CGTrader is taking our models for their Ai app whit no compensation to us !!!

Discussion started by labicko

If you did not noticed, CG-T sent us an email about their new Ai platform, where they are using our models to generate profit whit no compensation for us what so ever. So they are not using the 3D models and our render images for training the Ai (if we should believe their word) that is a gray area on its own, but even worse they are using actual 3d models in their app to generate image. So they are taking all of our models for free and spit in our face telling us that we have to accept.

I advice everyone to delete all the files they have on the platform and leave. Also there are people who will start an organization to start a legal battle as they deserve to be punished for this kind of act.

Answers

Posted 16 days ago
-2

I haven't received any email... apart from this, no one is safe for the AI about 2D images... for 3D data instead there should be a request whether to participate or not...

Posted 16 days ago
1

Maybe at first you should better learn for whom and for what purpose this platform was created before hysterical yelling that you were robbed and deceived.

Posted 16 days ago
2

I received a personal email from CGT about this and this is what I was told:
1) Its not used to train AI
2) If your products are chosen you are compensated for them (if you wish to participate)
3) Its a 3 month trial for their new AI product (basically 3D for people who dont know how to do 3D). If its a success then they will write a full legal FAQ which you can participate yes/no, they will not take your products from you without consent.

Posted 16 days ago
2

Wow. Bold accusations without all the facts.

Posted 16 days ago
-1

First of all Ai image generators are not something that is legal, what is the difference between taking 2D image whit no consent and taking our 3D models ???? Or is it OK to take other people stuff as long as they do not take my? So as far as legality goes picture is very clear. If they have no problem taking one people stuff trust me they will not have any problem taking our stuff as well. Adobe took everything from their stock and did not pay a penny and are not planning to pay anyone anything.

Second you can not take someone's property and say I will give you couple of penny's if I want, when I want. You first ask if this is OK and then you can take it.

So again they are taking our 3D models whit no consent to generate a profit, they did not ask us if we want to participate they just took it. And if you learn anything from other platforms we will not get anything. The only difference is that when an image is use as a training data, that is hard to prove as you will need access to the training data and they are not obliged to show us that, at list until EU law gets in place. Here is very easy to see if your model is being used by them so it way more easy to start a legal process.

If they are doing a demo then they could have purchased a 1000 models and play around whit that.

jaguarbeastproduction wrote
jaguarbeastproduction
You already filed a lawsuit against Adobe with their Neural Filters?
ebalstudios wrote
ebalstudios
I just deleted all of my 3D models with CGTrader. They simply can no longer be trusted. No need to waste time discussing them.
Posted 13 days ago
0

Hello everyone :) I am here to clear some things up so we can all avoid speculating.

CGDream is our latest app that combines 3D models with AI to generate 2D visuals.

How are 3D models used?
They are ONLY used as guides for the composition of the final image. The 3D models or any other type of your data are not used for AI training. For now CGDream only uses free models that are available for anyone to download on CGTrader. We are not using paid content without permission or payment to the designer.

What about paid 3D models?
CGTrader will soon offer designers to sell their 3D models to CGDream users. This helps designers make more money from their best models and also safeguard their art, as buyers can't download the models, only use them in CGDream.

Since users with no 3D background can use CGDream with 3D models, paid or free, this is a great opportunity for 3D designers to create a brand new source of income on CGDream by sharing the content to even more professionals and hobbyists.

We have already started gathering paid content for CGDream and many designers are very happy to participate. For anyone interested in monetizing further their 3D models just go to comingsoon.cgdream.ai , give us your email and we will soon contact you.

For more information visit our blog post https://www.cgtrader.com/blog/cgtrader-introduces-cgdream-advancing-2d-image-creation-with-ai-and-3d-models

Or go directly on www.cgdream.ai for a first hand experience.

mak21 wrote
mak21
Hello Thanos... I ask a question. 1_ If I understand correctly, with premium subscriptions users can upload their 3D models and integrate them into the Ai generation. 2_Obviously all free 3D models here or elsewhere can be inserted into the simulation without asking permission from the authors as they are already free models. best regards. Mak21
jaguarbeastproduction wrote
jaguarbeastproduction
Really? Just because a model is free doesn't mean that it can be used any way without permission.
Posted 13 days ago
-2

all very interesting... obviously we know that without a talent for composition... it will just be a tool to generate variations upon variations.... but these solutions are also welcome... I'm curious to know the compensation for the artists in the future .... I think it will be related to use of their contents. if you sell subscriptions for $10 they will be a few $ or cents.... we'll see how it will be in the future....
Thanks for the explanations...

3DCargo wrote
3DCargo
Currently the sale price is 1.5x your current price for that model. So not subscription based. Maybe after they do the trial that could change however its a one time sale fee. I thought about this for awhile myself and was hoping that it would be subscription based, but now I think about it more my thoughts are - well if you sold the model it could be used in lots of different situations anyway so at least the 3D asset itself cannot be downloaded so why not give it a shot. If its worth it ill stick with it, if not then change strategy of course. By signing the agreement you don't sell all of your models, only the ones that are specifically chosen for the platform. Obviously CGT make the most of the profit in this scenario but if you are already selling that content then its just another form of income, if you are not then you finally get some income lol. Not entirely win-win but is a potential source of income (once off) that may be interesting to some users. I always like to stick my fingers in the pudding and see what happens, you never know what the future holds. Otherwise you can choose to do what you like.
Posted 13 days ago
-3

thanks for the explanation 3DCargo ....

3DCargo wrote
3DCargo
youre welcome ...
Posted 13 days ago
2

@3DCargo, is that one time payment that cgtrader pays for designer for the right to use their model unlimited times, or is that amount that AI service user pays to cgtrader for right to use that particular model? It's quite confusing. In any case, such pricing seems quite odd to me. I think subscription would make more sense, although that probably would make difficult for cgtrader to calculate the royalties to designers.

I'm not rushing to throw my models to that service. Maybe later, when i see if it's somewhat popular, at the moment all that AI craziness seems utterly useless to me.

Posted 13 days ago
1

@LemonadeCG:
one time payment that cgtrader pays for designer for the right to use their model unlimited times

Yep.

@LemonadeCG:
or is that amount that AI service user pays to cgtrader for right to use that particular model?

I have no idea what they pay cgtrader. I assumed it means: You sell your model to CGT (whichever they pick) like a normal customer, but you give them the rights to use it in their AI thing. (unlimmited use for each model purchased)

@LemonadeCG:
It's quite confusing. In any case, such pricing seems quite odd to me. I think subscription would make more sense, although that probably would make difficult for cgtrader to calculate the royalties to designers.

Yep agree, a subscription would make more sense. I dont know how difficult it would be, I would assume CGT have done their research and its potentially beneficial for them and their customers. It could also be beneficial for sellers here, I dont sit on one side or the another, everyone has the option to sell their content as they wish. It could pay off, it might not, its a risk some are willing to take.

LemonadeCG wrote
LemonadeCG
Thanks for the answers! That clears things up. It looks like the system is set up for designers to lose. Cgtrader will buy some ultra cheap models for $3 and will be milking them forever.
tobiasrieper wrote
@LemonadeCG and 3DCargo Is cgdream user who generate Ai images using models bought here allowed to sell those images as stock photography for example ?
3DCargo wrote
3DCargo
@LemonadeCG - Maybe, I would guess they only need around 500 or so models to begin with. I dont really know how it all works yet since its all still quite new so probably color variations are included free for the customer, maybe its a success and they need more models, but there is certainly a ceiling at some point. @tobiasrieper - Not sure, they have some use cases in the link that Thanos mentioned above, seems able to be used for commercial purposes. I dont know about re-selling, I'm sure they will clear all that up once it becomes a thing. I had quite a few questions which the answers to were quite unclear at this stage as they are still testing it.
Posted 12 days ago
1

Hi everyone, thank you for your comments and feedback! It is great to hear your opinions and understand your thinking when it comes to AI and usage of 3D models.

I wanted to add additional clarifications regarding the usage of your 3D models in CGDream.ai. We are fully aware that AI is a very sensitive topic and we are aim to use it in a way that brings the most benefits to designers.

We believe CGDream.ai can open a new revenue stream for you and please note:
1) We do not use any paid models there without your explicit consent.
2) We use selected free models in the app as it is permitted by our terms (and any other user and app creator would be able to use it that way, as these models are not used for AI training).
3) We have offered a selected group of designers a one-off fee to showcase their models on CGDream for a pilot period of several months, while we promote and kickstart CGDream to bigger volumes.

After this period, we aim to provide a way for each CGDream user to purchase / license the models they want to use on CGDream so that we maximize your revenue. CGTrader is buying a select set of models only for the initial period to showcase the app's features and see how users are interacting with them, but this is not the business model we plan for CGDream, instead our goal is to unlock a new client base for you that would pay for using your models. I hope this clarifies our approach - please let me know if you have any other comments or questions!

Posted 3 days ago
1

Who else got this email? lol and so it begins...

We are seeing multiple parties willing to purchase your models for Generative AI. To make the process seamless, we are automatically changing our default license into being AI-friendly so that the interested parties can start purchasing your models. This license will permit using the models for AI training and unlock new business models and future monetization opportunities that make the most of the changing AI landscape.

We believe AI can be used to benefit the artists in a transparent and designer-friendly way and strive to help you maximize the income you get from your model portfolio. However, if you prefer otherwise, you retain complete control and can opt out of the AI-friendly license by choosing NO-AI license at any time.

3DCargo wrote
3DCargo
FYI this is just a snippet from the email, not the entire email. So please dont take it out of context, but its fairly clear either way.
ebalstudios wrote
ebalstudios
I deleted all of my 3D models instantly form CGTrader. I distrust CGTrader so much now that I doubt if they will attempt to steal the 3D models without permission.
Posted 3 days ago
9

Cgtrader CEO "we are fully aware that AI is a very sensitive topic". Week later changes default license to AI embracing without any warning. While most other marketplaces makes significant efforts to restrain exploitation of designers by generative AI owners, cgtrader is ready bend over backwards to please its enterprise clients. It's funny how they used to position themselves as people's marketplace and now they turned to be as evil as their main nemesis used to be.

3DCargo wrote
3DCargo
Not to mention just last week being told: "We are happy to announce that we are making your payout experience faster and better! To ensure you receive your earnings more quickly and efficiently, we are transitioning to Hyperwallet, a top tier payout solution by PayPal. As part of this upgrade, please note that previous payout methods are now unavailable. " Oh yeah, huge "upgrade"!. I love an 'upgrade' that makes me do extra work just to get paid as per usual... I dont know whats going on but with how many things on plate I rather a few less to be honest. AI, Google and Hyperwallet changes, not to mention the other crap Ive got to keep up to date with, my god I think I need an AI assistant lol. I think I'm getting old, I'm scared to even buy a new pair of headphones because I have to install something on my phone which sits in my top draw 95% of the time lol.
dalia-lasaite wrote
LemonadeCG, thank you for the comment. I want to emphasize that you have full control over the model license, we see it as a big opportunity and want to make sure designers who are interested are compensated fairly. We are not doing any AI related deals for the next two weeks, to make sure everyone who wants has a chance to opt out. I hope this clarifies the issue, designer-friendly is in our DNA since the beginning and we are still working very hard to bring all possible opportunities for designers - but fully understand if you are not interested as well
dalia-lasaite wrote
3DCargo, indeed, there have been quite a lot of announcements recently as we've been working to improve the marketplace. Regarding Hyperwallet, we fully appreciate it is extra work for you, but this will be bringing faster payments, and any savings in payment fees will be passed to designers. I agree it is a bit annoying to do register on Hyperwallet / Paypal, but hopefully you will be seeing benefits soon
3DCargo wrote
3DCargo
Yeah me too @dalia-lasaite. Its all done now and wasnt too hard so I'm glad. My point was that some of us have a lot going on, especially around Christmas and its just the worst time to be rethinking about financial decisions. For example I have all my yearly licences to pay, website bills, I'm also moving country, having to consider tax implications etc, just life stuff. So my point was having more things on top of that is not fun. But it is what it is. Thats life I suppose.
ebalstudios wrote
ebalstudios
They are far more evil in my opinion. They just sent the E-mail about AI so casually as if they assumed everyone is OK with it (playing dumb) which in fact they most certainly knew it was an issue. They even sent the E-mails in batches so that they avoid the fiasco of some other stores where artists banded together. Signing up for CGTrader was a huge huge mistake. I am going to write a blog about it and if I have time will make a youtube video. I regret so much wasting time with this establishment.
Posted 3 days ago
0

@ jaguarbeastproduction for the free models it is not clear.... because I am sure that those who download them use them in their works....
so you will see that they will also end up in the Ai.... here or elsewhere...

jaguarbeastproduction wrote
jaguarbeastproduction
I am against whipping up any hysteria, about AI in particular. I have already written more than once about my attitude about AI and CGT Team in general, I see no point in repeating myself.
dalia-lasaite wrote
Hi mak21, AI usage is not allowed for users who download free models, so it automatically defaults to No-AI version
Posted 3 days ago
1

Well, the technology of "cgdream.ai" looks really cool, to be honest.
However, I'm not sure how I feel about Character models being used for this. From what I've seen elsewhere, people are using Ai Image generators to create hundreds, and thousands of images of the same character, or similar looking characters, and flood the internet with these images, trying to sell image packs, building "virtual influencers", and what not. Basically, trying to make a profit with little effort. These people are not hobbyist or casual enthusiasts, who just want to create a cute image to hang on their walls. They want MONEY!, easy money. Not to mention the issue with NSFW imagery...
The problem I see, is that if the internet is flood with images of a 3d Character I made, then suddenly the 3d model itself becomes cheap and less exclusive. So fewer people are going to be interested in buying a model that they have seen many times in other places.
I think I am going to opt out of the Ai thing, at least for the characters models that I consider sensitive, and the ones that I would like to be perceived as "exclusive".

Posted 3 days ago
1

One interesting thing to consider, is to offer the designers the option of making models exclusively for Cgdream. Since these Ai models would only be used to create 2d images, it is not necessary to create UVs, or care about retopology, edge flow, texturing, hair, detailed clothing, or many other tedious 3d tasks that are needed to create a traditional "good quality" model. I imagine the Ai generator can create and change all the surface details, so the only really important thing is the actual form and shape of the object.
This would mean we, as designers, could create many more models in less time, if we don't have to worry about all the technicalities, and the only objective is to make something with a cool design/shape.

I would be interested in creating characters exclusively for Cgdream, if that means for example not having to create hair, which I find always to be tedious. I could just sculpt a quick volume for the hairstyle, and let the Ai create the detail hair. That would be really cool.

Posted 3 days ago
3

Thank you for posting, I just received their E-mail and instantly deleted all of my 3D models from this store.

Posted 2 days ago
2

It's a shame what the CGTrader team is doing here. These people belong behind bars. We have relied on CGtrader for our end customer and visualization projects so far, this is the last time we will buy anything through this site.

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