Of all the threads and individuals before this one, it has been the one that has inflamed me the most. I am about to leave this forum for good over it.
What we have here is an example of someone who made some pocket change from forum users with his "custom sig". Then someone comes on to quote copywrite laws. This guy essentially made money from something he has taken from others. He has made a "reasonable facsimile" of a shape and a design that is solely owned by Honda. Did he ask Honda permission to use it for personal gain? He adds to his picture, wheels from known rim manufacturers (Volk, Mugen). Did he ask permission from those companies to use their wheel design for personal gain? He incorporates lips and spoiler from various aftermarket manufacturers (Mugen) in some of his "designs". Did he get permission from them?
Then he gets all worked up when I suggest that his design can be "saved" and modified by anyone. On top of that, his buddies come on to defend him. He is being possessive over something he has sold and is trying to bully others into not doing something (modifying and using his "product") that he himself, has done to derive his "product".
He could have posted up that "It would be appreciated if his product was not copied and modified, that he would like to maintain the uniqueness of them for the limited few." I would have understood and backed off. BUT, the very worst, is that he uses my so called "status" and forum age to condemn me for doing it. Then he brings up this whole business of how I solicited users to buy a membership, all of which has nothing to do with my view and opinion on this subject. There have always been people who throw this in my face, like I'm supposed to act a certain way because of some perceived notion of the kind of person I ought to be. I despise this and I am ENRAGED!
About 1/2 of all those DIY threads in the FAQs are of my origin. I have no qualms about allowing perfect strangers to use them. In fact, my threads have been printed off and distributed throughout the world. Do I act like a possessive cry baby about it? Do I charge people to use them? Do I prevent others from doing whatever they like with that information?
I've just been alerted to his new thread in SoCal where everyone has come to his defense and to flame me. It's interesting that I've had many of those respondents on my IGNORE list for a long time now. I won't even bother to enter that thread to defend myself. I think that's it. I'm done. I will post one more post and I will never again be seen on this site. Over 5 years here and each year, there are more and more idiots turning up.
You've been a good friend. It's been a pleasure to have met you and to have known you.