I come across stolen assets from time to time on the Roblox Platform. I take the assets down, because they are rightfully my IP, but the claimant counters it even if they KNOW it’s stolen. In this case, I DMCA’D someone’s UGC asset because it was violating my IP rights. They then contacted me and we talked about the issue. This person even admitted that this asset was stolen and still decided to file a counter notice. As a minor on the platform, it’s hard to do anything about this since you need to file a lawsuit to keep the claimant from using your assets. It is also very expensive and it’s just a lot of work to go to court over this. I’ve contacted the Copyright Agent a second time after initially taking down the stolen asset, which they accepted as well, but was later reinstated without notice to me (probably because the claimant proved that they had already countered the DMCA). I have since been able to do nothing about it and the claimant is getting paid for their uploaded UGC asset when people buy their item. This is unfair and I think Roblox should improve their reviewing system to make sure that everything is valid in the counter-notification. There is another post created just like this, but in my case, the claimant used (most likely) valid information, but still countered my DMCA illegally.
The claimant counters the DMCA by saying that the assets were textured and drawn by them. That wouldn’t be true since I uploaded the asset first and I’ve never had any contact with this guy ever?
The claimants email and phone number was redacted due to privacy concerns which doesn’t even make sense? I contacted the claimant originally and they just blocked me. When you send a counter-DMCA, you have to say you will accept service from the user who originally filed the DMCA. In this case, I couldn’t contact him any way. A house address and a Name is no way you can contact someone. And even if I sent a letter in the mail to claimant, it wouldn’t be there in time for them to reinstate the asset because I only have a 2 week period. This whole system just sucks.
I’ve blurred any information that identifies myself and the claimant due to privacy concerns, but the claimant is in red, I’m in black. The claimant clearly says they will take down the asset themselves after the period and then lies (not Roblox’s problem, but just adds to how bad this case is) and the asset is still up to this date.
Claimant also states that they have made the asset and continues to counter-DMCA my initial report (Which means their counter is a lie).
I request that users who wish to respond to this post are not responding with harassment or is attacking OP. Follow the DevFourm Guidelines. (So, you shouldn’t be making comments on what UGC is being DMCA’D, or Countered, just because what it is.)
In response to all of this, I have filed an application to the United States Copyright Office to verify my asset legally (which is paid) so that maybe I can take this stolen asset down forever. I really hope an admin or Roblox Staff can even just respond and help me with this since Copyright Agents at Roblox are not helping what so ever.
Expected behavior
- Roblox needs to better review the DMCA process and information included in Reports
- Roblox needs to check and review both original asset and IP infringing asset completely and should know when assets are literally the EXACT same. (You can compare this in blender through the mesh statistics)
- I shouldn’t need to go to court for something that is obviously stolen and the EXACT same as my original asset. (Instead the claimant should have to file a lawsuit under the circumstances that the models are the exact same.
A private message is associated with this bug report