You may not know this, but when you upload something to Thingiverse, Thingiverse owns it. They can modify, distribute and even sell your model, without credit or acknowledgment, regardless of the license you specified. See section 2.5 and 3.2 here
In that light, is there a good alternative to Thingiverse ?
GitHub
3d printing really needs a good CVS. A file format or design-UI supportin git would be nice.
(IANAL)
Actually, those Terms Of Use clearly state that you retain ownership of your design.
You are, however, granting Thingiverse a full license to use your designs in pretty much any way they see fit, with the limitation clause, “solely for the purposes of including your User Content in the Site and Services”.
It seems pretty reasonable, considering the free service they are providing.
Yah, that’s pretty much the license they need to have in order to not be in violation themselves.
Those TOS have been fuel for discussion a couple times already. Legally speaking, you will never lose the ownership to your designs and like @Jasper_Janssen said, you need to grant them this limited license to run the site.
If you’re worried about thingiverse, you should check out the TOS of Facebook or Google Plus - they’re even less restricted and would allow e.g. Facebook to sell copies of your images (while the Thingiverse TOS would not).
Section 2.5 only refers to the site and not user content.
There are other companies making and selling stuff I’ve designed that was downloaded from thingiverse, but this is because of the type of license I applied. So the thingiverse terms are not really an issue to me.
Thingiverse is a good site, well made, fast, and is pretty much the ideal platform to showcase my stuff. Thingiverse provides a good service.
Thanks everyone.
Repables.com is an upcoming alternative. Might need a /beta at the end to gain access for the time being
https://www.youmagine.com/ is made by Ultimaker. Unlike Makerbot we’re doing our best to open up and work with our users. We’re already talking about github intergration and are improving fast because of ideas from the users.
We’re also working on open API’s to allow everything from website to desktop or phone app access the information. While the API documentation hasn’t been released yet, some of the implementation can already be found in the Cura sources.
I don’t think that’s what they say. They don’t “own” it, they get certain user rights - that’s not the same. And you can determine how others can use and download your design (e.g. creative commons). Not as bad as you claim, but then again, this is a tricky and complex area.
The real tragedy (to me) of the whole legal freak out that happened a while back was the disappearance of designs from thingiverse. Some because the owner didn’t want their design’s ownership compromised, some out of protest. Both because it was clear they didn’t understand the licensing. I don’t fault MakerBot for the language in the TOS. They’re obligated to have it to protect themselves. Sooner or later someone will get upset that MakerBot featured their design, or something else equally banal, and there will be a legal question. MakerBot addressed this in a blog post, but it’s clear that people don’t understand the legalise.
They accually work with app makers who sell the models from thingiverse. My model is up there too.
I mean, i don’t mind anyone to make my “thing”. But if you’re going to sell them by the dozen, i would appreciate some of the profit…
“App makers”?
Yeah i found an app in the ios app store that sell’s every model from thingiverse. Printed ofcourse…
@Mano_Biletsky_Open_M what makes you think thingiverse itself is part of that, though?
Given anyone could download from thingverse.
DefCad have scrapped Thinigverse in it’s entirety about two weeks ago, and hosted it all on their website (without credit or licensing information)
2.5 excludes “User Content”, which includes your models.
3.2 is “solely for the purposes of including your User Content in the Site and Services”, they can’t sublicense for any other purpose
Ok that must be a new thing this is why I see users with Idol accounts. Good thing I donot put things on thingy-verse I only use the Stuff others where stupid enough to post on there no wonder why I got the Gears from people when I posted a Pic of my Persa Mendel and I will not post when I have made a thing… they are waiting to start charging people or Sueing people for Reproducing there work.