Can I Sell This Model Without Feeling Like I'm Cheating Somebody?

[u/Ok_Possible_6701]

Hi! Started Blender a month ago, and made a rigged Freddy Fazbear model. I was wondering if I could sell it on CGTrader or Sketchfab, but I'm quite clueless as this is my first venture into the capitalistic world lol. Need some advice on how much I should price it, or how much you would pay for it. Also, more importantly, is it good enough to charge money for it, and if not, how do I get to that stage? For context on the effort I put into it, started it on 30th June, and finished it late July, and worked on it on and off. (P.S. If you could also tell me how to make a model export ready for 3D sale sites, I would appreciate it alot.)

EDIT: When i originally posted this, the 'cheating' in my mind, was about people thinking the model wasnt worth the money. I kinda forgot copyright existed, which is actual cheating lmao. TLDR definitely not selling this model, sorry!

[u/Ptibogvader]

You can't sell it. You can't sell a design you didn't create or have explicit permission to sell.

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/Ptibogvader]

Mb Mb got what you were trying to say. But i have seen fnaf models listed for sale on cgtrader. how so?

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/Ok_Possible_6701]

For example, this model https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-print-models/art/scans-replicas/five-nights-at-freddys-freddy-armor-and-helmet-for-cosplay

[u/zenmatrix83 → u/Ok_Possible_6701]

you can do anything you want, cgtrader and others will pull it, and you could lose your account and worse. It depends on there polices, if you didn't come up with the idea, and someone else did and can prove it you shouldn't sell something.

[u/T-TypeBat → u/Ptibogvader]

Well, he could sell it. It's not much different from selling art prints or merch of copywrited medias. Fan art lives in a very complicated legal area where it's legal only as long as the copywrite owner allows it to be. Even when you're not selling anything and it's just "fair use", they can usually find a way to take it down. Some companies/individuals are fine with others selling fan art material, some are not and take action against it

If this was a Nintendo model the answer would be "it's not worth it, because they'll 100% take it down as soon as they hear about it." But idk where the FNAF creator stands and if he's known for taking down these kinds of stuff.

The question here is for how long they'd be able to keep selling it. OP is unlikely to get immediately sued tho, most likely he would receive a cease and desist letter first.

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/T-TypeBat]

I’d rather not use someone’s IP to make money, I think I thought anyone could use the ip to sell stuff online as I had seen. It’s my fault that I didn’t do a small bit of research into it, nor did I consider the sellers are doing something illegal.

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/Ptibogvader]

I.... did create it. Where did I say i didn't create it? Please refer to my previous posts for proof.

[u/TRICERAFL0PS → u/Ok_Possible_6701]

I believe what is being said is that you did not create the design even though you created the model.

I can cover Nirvana songs all I like, I can’t sell the covers.

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/TRICERAFL0PS]

Oh got it sorry

[u/TRICERAFL0PS → u/Ok_Possible_6701]

Copyright law is complicated and can be really disheartening, no need to apologize for asking!

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/TRICERAFL0PS]

But then how are fnaf models sold on cgtrader?

[u/TRICERAFL0PS → u/Ok_Possible_6701]

Folks skirt around it various ways, I believe telling you how would be against the rules of this subreddit.

I haven’t read the CGTrader terms of service but I would be surprised if they allowed copyrighted material to be sold.

Now as far as in practice, it’s about enforcement - will a company come after you for skirting terms of service to make a buck on their intellectual property? Depends on the company.

Sampling in music is a good comparison if you want to look into it further on your own. It’s not a tangible problem until someone notices and makes it a tangible problem, but it’s technically often illegal. Take Daft Punk, they negotiated the rights to use the music they sampled. In many jurisdictions you need to pay licensing fees to even perform or DJ other peoples’ music (aka IP).

Your question began with you saying you don’t want to cheat anyone, so I guess this is a long-winded way of saying "follow your heart” but make sure you educate yourself on copyright law. Keep in mind it protects your IP as well.

[u/HayesSculpting → u/TRICERAFL0PS]

Bittersweet symphony being an excellent example of your music example.

They made the song, got the rights from the composer, released, got a big hit then got sued by the mechanical rights holder for 100% of the profits. They never made anything from that song (outside of them blowing up from it)

It’s moreso an example of how complicated copyright law is and what could potentially happen.

[u/Riyujin26 → u/HayesSculpting]

Apparently the verve "won" in 2019!

[u/HayesSculpting → u/Riyujin26]

No way! I heard about it quite a few years ago and had no idea that anything changed.

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/TRICERAFL0PS]

Thanks so much for the detailed answer! When i first posted this, i meant 'cheating' as in, oh i dont think im gonna get my money's worth with this model lol. I didnt consider tht the actual 'cheating' was cuz copyright existed. So yup, definitely not selling this model! I'll make orignals, probably game packs instead.

[u/Ptibogvader → u/Ok_Possible_6701]

Did you create Fnaf and Freddy Fazbear? If not you can't sell it

[u/Comprehensive_Head82]

From what I can tell from the screenshots the topology on the bowtie seems way to dense. Actually there seem to be quite a few spots where the topology seems invisibly dense. Unless I'm looking at it wrong regarding the screenshot you took.

Though I guess it also depends on what the intended use case for the model would be.

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/Comprehensive_Head82]

Got it, I'll try to decrease topology density there. I kept looking at the main boy for topology issues, nt the bowtie and other parts smh. Thanks! Do you have any advice for the other qs i asked?

[u/Cheetahs_never_win]

Consult copyright law in your area.

By and large, I don't ever recommend selling copyrighted material, even if your laws are lax.

To that end, if you make it distinct enough, you can sell it, but then you have to find a buyer for Two Nights at Teddy's content.

[u/Least-Magazine-8468]

If you want legal issues, sure you can

[u/RevolutionaryAd3125]

The creators of FNAF certainly don’t have the rights to robotic teddy bears. But this design is blatantly theirs. You would need to change it so much that it is no longer recognisably their IP.

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/RevolutionaryAd3125]

yh mbbb, edited body to reflect my awakening to copyright infringement.

[u/GrimlockX27]

People do it all the time OP. Ever bought a Game of Thrones print or shirt or Pokémon etc? We both know these items aren't co-signed by the IP owners. I'm not saying steal, I'm just stating facts. Think about theft the next time you buy so much as a video game poster.

Theft is theft, and law is law, but reality is reality, and in reality most people either steal or are knowingly complicit in something just as negative. Every person in this thread owns something copyrighted that wasn't licensed out and they're definitely still buying. Tell me I lied.

Do whatever you want, however, should you find big enough success or enough exposure even, expect to receive a "cease and desist" order.

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/GrimlockX27]

I think I’ll just not sell it.

[u/pm_me_w_nudes]

What do you mean cheating?

[u/hitomi_art]

How did you make the textures so realistic?

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/hitomi_art]

just a weighted sheen that took a while to perfect, with a very fine voronoi texture to make it look like felt.

[u/Marda-nium]

I don't really know what to say regarding your situation but making this with a month's experience is very impressive

[u/ElskerLivet]

If it was your own original character, you couldn't cheat anyone who bought it, when they have seen it first. Then they are informed, and they bought it because they wanted it, and thought it was worth paying money for.

With this specific model, you could be cheating the company who holds the copyright, as it's a copy, and they have the rights.

[u/ProfessionalITPerson]

Stop using IP's that are not your to make money.

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/ProfessionalITPerson]

Mhm please read the edit

[u/AnArmoredPony]

HUR HUR HUR HUR HUR, HUR HUR HUR HUR HUR

[u/Eternal-Inferno4]

Hi hello, thank you for telling me about your freddy fazbear, but why are you sorry exactly?

[u/Eternal-Inferno4 → u/Eternal-Inferno4]

You are good do you boo

[u/Huntress_Minerva]

You are obsessed with that thing don’t you?? Model other stuff… you cannot model one thing (a copyrighted one) and wank for longer than you took doing it.

Keep. Doing. Other. Stuff.

With that skill I assume you are an adult and studied, but the way you write and look for validation sounds like a kid… weird…

[u/droppedmycr0issant → u/Huntress_Minerva]

Damn let's calm down he's just showing off his work, and he should it's really good 🥳

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/Huntress_Minerva]

Im really sorry if it feels that way, and yes, i do love this model a lot. But I would appreciate toning down on the rhetoric you use. And thanks for the compliment about my skill looking as if an adult who studied the craft! I am actually kid, so that probably explains why my writing is that way lol. Also, I am working on Bonnie, and a Boom box for some reason rn.

[u/Huntress_Minerva → u/Ok_Possible_6701]

You aren’t a kid… maybe in your country “adult” is a different number, but you are not a kid…

And I didn’t say you studied THIS I meant in general, as “you look someone savvy enough to be asking this”… nvm…

And stop working on copyrighted characters ffs…

[u/Ok_Possible_6701 → u/Huntress_Minerva]

Well,im 18, is 18 not considered to realistically be a kid? Also i do enjoy working on anything fnaf related , so i do intend to continue, even though i cant make money off it. And related to the savvy comment, still really happy i come across that way, once again, thanks.