Media Molecule “Moderates” LittleBigPlanet User Levels — By Deleting Them

by Chelsea Thompson on November 9, 2008 at 10:53 pm

It seems that even before the game’s release, LittleBigPlanet has been having problems. The latest comes from the “moderation” of user-created levels. Now, I’m pretty sure everyone was expecting all of the penis-themed LBP levels to be the first to get the crackdown, but surprisingly that isn’t the case at all. Instead, levels that include copyrighted game material–such as God of War or even Playstation 3-themed levels–are the first to be removed. This isn’t simply a deletion from the online server; the entire level is deleted and you can’t republish it.

Complaints started on the forums of LittleBigWorkshop, where a user posted the following:

Has anyone had this happen to them yet? My level was moderated (read; deleted) and now I can’t re-publish. There was absolutely nothing offensive whatsoever in the level at all and I was given no explanation as to why they moderated it or why they won’t even let me republish, even after making changes. If any mods here have any insight into why things like this happen, please enlighten me, as this totally kills the enjoyment I was getting out of this game.

The user apparently had Sonic and MGS-related items in the level, which violate the EULA. One of the developers responded in the forum with the following message:

We’re reviewing the moderating system currently to provide better feedback on why levels are moderated. Primarily, any level that is reported using the grief tool will be checked over by a moderator, at which point they’ll examine it in line with the EULA. If a level is found to be in violation of the EULA it will be moderated and you’ll receive a message to that effect.

We’re moving towards a system where additional information is given, however for the time being if you don’t want your level moderating avoid anything unsuitable for users of all ages and copyright content.

However, there is one disturbing, unresolved issue when you look closer at these two comments. The dev clearly states that if you violate the EULA, you will receive a message saying that this is the case. But it seems that the user who first posted didn’t get any type of message at all–his level was just removed.

The result of this “moderation” is mixed. Some users have been completely turned off from playing or even buying the game, and who can blame them? After spending hours upon hours creating a level that gets removed simply for using the image of a PS3, why would you want to play the game anymore? Other users simply ask that the devs outline more specifications as to what constitutues a violation of the EULA.

What’s odd about this is the clear double standard. Doesn’t the Sackzilla trailer infringe on the copyrights of films such as Godzilla and Kill Bill (one of the sackboys is clearly wearing a yellow jumpsuit modeled after the one worn by Uma Thurman)? It seems a little unfair that the company promotes this type of creation in its own trailer, but denies it in user created content.

Source: Destructoid.com

Tags: copyright infringement, EULA, LittleBigPlanet, Media Molecule, user-created content

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Chad Lakkis

Um, I don't get it. Isn't LBP based on dreams? The whole creative intro is based on the dreams of others. Guess this means that we aren't allowed to "dream" of copyrighted material. BS.

Mykul

I was planing on buying this game, but I think I've changed my mind.

Faiizow

What? Because of this?

I'm pretty sure they delete most of the stuff that is inappropriate. Just don't offend anyone and have fun. ^_^

Patrick Steen

Hopefully they come up with a better system...but should Sony pay out to every company that owns the copyrighted material?

Chelsea Thompson

I was talking about this with John earlier, and he was saying they should just do it like Youtube: Keep the content up unless a company complains and expressly asks them to take it down.

Dan Landis

Doesn't anyone know about the fair use rights written into copyright law? As long as the work does not intend to be a complete remake or substitute of the original, especially if there is no financial gain involved, it is most likely NOT a violation of copyright and does NOT need to be licensed. This is partly why clips taken directly from TV shows end up removed from YouTube, but a social commentary full of clips taken from TV shows does not.

Creators often take as their raw material an example of popular culture, which they comment on in some way. They may add unlikely subtitles. They may create a fan tribute (positive commentary) or ridicule a cultural object (negative commentary). They may comment or criticize indirectly (parody), as well as directly.

Creators also may make entirely new works solely out of existing ones, like a "video collage". Mashups (the combining of different materials to compose a new work), remixes (the re-editing of an existing work), and music videos all use this technique of recombining existing material. Other makers achieve similar effects by adding their own new expression (subtitles, images, dialog, sound effects, or animation) to existing works.

Basically, if you are "transforming" the original content in any way, adding to it, critiquing it, using it in a form that was not its original, then you are likely covered under fair use rights. I think anything recreated using 2D objects and interacted with by anthropomorphic hackeysacks would be covered under fair use. I personally think Sony and/or Media Molecule are just being pussies, same as with the removal of the 'offensive' song. What they're doing is culturally ignorant.

Beau Rosser

Yeah, but then again, Dan, they are the developers of the game, and can do whatever they want with the content. As soon as someone uploads their level, it becomes Media Molecule's level. In the digital space, ownership and rights are a huge grey area.

As for the whole situation in general: Are their more people complaining about their levels being taken down too, or is this just one isolated incident involving the above mentioned person and their level(s)?

If this is just one person's levels who have been "policed" and removed, then it is not indicative of Sony or Media Molecule's stance on the content being moderated.

It would be like Jack Thompson saying all kids are shooting each other because of video games, even though each of the shootings were completely separate and did not have anything to do with one another.

The situation sucks, but the fact of the matter is that legally, Sony can take down any god damn thing they want because the user pressed the "X" button when the EULA agreement came up.

And this right here is based off no fact at all: I'm sure these moderation are coming from Sony's mouth and not Media Molecule.

Dan Landis

Yes, it is ultimately Sony's decision to do whatever they want, but it doesn't make them any less of a bunch of dicks to not allow people the creative freedom they promoted when they advertised the game. Yes, this is not based off of a huge public outcry so far (and hopefully it doesn't turn into one), but the fact that it happens at all is not cool. Talking legally, is saying Sony can do "any god damn thing they want" supposed to be some kind of justification for this happening? I guess people should just not invest any time into creating LBP levels just in case Sony doesn't like them. We should all know better now having read this article.

Man, what were we thinking? Trying to be creative, pfft.

Beau Rosser

Nah, I'm not justifying the action at all, I was just saying that they are in their right TO do something like this. It sucks, but yeah.

You hear me Dan!? It SUCKS!

But couldn't we argue that using a licensed item or character is NOT being creative since the user didn't technically "create" it themselves.

Eh? Eh?

I hate you with love. Man Mandis love.

Dan Landis

I didn't say YOU were justifying it, I was saying "is that how Sony justifies it 'We can do whatever we want.'"

Using licensed items and characters can still be creative -- you're just being silly now. Is MC Hammer's 'Can't Touch This' not creative because the music was from Rick James? If I wear Hammer-pants and make a video, is it not creative because I didn't design or create the Hammer-pants myself? If I put up a christmas tree, is it not creative unless I jizzed the seed into my yard and grew the tree myself, watering it with my spit and fertilizing it with my own feces?

I love you with hate, the hate of a 12-inch Beauner.

Beau Rosser

I just read the "jizzing of seed" line and LITERALLY laughed out loud.

Problem is... I'm in class and everyone looked.

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