweak their levels, bypassing the need to delete it completely:

We want to ensure that creators' levels are only permanently removed if they warrant it. In most innocent cases a simple tweak to the level may be required and that's what we're working on communicating


Unfortunately, you won't be able to re-publish a level that's been moderated for now. The safest way is just to make sure your creative genius wasn't already copyrighted. It sucks, but what can you do. That's copyright for you.



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17 Comments


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   by Fred_West78 - 2008-11-10
 » That sucks!

It won't be long til most of the levels are gone, cos loads of em are based on Games, Movies and events and they are all copyrighted (well maybe not all events are).
It means LBP'ers are gonna have to really dig deep into the grey matter for levels now and not be able to be inspiredby others


   Re: emcp - 2008-11-10
 » mmm

its not if its based on something, its how close it gets to it

anyway why not just

GET THE HIGHLIGHTER THING AND MAKE THE ENTIRE MAP 1 OBJECT AND SAVE IT IN MY OBJECTS, CREATE A NEW LEVEL AND PLACE THE OBJECT IN THEIR

im not sure if theirs a limit to an object, but its well worth a try

tweak the thing that was wrong and publish it again
SORTED

   Re: Shatterdome - 2008-11-10
 » It just means...

people will have to be abit more original. Most movies are based off of history anyways....

So say you want a 300 inspired level, well 300 is based off history...you just use historical references without any movie specific references....

Same could be said about most movies...unfortunately this will spell the doom of Comic book related themes....but you could also make ratman, and his ratmobile....or something :P

   Re: andre_euro - 2008-11-10
 » haha

ratman and his ratmobile... haha what a creative genius :P

   Re: jacobian91 - 2008-11-11
 » @ andre_euro

lol, sorry but Ratman is a character made for the Dexter's Labratory show on Cartton Network. If Sony is really picky, that won't fly either.

Man, I want a PS3 for three reasons:
1. MGS4
2. Resistance
3. LBP

...anyone wanna send me some money for a PS3?

let me know, I'll be happy to take some.

:D
   by darkjonny - 2008-11-10
 » *

They need to sort something out so theres no copyright infringement, for example saying that it is not endorsed by the copyright owners within the level description. Or making your level a tribute and not a recreation.

A good 60-70% of the levels out there are based on existing media, if they all get taken down, there will only be trophy levels and a few gems left.

   by Hidden Chamber - 2008-11-10
 » outrageous

thats just stupid.. just let thehm create what they wanna creats. its not like users are getting paid for their levels are they? so whats gonna happen to those 2 mirrors edge levels i heard about?


   Re: Hidden Chamber - 2008-11-10
 » typo

sorry for the typos.. using mad katz thumb pad :(

   Re: ISOHaven - 2008-11-10
 » WTF!?!?!?!?!

I agree. Wait for an email to come in before you kill it. There is no need to be preemptive here. After all, that model is working just fine for Apples App Store.

   Re: yxxxx - 2008-11-10
 » ...

games companys tend to be pretty easy when it comes to copyright especially when it is good advertisment for them.

I doubt that ea itself would complain.

   by damonous - 2008-11-10
 » On the other hand....

...while I understand where some are coming from... exactly how 'original' is it for there to be 20 different "Batman" or "God of War" levels? It's neat-and-all to play those. But then again, if all you're doing is copying the level design/concept of some other game, what's so groundbreaking about playing it in "LBP-style"?

Also, since Sony is HOSTING all that content ON THEIR SERVERS, they are going to be the ones getting sued (not you and me). So, I completely understand why they are removing content without warning which could be construed to conflict with copyright.

Maybe the real problem is that they designed it so that even your own "levels in progress" are on the Sony server. Because I think that's how it works: you're own Planet is not entirely saved locally ---which is why the content is "owned" by them, even if you made it.

So, a contractual 'plus' for them is turning-out to be a big bummer for those who created laborious pieces of art and either making some items like/similar to copyrighted stuff, or (most likely) having the misfortune of having NAMED their level after some previously-copyrighted property.


   Re: jacobian91 - 2008-11-11
 » Yeah

"Also, since Sony is HOSTING all that content ON THEIR SERVERS, they are going to be the ones getting sued (not you and me). So, I completely understand why they are removing content without warning which could be construed to conflict with copyright."

That's true. City of Heroes devs were sued or something like that because players were given the means to create copyrighted comic book heroes/villains.

   Re: ISOHaven - 2008-11-12
 » WTF!?!?!?!?!

Then they got sued for not removing it in time. By law you are given X amount of time to remove said material.
   by MADMAN-_-zZ - 2008-11-10
 » ....

I have spent countless hours recreating Metal gear solid In LBP form, boss fights and all, are you telling me its all going to waste?

   by Alcantara617 - 2008-11-10
 » well

their moderating process sucks, one of my levels got "moderated" and its just a trophy level.. didn't use famous copyrighted lines from movies... its not called "God Of War trophies", but if they're gonna randomly delete levels i'm not gonna make any more

   by jmak0 - 2008-11-11
 » why did they put Kratos and Snake in it then?

I don't understand, why would companies allow costumes for proprietary characters into a 'game creation and sharing game' if they didn't expect to have fans create levels that resembled their games? I believe ideas should be shared freely, copyrighting is ok to prevent people making profit from your creations but this is purely a creating sharing community, nobody is making profit (and I don't think sony should make profit from user created levels). Put simply, this is insane. They should just have a rating system if a level is offensive, and the creator could pay tribute to the copyright owners, no harm done.

   by lixiaochenx277 - 2008-11-11
 » AHAHA

So much for being able to create and share ANY USER-MADE LEVELS....

Most people probably only got this game to be able to remake some of there favourite movies, games ..etc.

Too bad, but something like this was bound to happen.



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