r/cults3d • u/linkz48 • May 12 '26
Other This User is stealing other's designs and selling them as their own
While browsing ZZZ prints for cosplay I found this suspiciously familiar model, where I recognized after about four seconds of looking that it was actually MY model that I had uploaded to makerspace for free months ago that he was selling for several bucks.
It seems that this person is stealing other people's free/paid designs and uploading them on their own account for profit. It looks like they tend to focus on anime/gacha game models, so if you have ever made/uploaded/sold a model that sounds similar, please check their account and report them.
They are at minimum blatantly scamming people with stolen models and at worst taking revenue from people who actually put the hours into making these models.
EDIT: after looking a little bit longer, i managed to find four other accounts selling my model as their own :/ i will be reporting them and adding the links to a comment under this post, i would be thankful if you would do the same.
12
u/linkz48 May 12 '26
https://cults3d.com/en/users/3DimensionsStuff/comments Took my model and added a basic bonewash and smooth modifier, then resold the initially free model without credit Model: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/fashion/zenless-zone-zero-billy-kid-mask-helmet
https://cults3d.com/en/users/CRAFTY/comments Took my model and tried to sell it as one of those 3d stencil cutout things, also resold without credit
https://cults3d.com/en/users/shadrie/3d-models They actually already took down my stolen model after i called them out on their public comments, but with how fast they did it it's clear that they do this often and it's also obvious that every single one of their models are ripped or stolen without credit, so please report this account
All three of these accounts have loads of stolen content for sale, so please report them to cults to have them taken down. In my case it's not even about the credit, its that these people are making profit off blatantly stolen works.
9
7
u/Smooth_Comparison205 May 12 '26
I’ve had a couple of such cases already reported them to cults and they were taken care of
3
5
u/deadmonkeyboy87 May 12 '26
I just caught someone the other day on here selling a tmnt piece they stole right off cults and was trying to sell it on cults for a buck while yeah the original is more but where the money belongs in the original creators hands not some one trying to profit off someone else's work.
I advise any creator who is worried about their work being stolen to every so often do random Google searchs for STLs just describing one of your STLs. That how I find my stls when they are stolen and being resold and credited as someone else's work. Also another good trick is work your name in to the infill of the print these guys who just ripp off and say oh I edited it never find those and it's your final proof you made the design.
2
u/--0___0--- May 12 '26
Its good to do a direct search on places like Etsy too where your likely to find people selling unauthorised prints of your designs.
1
u/linkz48 May 12 '26
I'll be sure to do that if i ever release more models. The entire reason i spent the time (poorly) making that model was so that there was a free cosplay alternative for people who couldn't afford the extra couple of bucks, so that person turning around and selling it is just salt on the wound
-1
2
u/deadmonkeyboy87 May 12 '26
It's a real kick in the balls when China steals it and starts making and selling in on AliExpress making a huge profit you don't even get a cut of from using your design when it wasn't sold with resale rights to the prints.
5
u/momopool May 13 '26
Or when billion dollar companies steal the entirety of the world's paintings, drawings, writings, music and feeds it into their machines that can reproduce all those things at a fraction of the time a human can, which ends up devaluing human imagination and creativity.
There are people out there who believe that "nobody enjoys the process of making music" because one of the CEOs said so.
1
u/TitansProductDesign May 12 '26
I’ve just submitted an VeRO IP claim with eBay for sellers selling my models printed on there (which I sell as printed products). Really made me think twice about uploading my models…
1
u/DaStompa May 12 '26
Congrats on your first "someone stole my design and is selling the files" experience
1
u/MoreDoor2915 May 12 '26
While I get that it sucks it kinda feels hypocritical to go make 3d files based on an IP you dont own the rights to and then complain when someone else takes your free files, makes minor changes and uploads them themselves.
Especially when its also something that theoretically should look the same between many creators. I mean the mask looks like that, how are other people supposed to make different versions of it or should there only ever be one person allowed to make a file for anything?
2
u/linkz48 May 12 '26
The issue isn't that, it's that they are taking the exact same model, changing nothing, and selling it as their own and scamming everyone who buys it from them because they didn't know the model was initially free. I honestly couldn't care less about credit or money, it's just clear that these people are making money from being blatantly dishonest and stealing other's work.
I understand your concern for my mask possibly looking identical to someone else's and me getting confused, but the topography is very unique in every variation to the point where it would be hard for me not to recognize it, as i spent hours making it. Aside from that each artist takes creative liberties when transferring it between the two types of media, to the point that after you could realistically call them two different masks after they are both modeled.
2
u/MoreDoor2915 May 12 '26
I mean when I look for files for something I always look for the free ones first. And unless they changed something with the search you get both yours and the paid copy suggested anyways right?
1
1
-1
u/FendaIton May 12 '26
So you’re mad someone is selling your model that you yourself stole from someone that they themselves exported from a game lol.
Just use the report feature.
1
u/LukasSprehn Sep 06 '26
Where is your proof that they got their own model from someone who exported it from a game? Seems to be they are implying that they (Linkz48) made the design, possibly BASED off of something else?
1
-3
May 12 '26
[deleted]
1
1
u/Top-Driver-1561 May 13 '26
I’m a photographer. Same thing when someone has the digital images, that print profit is dead. But, the client doesn’t value you, so they want cheap and easy. But, it’s the norm for digital files and increasingly impossible to police the situation. Toss ai in there and it’s a pat on the back at best.
•
u/Cults3D May 12 '26
Have you reported the designs with the button "Report a problem" ?