3DMagix and IllusionMage, scam or open source leeches?
Ton Roosendaal comments on 3DMagix and IllusionMage, who blatantly rebrand and sell Blender and steal people’s artwork.
Continue reading to learn how YOU can help!
Ton writes:With the success of blender.org projects, and publishing all the exciting Blender releases, we’re now being challenged by third parties who like to ride the waves and do business with Blender.
There’s nothing wrong with that. In its very nature, GNU GPL is about freedom, the freedom not only to use and modify the sources, but also to distribute and resell our releases under another brand name.
Recently we received several concerned emails and forum postings from people who were worried about Blender resellers using especially Ebay to sell Blender.
How can YOU help?
A grass-roots solution is to push 3DMagix and IllusionMage from the top search results in Google, and replace them with a link to the article on Blender.org. This should warn people who are about to buy this ‘product’.
To do so, we’ll need as MANY well-formed incoming links on that page. Be sure to use the names 3DMagix and IllusionMage in the text part of the link. Here’s a piece of code that you can use on your own website:
Here’s mine: 3DMagix, IllusionMage, scam
what are those sites trying to do snatch blender’s freedom? damn those sites and yeah i seriously agree with you bart everyone should be well informed about this.
If they have paypal account they can be identified.
Just added the anti-scam link to my site.
A link is added to my link page here : http://info.ix-dz.com/lien/
Yes, let’s do this! We can definitely raise awareness!
From the press release:
“On their web pages they intentionally hide that the products are distributions of GNU GPL licensed software, and that the software is freely downloadable as well.”
This is not quite the case – both use the term ” and Blender” (probably to boost search rank), and are really only selling “training material” (albeit under false premises as they’re claiming a lot of content as being created with Blender when it wasn’t). They also have in the fine print:
“Note: GPL Compliant. Full Source & License Available in CD. Screenshots Licensed Under C.C 2.0” (3DMagix)
and
“Released Under GNU GPL. Source code available for download.” (IllusionMage)
Neither of which are true, of course. I wouldn’t be surprised if the “training material” is stolen from someone else, too.
All you want/need to know about this scam.
http://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=215.0
The white robot which is in the screenshot of Illusion Mage’s page is actually stolen from a antivirus company called Eset.
http://www.eset.com/home/nod32-antivirus/
You should tell them about it, it’s a very large part of their branding.
@Alphax: the training material *is* stolen, it’s just a load of stuff lifted from the ‘Net (see the link I posted).
What you mean “identified through PayPal”? It’s not illegal what they are doing.
What I don’t get is why, instead of selling all the generated tutorials as “Blender’s”, they prefer to re-brand and make a page like those TV ad shows…
So, by the way Bart, you say “steal people’s artwork”, but are you sure about that? I think they don’t do that any more, after Ton told them they cannot use Blender’s and claim they were made with IllusionMage. Mostly is their own, and Blender images are credited (and probably they asked for permission for those).
Cheers!
Le@ndro
SCAM!
There is no forums – it points that it’s the well known money-stealing scheme.
OK, I’ve just red Ton’s new comments… my mistake, they sure are just plain thieves. Sad and lame thing.
Cheers!
Le@ndro
@Le@ndro: Why? Because they’re engaged in de-facto *fraud*. It’s purposefully designed to mislead people into buying something they’re not actually getting.
lol…
3DMagix is already no longer the top in google.
IllusionMage is though. And its using dirty tricks to promote the scam. :(
Isn’t there some way to push certain phrases to the top of the google dynamic search?
IllusionMage is a scam
or maybe
IllusionMage is Blender
Should also try it as Illusion Mage.
You might notice these terms more prevalent around 8 or 9 pm EST.
These sites are just over designed photoshop poop. Typical of Ap degree students who couldn’t get into a real art school. Takes on to know one. :) The mixed quality should be suspicious by itself, but the typo “On your speakers” Should sound alarm bells to any rational person seeking training material online.
I just made a Wikipedia entry for this reprehensible piece of tripe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IllusionMage) and you should all feel free to add to it, as the tool of an administrator won’t keep it up for long without outside documentation of the nefarious deeds.
Viva Blender!!!!
SCAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMM……..
dont wanna see someone copying blender and selling it.
sue up those frauds
There was something wrong with the quotation marks,
making the href hyperlink not follow through on blogger.
The quotations are italicized.
sorry in advance im normally pretty positive in the replies but this has me outraged, but more toward blender itself.
any net savvy person would look at that site and realize that it is a scam (i mean both sites look like they were made by the same person). but there is obviously a small percentage in the world that look the the first 3d suite they see and choose it, purely based on its website.
this goes to show you how important the first page of a website is. if blender paid attention to this they would probably have a million more users at the click of a finger. i mean think about it. if you had never done any 3d before and you saw the 3dmagix site, you would still do a bit of research before considering it…. BUT if the 3dmagix had a dirty big open source download free button on it, you would click it without batting an eyelid.
dont get me wrong i love blender and believe its the best open source product out there, but that doesnt meant that the best cant be better.
I recognise some of them file names on there. modellingthefoot.wmv etc is a zombie tutorial someone did on the internet because i did them. Also those vf1.avi and vf2.avi and 3dview.avi are greybeards blender tutorials as i have done them as well, they are here http://www.ibiblio.org/bvidtute/
@3dcgfx: thanks! WordPress does funny things with embedded HTML. I’ve changed the code.
I just put the link on my Hyvesblog and sent the blog to the blender3d hyve
And a link to this page
Good solution, each one put a little crystal of salt, then leeches will go away. Let’s dehydrated them!
@ Paul: thanks for that.. it turns out that all the videos included in the package *are* from the site you linked to.
I do not agree with Ton, these people are illegal. Surely the rents were not paid taxes on money taken. If you really want to bring the light of the sun, just a letter from a lawyer, they will never arrive in court, but disappear before.
Lets grab their hair and draggle them to the stake.
Burn BURN!!!
>:)
Kat,
I followed your link and see they include my well outdated Blender Basics Book, 2nd edition…. Sad, sad day. I wonder what ground I have to make them remove it. I put in the copyright not to be packaged with a commercial product….
BTW, I will be publishing a 4th edition book in the spring, maybe close to anofficial release of version 2.6:-)
@kat love your site.
Illusion Mage Complete SCAM!
There is no justification.
– the one video is funny “the interface was so simple to understand…”
Nice Contact page Seth … How exactly do I contact you?
I just added the google-bombing link to my signature on some forums.
Funny fact, “3D magix” on google give a lot of torrent or DDL results… Maybe we could add the keyword “free” to our bombing links.
hey guys , if u want i can break down there servers to pieces im a programmer (let say a bad programmer), so if u dont like those 2 scams , just give me a sign and i’ll make them old history , i like blender (i use it in my 3d work) so if they were to pick a fight with me , sure they will regret it , so everyone (just a sign , and i’ll be here for you)
Bart I’m glad when I can be helpful! I’ve silenced myself for joking around too much! :D
All digital media is automatically copyrighted on creation,
even links are said to be covered by the DMCA. I think it has to be registered within a
certain period of time before a lawsuit can be filed, but definitely an artist has control to
have them remove their material even without copyright registration.
@KeenTrager
Wikipedia page is a good idea.
But would also be good to include Illusion Mage and 3D Magix in the Blender entry on Wikipedia, mention them as a scam.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blender_software\
(who’s maintaining that?)
check out this review on Illusiomage: http://www.dgipoolproducts.com/illusionmage-3d-animation-seth-avery-review
@ Jim: the only thing one could suggest is getting in touch with the hosting provider and seeing what can be done (should usually mean sending a DMCA through to them).
@ Lasphere: that’s a FAKE review dude, pretty much ALL articles on this scam are.
This really needs to be stopped. Audacious worm…
hey guys , what if i used a bunch of computers (lets say zombies) all over the world to shut down there servers as a warning (haha it will be too late for a warning) , but they deserve it , such scam claim blender as their own soft (boku wa subete o horobusu zo) which means i’ll crash them all , (i really can’t take that ) , and like japanese say “zakennayo” ,any progoramer interested can join me , so anyone ?? …
DDoS everyone ?
Maybe not the smartest move but one could argue “fight fire with fire”
”
hey guys , what if i used a bunch of computers (lets say zombies) all over the world to shut down there servers as a warning (haha it will be too late for a warning) , but they deserve it , such scam claim blender as their own soft (boku wa subete o horobusu zo) which means i’ll crash them all , (i really can’t take that ) , and like japanese say “zakennayo” ,any progoramer interested can join me , so anyone ?? …
”
”
DDoS everyone ?
Maybe not the smartest move but one could argue “fight fire with fire”
”
Yeah… lets do something illegal, just because somebody else is being illegal… *sigh*
well guys , first of all ,no one could actually buy a piece of soft that he never heard about before , in the other hand if its the opposite (i mean if he or she heard about blender ) well its clearn they will know that’s its free , so i imagine no one will get tricked by those scam, what im sure of is that in my country no one would actually ever buy a piece of soft even if it is commercial(3dsmax or maya or …) , we all use free soft(i mean cracked soft ), if its not free we make it free (i may sound rude but its the truth).
@hacker well, that’s up to you, if you feel that they deserve it, go ahead… i’ve got no problems with you doing so.
ohh cool , but i really want to hear that from the manager like (Bart or Ton), its more official , this way i can earn some money (just kidding) :)
this bastards don’t know, why they steal people job, why!, where is the open spirit, if they are hungry please work hard but not resell people art and promise thinks that can be done in few seconds what a blame.
I’ve been using blender for about a year now, and since then I have developed a profound sense of love and respect for the program and it’s many artist. I looked at both of the websites and what I’ve seen has upset me a great deal. I understand that users are allowed to modify and resell blender under a another brand name, but from the looks of it they didn’t change anything besides the name. What upset me the most though was that they used images right off the blender site and even works of art that were made by the blender community. I for one will do what I can to help spread the word about these sites in hopes to stop them from scamming people.
I hope you’re not serious about mounting a ddos attack or other illegal activities. I would never want such things to be associated with Blender or Blendernation.
This is the first time I’ve ever heard about IM and 3DMagix. So much for being first on Google. I have to wonder if people really do buy the junk that’s advertised (spammed). I guess if some fool wants to part with his/her money, it’s none of my business. Of course, if I had the money to spend, I’d rather buy official Blender stuff! ;)
For the record: I want nothing to do with DDos-ing these sites. Further references/calls for such activities will be removed.
Hmmm. I type in “Blender” in a Google search, and neither one of these comes up on the first page.
Um, I think I’m missing the point of all this rant. I looked at the two sites in question and besides the fact that the web site developer looks like he is stuck in the HTML 1.0 era of the WWW, they are clearly selling the training and not so much, the software. IllusionMage is less open about this than 3DMagixPro. Both sites identify the actual software as Blender; yes on the home page. IllusionMage has 5 references to Blender, while 3DMagixPro has 11 references. What’s the difference between their approach and Ton’s approach in “The Essential Blender” book (http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Blender-Guide-Creation-Source/dp/1593271662/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1296658059&sr=1-3)? This publication is a training guide which includes an edition of the software.
->bah : i think u r right about supporting blender in a good way , so that it stay always a good soft , but those scam made me crazy , they didn’t even change the splash screen , what a bunch of losers , if they intend to sell blender they should at least modify or add new functionnalities to it , but they should do that on their own , not steel others work and pretend to own it, anyways i’ve got a nice idea , why dont we make a huge number of web sites and scatter them around , so that when someone googles for blender get a fast and a lot of hits
Yes, you are missing the point ;o) Look up the word “obfuscation“.
I’m guessing you did a “word search” to find those references instead of looking at each site as you would a prospective purchaser, they’re not easy to find references. So… Unlike the books, it’s not obvious that you’re simply buying Blender and *someone else’s* material, that’s ‘hidden’ behind the sell.
Do some such on youtube or other website about 3Dmagix and IllusionMage to find many video.
And make some comments about the truth. But many of them not allow comments or need approuval
of the publisher before to be published.
In addition to my previous post, the real question here would be: Does their training content contain plagiarisms from other training works published on Blender?
@hacker: hey nice idea! i wish i cud join u but im a noob at hacking :P
sorry cudn add that code on my blospot blog cos im not able to understant the html coding in it. i have no idea where the body begins. but ill tell a frnd to do that on his site.
I am in no way defending the tactics of these sites but I have no sympathy for anyone who would actually give them money. As the saying goes: “A fool and his money will soon be parted!”
Hi!
{offtopic}
Guys, stop foolin’ around with the DDoS thing. It just throws a bad light on all the blender related websites and communities.
{/offtopic}
I also placed the link from above on the German videotutorial website “Blender Ei”. Let’s teach them a lesson – Copyright fraud is not welcome in our society :)
Best wishes!
Itq@n : its easy to put the code on your blog , just copy and paste it wherever you want to put a link on your blog , you know that a link looks always like this (here is the link to the_destination.html ) , instead of a simple link like this one , copy and paste that one above , and the job is done. if you need more help just ask.
@ John: Come on dude.. read what’s being said here, it’s not “plagiarised” material, it *IS* other peoples *ACTUAL* work packaged up into a bundle and sold on (we’re not just talking about a couple of websites). Instead of called people fools, it’s easy to sit on your butt and do nothing, how about helping the community at large educate others on this one, hmm?. Things like this damage the Blender ‘brand’, which is just as valuable an asset as the software itself.
Something strikes me in this : If they are “rebranding” blender, that is to say placing any logos, changing app name, they MUST have modified the source code, am I wrong ? If they did modifiy the source code then they are NOT complying with the GNU/GPL by not publishing the modified source code,. Maybe we could give the FSF a clue about these “buggers”, I now they have very persuasive lawyers to handle that kind of situation.
My 2 cents.
We also need to complain to the organisations hosting those websites. Another target to complain to would be the companies they use for payment. They need to be informed they are soliciting money for an illegal purpose, which is illegal in a number of countries.
If paypal can delete the acount for paying to Julian Assange, then they can delete the account for these criminals.
I have noticed similar on Ebay selling Blender.
There is literally hundreds of copies of Blender for sale on Ebay, using pictures from Blender users and blender books.
We literally would need to complain to Ebay about all of these sellers.
See:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Blender-3D-Animation-Software-GIFT-BOX-ITEM-/180585789295?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item2a0bc0776f
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Blender-3D-Graphics-Modelling-Design-Animation-Studio-/320651213765?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item4aa84d3bc5
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Blender-3D-Graphics-Design-Animation-Studio-Software-/180388068724?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item29fff77d74
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Blender-3D-Graphics-Design-Modelling-Animation-Studio-/220719207833?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item3363e3d599
This one claims blender copyright
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3D-Studio-Animation-Software-Graphics-Design-Effects-/320645147509?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item4aa7f0ab75
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3D-Graphics-Design-Animation-Animators-Studio-Software-/330229046955?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item4ce32f5eab
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3D-ANIMATION-GRAPHIC-DESIGN-CARTOON-STUDIO-SOFTWARE-CD-/170596331504?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item27b8556ff0
Blender sold as a bundle.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3D-Graphics-CAD-and-Modelling-Software-PC-NEW-/250752550870?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item3a620447d6
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Professional-3D-GAMES-GRAPHICS-SOFTWARE-CD-New-Sealed-/380313160701?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item588c6e4bfd
Someone claiming copyright of Blender
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3D-ANIMATION-RENDERING-GRAPHIC-DESIGN-CARTOON-SOFTWARE-/400190187008?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item5d2d31a600
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3D-ANIMATION-MODELING-GAME-DESIGN-DRAWING-CAD-SOFTWARE-/400090528672?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item5d2740fba0
Molasoft using a picture from a belnder book on the cover of its software box.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3D-GRAPHICS-ANIMATION-DESIGN-STUDIO-SOFTWARE-NEW-CD-/130336063438?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item1e58a27fce
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3D-Games-Graphic-Designing-PC-Software-/320650691882?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item4aa845452a
I’ve added my voice. http://talesfromthecellar.com/2011/02/02/rebranding-blender/
Use this website to identify where the images stolen by illusionmage website were originated from! http://www.tineye.com
Lol, i see the video review from happy costumers,,, when the video end… “can i get my drug now??”… really, i dont think anyone fall in the scam, because is so badly made, even a kid in this day with all information become more clever in notice a fake site, and people who interest in 3d search in google, look page about what program are in the most used… more than a scam page, look like a joke… blender is well knowing arround the world, and will be more know avery time we get more fantastic add-ons and app… thanks for that ;) … always.
http://www.illusionmage.com/images/3danimations3.jpg <— i found this image on their site (read bottom). They didnt even bother to remove that
I haven’t seen this article mentioned, so I’ll just throw it into the ring:
http://www.muktware.com/n/02/2011/735
If we could only get more people (3D World, anyone?) to write articles on the scam factor here, we could raise a good bit of awareness. Hopefully we could scare this guy by getting legitimate sources to expose him….
la portal : http://www.3dmagixpro.com/
esta activo , creo que no han cerrado la venta de blender ! a 27 dolares
hola ,, mieren esto ! ojo por ojo diente por diente jajaj
http://www.taringa.net/posts/downloads/7685600/3D-Magix-Complete.html
lets send them an e-mail stating: “were sorry. but you have illegally defrauded the open source software blender. prepare for the consequences.”
then make them the lowest link in the google search engines.
THIS MAKES ME SO MAD! I feel so bad for the people who are getting scammed right now!
And here I was thinking these folks had learned their lesson the first time. What a world we live in…
bart of ton kan de politie hier wat aan doen of niet.
dit is de 2de keer dat magix 3d brobeert om blender software te stelen.
en zelfs die name magix 3d is gestolen.
Can the police do something about this scam
Wow
They are registering other fake domains, posting youtube videos and making fake reviews with even some made up criticism to back up the credibility of their scam.
AAAAUGGGHH!!!!!!!
test
Sorry. I tried to post something here but i didn”t get through
There are two links that i would like you to visit but every time i try to post them here my post doesn’t get through. So I’ll tell you in a different way:
Go to the site of 3dMagix and Illusionmage and click the affiliates link at the bottom of the page to see his affiliates program. It looks to me that he’s not on his own when it comes to promoting “his” products. There have to be people who will fall for this.
If these people are for sure violating the GPL as well as the various copyrights on the materials they include in their “product”, then someone at the Blender Foundation should see if Google will remove them from the search results on those grounds. I know Google changes their algorithm constantly to combat fraud and other scams. Plus, they’re big proponents of open-source, so maybe they’ll be more likely to want to take up the cause.
Queries can be sent to there physical address at:
http://www.illusionmage.com/disclaimer.htm
Customer Services
PO Box 20420
Highbrook
Auckland 2161
New Zealand
Does anyone know New Zealand law?
here’s a question. what would you think if i posted the URL of ton’s comment into the contacts box of the softwares website (under an URGENT priority)?
I find a promotional video on youtube ^^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxw7yqf41i0
Any address or contact info found is likely an alias, there are either a lot of individuals involved in this or ‘he’ has used fake names and details to register domains and purchase hosting (I doubt he’s used fake credit card details to pay for everything though *cough*).
Unfortunately, the only people that can actually do anything about this in terms of finding out who these people are happen to be and shutting the sites down are copyright holders – service providers (including Google) cannot give out any account information or shut down services except through their legal departments (usually) in instances like this. The only other thing to try is reporting it to various local Government Council trading standards bodies. And yes, there are a tonne of spam YouTube videos on this.
Le Golo
Feb 2nd, 2011 at 11:07 pm
I find a promotional video on youtube ^^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxw7yqf41i0
LOL: insert Illusion Mage in the search bar at you tube and you’ll find that even genuine blendertutorials show up under Illusion Mage(blender)
Here’s mine:
http://asaurusgames.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/blender-3d-scam-non-game-maker/
http://www.illusionmage.com/orderform.htm
more scams
We should all warn facebook pages that is a scam. I already marked taged them. We could do the same.
No way!!!!!!!!!!
Elephant Dream?
Check it out
http://www.squidoo.com/best-animation-software
I have a possible solution … I posted a monster comment here but it may have exceeded the maximum length.
I’ve uploaded it if you wish to read on … http://www.pasteall.org/18790/text
One of the images shown is actually from the gnomonworkshop DVD series by Dylan Cole on Matte Painting. This was released probably 4 years ago now and there isn’t a single 3D element in it (I have the DVD series and it’s all about photoshop and photo manipulation to create matte paintings). Maybe gnomon might like to follow up:
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/product/59/The-Techniques-of-Dylan-Cole-3
Autodeck is going after those thief!
Doesn’t the GPL say you have to give access to the source code?
@Thomas
Read their disclaimer, which is hidden in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet, stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying “Beware of the Leopard”.
What they are doing is shameful and rightfully should be decried. On a different note. This shows the wider public are impressed enough by the quality to want to buy blender, indeed a compliment. If we really want to stop this scam we need to raise awareness that foss is available and of high quality, then people will not be duped.
You need to make a real hateful video, cleverly done with why but this it free here type under tones then have as many people favorite and watch it as possible, When someone searches for either package it’ll pop up with the video saying you’re being robbed.
Mike.
@jiggles100
That’s an awesome idea. We should forward this to Ton and see what he would say about it.
If we’re going to defeat these scammers by not fighting fire with fire, we need to promote Blender at a more “explosive” level. And to readily provide everything a beginner needs more obviously.
Hey!
maybe one day this guy decide to stop doing that!
maybe
Or maybe he just stops doing that kind of things without having decided it…
life is so complex… there are bad people everywere
and maybe making angry so many people isn’t a good idea… lot’s of negative karma points
He have done it for a time and probably will keep with it for a while
But it could stop anytime
maybe
This is not meant to be read:
3DMagix Review Test
This is Blender. 3DMagix is a copy of Blender. Dont buy.
IllusionMage Review Test
IllusionMage is Blender. IllusionMage is scam. Don’t buy.
3DMagix IllusionMage Shop
Cracked version copy serial
3D Modelling User Community
Gallery 3D Art Rating copyright free
3DMagix is scam!
Trying to help:
http://fmct.blogspot.com/2011/02/scammer-sells-blender.html
I introduce you Seth Avery, one of the testimonial of 3dmagixpro:
http://www.tineye.com/search/ddabffdc72420039526c4442f5905dd30ac2e0f2/
Yes, even their faces are fake! Probably from stock photography sites.
It will also help if 3DMagix, 3DMagixPro, IllusionMage are made part url and are included in the pages title and h1 tag.
added a link on my blog….
thanxx @hacker but i was trying to out that link in page code instead of posting body. any ways i added it as a news.
http://radioactivelemonade.blogspot.com/
Yeeha, We’re getting somewhere
http://www.dgipoolproducts.com/illusionmage-3d-animation-seth-avery-review
http://myworld.ebay.com/new_earth_software/ man sell blender and more
The new_earth_software guy or another other blender seller is actually not doing anything illegal. There is nothing wrong reselling Blender or any other open source software. Just provide the source code in the distribution as per the GNU license agreement. GNU licenses ALLOW that. If you don’t understand GPL licenses, do not post inaccurate claims as it makes us all look bad and un-informed.
Didn’t you guys notice the guy already using blendernation comments to his advantage.
We lost the battle.
time to write a persuasive essay!!!
I downloaded IllusionMage through bittorrent. He did completely rebrand of blender i.e. he changed the splashscreen, the name in the top titlebar and in the menus
But he did leave the GNU GPL license
For manuals he used the old Quickstart but changed the frontpage to
IllusionMage
Quick Start Guide
(Also known as IllusionMage Blender)
Modified 2009
Manual was written for IllusionMage – Blender Modif.
The complete User manual is James Chronister’s bookand here again he changed the frontpage in
IllusionMage
Complete User Manual
(Also known as IllusionMage Blender)
Modified 2009 – James Chronister
Manual was written for IllusionMage – Blender Modif.
He didn’t bother to replace Blender for IllusionMage in the rest of the texts
Oh and by the way: It’s Blender 2.49
A wise quote from someone in comments from another post: It’s really weird to see the reaction of some people on this thread. This is exactly the point of open source. The GNU license allows you to sell the software. FACT. Actually its encouraged. The more people benefit from the GNU software the more likely more people are to contribute back to it. FACT: You can resell any GPL/GNU product. Its 100% legal.
Sure if you are computer savy and have the skills to find new open source / GNU / free software you can get it. But just because some guy is selling it why should you be bitter about that? If someone is stupid enough to pay for something that is free they will. But once they see that it could have been free they will learn and ‘hopefully’ find the next piece of software from somewhere else, benefiting another OS project. Everyone wins.
Bottom line. It will always be open source, and because it is everyone can; within few rules; be able to do whatever they want with it. That is great don’t you think?
Our efforts would be better spend concentrating on improving Blender, spreading the word of Blender instead of fighting/discussing open source sellers. It saps away our energy and doesn’t serve any purpose. Even if you can shut one site down, another one will pop up because once again, reselling GNU software is legal and encouraged.
Those sites suck so bad :D
This might be legal but amoral -fact.
They do steal money that could otherwise help further blender development.
They try to steal recognition of original developers.
He uses a lot of pictures without any kind of attributions to original coprightholder.
Many of those images weren’t even made in blender but in 3dsMax (like the two images of the fantasy women. They are titled “Divine Protection” the image off the archeress and “Healing” the image off the woman. They were made by Hyung Jun Kim http://www.kjun.org/) Wings3d and Photoshop.
Not even the picture of this so called Seth Avery is real:
http://www.tineye.com/search/ddabffdc72420039526c4442f5905dd30ac2e0f2/
Enough reason to dispise this guy
LEARN cutting edge graphics LIKE PIXAR in TWO hours or LESS !
Sorry folks but I pay money to that !
Its been two or more years with blender and I can barely express myself in 3d
and these guys ……. LOL :)
That tineye photo search thing is pretty crazy :D
In the cases of fraud, you can usually notify the search engines directly. Has anyone tried that?
I just reported to google about the activities of this site…hopefully it will be removed…
I am a newbie to blender and currently trying to understand blender through the book blender foundations intro to blender 2.6….
Please continue reporting through this site….
http://www.dailytechnologytips.com/2008/08/how-to-report-website-or-blog-to-google.html
click authenticate form and then sign in with google account or create one…
then submit your form with a complaint and hopefully this will pull down the site…
A dos attack might work but I find it to be unethical and if caught you can serve ten years in prison…so lets just try the google complaint thing first before we go crazy….
hey guys if you give all of their video a thumbs down on youtube it will then give you the opertunity to report the video as a scam please do this for all of their vids on the internet
@KL
“This is exactly the point of open source.”
I just dont get the opensource feeling when looking at the Magix sites.
Sure, there is a tiny line stating the source code is available, but with all the lines of text there is not one hint of how it’s possible to get the product for that reasonable price?
And where does it state that you are not buying the software but for the effort of collecting tutorials from the web?
All that makes it look like a scam.
The seller does not seem to be open about open source, so I don’t agree it’s helping open source.
He ís offering the sourcecode for download. You reallly have to look for it but it’s there.
But Ihave a problem here aswell, because i’m not sure about it. Do you have to offer the source code of that particular version of the software that you’re selling? If that is so he’s violating the rules here too. The version of Blender he’s advertising is 2,49. However, the sourcecode he offers for download is 2.50a
“The seller does not seem to be open about open source”
Joeri: from his disclaimer/terms (have good laugh):
IllusionMage™ is proudly part of the Open Source movement. Open Source software gives you more flexibility in regards to how and where you can use the software. Main program is based on Blender and released as an open source GNU license. As a note please be aware that IllusionMage™ is a trademark and although this code is released under a generous open license the name and logo are not.
@Gundam, somebody don’t think about “some karma points” – steal and cheat easily but next time…
“what!? why am I a cockroach? what is it? Give me back my beemer, my cox and my yacht! Oh,, shit it was a road accident… now! where is my lawyer???” )))
Seriously, I think that Open Source system must be slightly changed. At least all code must be open for REAL people. So it may sounds discouraging but if all who want take sources must be leaving their IPs, addresses and other non-dangerous personal information… then maybe they will be think good before cheating like this.
@Moolah
“Seriously, I think that Open Source system must be slightly changed….”
I don’t think that a pervasive control-based approach to the problem could be the solution.
It will only make the system less dynamic and less usable.
Just continue to write posts, spread the voice, link to your blogs, thumbs down on their video, abuse report to google, and the net will just eat them.
Why don’t we also “like” the Facebook pages on which they allow “friend” posts and flood them with similar messages? I have already done so on the 3 or 4 pages where they allow “friend” posting:
The so-called “authors” of 3DMagix and IllusionMage have rebrand the **FREE** OpenSource program Blender; they have also been accused of stealing people’s artwork for use on the web pages they use to mislead people into sending them money for a **FREE** OpenSource program. Please visit this page for more details.
http://www.blendernation.com/2011/02/02/3dmagix-and-illusionmage-scam-or-open-source-leeches/
One additional detail: I though that one of the provisions of the GPL was that OpenSource software could not be sold? You could charge for the cost of media if distributed on physical media, you could charge for support, et cetera, but you could not charge for the O.S. software. Do I have this wrong? If not, isn’t this bozo in violation?
http://www.photoeditx.com/?hop=InsertYourNameAccountHereAndIllSendYouMoney
Ok… same style, same prize but a different product based on a open source program.
Also, there is a pseudo when I found this so… sounds like a sponsorship system… actually, that can explain why there is so much videos about this on youtube.
DoubleZ, probably the same guy. Same style website, down to the fine details. And the same domain registrar used as 3DMagix and IllusionMage. I realize that alone isn’t compelling but when you stack up all the similarities, the conclusion is hard to dismiss.
@Stefano
Actually you’re right!
I wonder how many people actually visit the websites daily?
@DoubleZ: he mentions the open source package 4 times: Gimp. Why don’t you?
But yes, again he is obscure about which is which: software or tutorials
I noticed one “big” difference though. In the introductionvideo he actually shows Gimp at work. (And in fullscreen you can see that it ís Gimp). Didn’t do that with Blender.
Did anyone notice the similarities between Cody Landons signature and Lucas Godfrey’s?
LOL Adobe is going to like this. Video #3 on this Gimpscam site (the smart removal tool) i actually Photoshop CS5
@JeroenM : lol, I didn’t notice the Photoshop video’s ^^
The problem here is similar to Illusion mage : he’s is using copyrighted material (with some picture created without GIMP) to sell “this” product.
DDOS anyone?
Vidrazor 2:
“Bart
Feb 2nd, 2011 at 4:00 pm
For the record: I want nothing to do with DDos-ing these sites. Further references/calls for such activities will be removed.”
I second that
vidrazor2 wrote:”DDOS anyone?”
Shame to see Blender fans sinking to the level of 3DMagix and IllusionMage.
Mr vidrazor2, being a digital holigan will damage the good name of Blender, surely that’s not something you want.
Most Blender fans will distance themselfs from people how dirty up the good name of Blender, be it 3DMagix or DDOSers.
Well, i know this thread is not really new anymore… But here i go.
Try to look at the “Testimonials”. Damn, you can even see in one of the videos, that one of the extremely happy users, shows the blender game engine demo (the one with throwing rubber ducks), and tells that this is an animation that he is working on at the moment.
Please. Such bullshit.
Also, he states at the website, that you need to HURRY AND BUY, since he will bump the price up soon, by a 100$, and that it might get bumped up even further.
This might not really be illegal any of it, but he did breach copyright several times, plus he made people lie for the testimonies.
Does anybody honestly believe that anyone will be happy to buy this, and later found out that you got ripped of and bought something that was only rebranded and opensource?
Fuck this person man, this SHOULD be fucking illegal… I know im just repeating what has been said, but since we cant do much but spread the word, i think we are allowed to rage a bit over this. Fuck this arrogant piece of shit.
I feel sorry for those buying this.
Just so you know, what they’re doing is illegal in Brazil also, and not just for stealing other people’s artwork.
I recommend the Blender Foundation to contact Google and inform them of what is happening. Somebody should contact paypal.
Finally, I’m not sure about the US legal system, but you SHOULD be able to denounce the fraud and have a public attorney take the case – either that or the State itself should prosecute these crimes (or the one crime of stealing copyrighted material) without the need of hiring a lawyer.
What can people do:
– Report them to the FSF – Free Software Foundation.
Instructions on how to do so bellow.
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-violation.html
Another link explaining about compliance with GPL
– Trademark violations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark_infringement
If they re-branded it and are saying the software is theirs, they should have all Blender markings removed like CentOS did for RedHat OS. This need to be checked.
If they didn’t they are violating the Blender brand and the Blender foundation could in theory act on that if they so do to choose so, well lets not get excited, Ron is a smart guy and he already told everyone that he prefers not to do so and that is fine.
Do not send bogus DMCA to ISP’s if you do so it is criminal you will end up in paying up or in jail if the opposing party takes actions.
Copyright is strong and it is so strong that people actually don’t need Blender to get involved, all those images and tutorials are copyrighted and CC 3.0 Sharealike doesn’t give anyone the right to copy or distribute that without the proper references all CC licenses require you to say who is the original creator if that is not there is a breach of the license and copyright holders of those works can send DMCA’s to their hearts content and or initiate legal proceedings.
The better solution?
Listen to Ton, he is experienced manand knows that those scams don’t go very far and going after those people legally would divert money from production. We all know it is a scam and that those people are worthless, but don’t worry he is not getting away with it, he doesn’t have the tools necessary to make it and become something for that he would have to chance course, he can fool some but not all people. Blender is also becoming a household name you can’t keep doing that forever, people will noticed you are ripping them off and will never do business with you again. That is no way to get rich or have a functional business, it just don’t work that way.
You all can rest assure that that guy is going to have a lot of troubles in his life because he is and idiot.
Report them to the FSF – Free Software Foundation.
Instructions on how to do so bellow.
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-violation.html
If he is selling Blender and he didn’t remove all those Blender marking he is violating trademarks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark_infringement
Also all those people who had their artwork and videos ripped off if they don’t get credits they can take legal action. Contact them and see if they want to take action against him.
But seriously Ton is right, the best solution is light, we all know that it is a scam, and others will notice too, his business now that it came to light is now over he is not going to make more money out of that and the good news is that Blender is now a household name every major 3D publication knows about it and are starting to make content for it, he will not get away with those false statements for much longer.
Action or no action that little scheme is going to end, who wants to do business with shady people?
Just a little warning. Do not send bogus DMCA’s to ISP’s if you do so you are liable for expenses that others incur. If you are not the copyright holder and do not have authorization to be his representative and live in the US don’t send anything to anybody.
“US Code Title 17 512 (c)(f) Misrepresentations.— Any person who knowingly materially misrepresents under this section—
(1) that material or activity is infringing, or
(2) that material or activity was removed or disabled by mistake or misidentification,
shall be liable for any damages, including costs and attorneys’ fees, incurred by the alleged infringer, by any copyright owner or copyright owner’s authorized licensee, or by a service provider, who is injured by such misrepresentation, as the result of the service provider relying upon such misrepresentation in removing or disabling access to the material or activity claimed to be infringing, or in replacing the removed material or ceasing to disable access to it.”
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode17/usc_sec_17_00000512—-000-.html
A reasonable fix to the licence agreement would be that if the software is redistributed, it must be redistributed under the name “Blender”…
Incidentally, all Blender artists should take a look at those pages and make sure that they’re not illegally using any of your artwork. Blender may be freely redistributable, but an artist’s work is his or her own intellectual property.
@Vikram,
Not only Blender artists. A lot of those pictures weren’t even made in Blender. I know that some of those artists already haven been warned. Like Elftug on Deviant Art (The image of the interior). But not all of them.
hi all
amazing an outdated materials on sale…
Sounds like “Mysterious/Historical” Things goes under hammer…
@hacker
Actually, by time peoples(evil) turn means of Internet toward them (like Iron rusted over the time)…
So our next goal may be redesign the Internet by its true means.
I respect some Open Source projects like Blender, Linux (core distro and some derived especially Ubuntu and ArchLinux), Inkscape, Firefox, gimp etc (no google products) cause they actually relay on large community not Internet. Internet is just place for them to work, to sharing, to surviving.
“If someone gaining from Internet, why we pay for it.” – Quotas by Me (LOL)
What those people think who rear know the word “Source Code”. I think most of them surely pointing toward coming Hollywood release “Source Code”.
Blender Foundation does good job to produce 3 open movie, i not wondering if next Blender 2.5 scam contain reference to the Blender’s movie “Sintel”.
“Vikram Feb 7th, 2011 at 10:17 am
A reasonable fix to the licence agreement would be that if the software is redistributed, it must be redistributed under the name “Blender”…”
I don’t think that is reasonable, it goes against what open source is and hurt the liberties that I like to believe we all strive to maintain.
Forking would be impossible and all those other projects that use Blender for good things would not be possible and at least for now for every crook out there, there is hundreds of good projects that depend on Blender.
The real problem here is the misrepresentation of facts by that citizen so we correct those facts by ourselves throwing light at them, they can’t hide.
Like the Bed Intruder song said “We will find you!”
I got taken by the people at Illusion Mage for $47. No video tutorials on how to do animation just a pdf manual 116 pages long. Amazing how they can deceive people into buying their product which was created by Blender in the first place. Open source? Yeah, for them so they could con others into paying them and not Blender. Couldn’t even give them full credit for the free source program. Really freakin’ sad! And is there really a guy named Seth Avery that works for them?! Hope it backfires on all of them in the end (and it will, God will make sure of that. “Thou shall not STEAL, Illusion Mage!”)
Sorry to hear about that Gary. If you haven’t done this already what you need to do is submit a complaint/chargeback through the payment gateway you used (what you used to buy it) and ClickBank, stating that the product “wasn’t as described” (you might be able to throw in the word “fraud” but ClickBank at least will try and deny that). That should at least get you your money back.
Commenting closed due to excessive amounts of spam on this page.
I found bev laura, the girl from sydney australia who recorded her unpaid testimony. really manchest UK.
http://www.facebook.com/bevbrandreth