Freesound Forums

Since some time I'm observing how some stinking topics focus a lot of interest, and I think it's not helping to FS community. Some people, probably after these conversations - started probably to use rather restricted licences than open ones (which isn't changing the situation for those who steal sounds, but certainly does not helps to those who would like to use sounds more freely - attributing things correctly).

First thing to notice - is simple statement. No matter what they say, what matters - they speak of. In practice, it means, that google does not cares what we talk about, it gives just more popularity to words we use in our conversations.

Anyway, I have an idea.

Why not to start a separate website on a separate domain, a website that would deal with copyright infringements in somewhat similar way as some try to do here, on this forum? Point people who seem to steal from us, and point to what is stolen, but in a different, just linked but different - place.

Now - this "different place" would be better, because it could deal not only with freesound content, but also with content from other websites as well. This would make the project independent from freesound, and it would live it's own life, outside of here. There - you could become sheriffs and try to figure things out - with better or less good outcomes.

I'm really tired to read about SEF or yet another like SEF person; why should we promote them here? Why should we give an impression, that this major point of cf focus here? Why to freak out people, who start to become uncertain whether to post sounds or not?

ayamahambho, thank you for your perspective. I assure you that you are not alone in feeling like this. I have mostly now managed to stay away from that thread. At a couple of times that issue was taking too much of my time - which would be better spend on more creative and more positive things. And worse, it was causing me aggravation.

I think the SEF thread serves a purpose. Serves various purposes actually.
The main one is that SEF has, to an extent, already changed some of his behaviours. Either because he has become a better person as a result of it or because he was forced to do it. - at the end of the day, it does show that the collective force of Freesound users can take a channel down for repeated infringements.
If one bothers to read the thread, there is also a lot of good advice on what to do if you are a victim of copyright infringement, etc.

But to focus on that is still perhaps focusing on the negatives.
Freesound is a place of freespeech. So, if people want to talk about SEF and what he is up to. Let them. As long as the discussion is civil, the posts are valid and should stay there.
It is up to each of us to decide if we want to get involved with that discussion or if we rather not.

As for this "other place" to discuss copyright infringements and what to do about them - maybe it already exists. Have you searched it up?
I can't see it being created by the admins of Freesound. They do not wan to be the internet police.

This has been said a few times, by me and others:
The CC licenses are not intended to prosecute people who do copyright infringement. They are intended for people who want to SHARE material they have created with others and allow others a legal and simple way to use that material.
Once you put your stuff out there on the internet, it is bound to be copied and abused. No matter what license you put on it. So, if you can't bare the thought if it being stolen and abused then just don't put it out there. Delete your Freesound account and hide the sounds you create on encrypted CDs in a safe.

If you look at one of your sounds with 100 downloads and think how many copies of your sound are out there, as part of other things (movies, ringtones, school plays...) that is actually quite a beautifull thing.
If instead you prefer to think how many of those downloads were made by Selfish-SEFs, secretely profiting from your work. If you want to make youself sick worrying about it - you can also!
Entirely up to you.

I don't want this post to be taken as offensive. I do not mean to criticise anyone.
In fact, I respect the Freesounders driving the discussion on the SEF thread. I respect them for the level of work and commitment they have put into doing something they believe to be the right thing, even if that is a path I choose not to follow.
You should not let the SEF discussion bother you. Choose to stay away, if it is not your thing. There is plenty more to see and do and listen to at Freesound.

No worries, I moderate on some forums since over a decade, so it's difficult to... offend me.

I just see how this freaks people out. And I'm starting to wonder if there are more effective ways. It's like with mainstream media and creating so called "trends". In thinking, perceiving, etc. So I just provided an idea, that maye someone will follow. Certainly it would clean some of the mess.