The Mall Rules For Creators
& Infraction Consequences
(2008)

Last Update: Feb. 2008 By coffinpest MM

About the Mall and Objects
The Mall is a focal point for the Citizens who enjoy the 3D aspects of Cybertown. The mission of the Mall is to provide objects that the Citizens can place in their homes, give to others, trade or sell, as they wish. It also serves as a venue for object builders to display and distribute their creations to their fellow Citizens. These objects are either for the general use of any Citizen (Mall items), for private use (Personal Holds), or for Events (Colony/City Events Holds - trophies, awards, etc.). Citizens of Cybertown create these objects according to their levels of skill and talent in creating VRML objects. The people creating these objects for their fellow Citizens deserve respect for their creations. Neither the City Council nor Mall personnel wishes to curtail the freedom of creation of any Creator.  However their creations must also adhere to certain standards, which will be discussed below.

Any member of Cybertown is allowed to upload their own creations to the Mall for sale to other Citizens. The creator will receive 80 % of the items value when it is sold in the Mall. The remaining 20 % will be transferred to a Mall Fund used for events and awards. There is no upload fee.  Even though there is no upload fee, by default you must have the funds to upload, but you will not be charged.

Regular uploads are uploaded through the upload button. Hold uploads are uploaded by the hold system.  On the top of the holds page there is an option to upload an object for colony or city events hold.  Please read the rules below for the requirements for event holds.

At upload, the Creator grants Cybertown the right to distribute their item by means of individuals transferring items to and from stores, homes and backpacks. The Creator still retains the copyright to the item, and neither Cybertown nor any other Citizen but the Creator has the right to redistribute the items outside of Cybertown, or to increase the number of instances available in Cybertown, without the Creator's consent. (IVN has the right, however, to use the items for promotional purposes.)

UPLOADING
 

CONTENT GUIDELINES (Menu)
The following are not allowed in items, images or their names:

• No copyrighted objects are permitted or the object creator must have express permission for the use of the copyrighted object.
  
• No objects depicting drugs, or sex.
  
• No objects ridiculing, humiliating or assaulting other people - Citizens or others
  
• No representations of poor taste, sexist, racist, hatred or other generally offensive content
  
• No objects encouraging violence or depicting extreme violence. 3D weapons are allowed as long as they do not mimic through animation the injury or execution of someone. In images, battle/fight scenes are allowed if they do not show actual injury or "blood and gore".
  
• Pornographic or clearly erotic material. Full nudity is not allowed; pubic areas (and behinds) of depictions of both men and women, and nipples of women must always be covered. Poses and outfits that suggest erotic or pornographic content are not allowed. Sculptures should have a uniform color different from flesh-tones, and/or ornamental details covering pubic areas, behinds and female nipples. Note: Paintings containing humanoids which are even slightly scantly clad may be sent to security for clearance.
  (female minimum coverage reference image)
  
• There has been a lot of discussion as to whether we should allow such items as handcuffs and whips and in studying all the points of view expressed in these discussions, we have come up with a middle ground that should make sense to most. A lot of discussion has been about items that "could be associated with" lifestyles that aren't appropriate for a family-friendly environment. That concept - "could be associated with" - is the key. Handcuffs, for instance, "could be associated with" police work, with prisons, with S&M activities etc. and when one sees a picture of an isolated pair of handcuffs one often has no way of knowing what the context is. A pair of handcuffs seen in an image that also contains spiked collars and chains however or that shows a person with a collar and chain around their neck, for instance, is more obviously associated with S&M activities.
  
• More Details about Graphics Guidelines set by the Founder

Whenever the Mall Checkers find an item to contain any of the above, or find they might be offensive to some elements of the Citizens of Cybertown, they have the authority to refuse the upload of an item with undesirable content and may refer the object to security for review.

TECHNICAL GUIDELINES (Menu)

Please use the Mall Scale to check your Object prior to uploading; it will save you time and rejections for simple mistakes.

1. General Considerations (Menu)
   1. Mall Viewers are a primary concern. Much of what VRML is allowed and not allowed in CT has to do with the Mall Object Viewers located in each store. Please make sure that your object does not hinder these viewers, or cause them to malfunction. All objects must turn in the viewers so they can be viewed from all sides.
2. VRML (Menu)
   1. All files must be in VRML '97 format. VRML 1.0 is no longer permitted.
   2. All files must be exported as a VRML '97 World. H-Anim Containers are not permitted. Avatar protos are not permitted.
   3. All files must be Gzipped to conserve space on the servers, Spazz automatically Gzips, if you hand code, VRML pad and chisel can Gzip also.
   4. The maximum size for the (Gzipped) VRML file is 55 kB.
3. Animation
(Menu)
• All animations must have the ability to be stopped by the user. Weather this is by ProximitySensor, VisibilitySensor, or TouchSensor. This is because running animations is a major cause of lag in 3D homes.
4. Viewpoints (Menu)
   1. Viewpoints may be used if they are inherent to the object’s function such as an animated ride.
   2. All viewpoints must automatically unbind when you step away from it. This prevents people getting stuck in the object. The only exception to this is if you are bound to a viewpoint that takes you to a different room (ex. TARDIS by Saplus) in which case the exit must be clearly marked.
   3. If you use a viewpoint, you are limited to as many viewpoints as necessary. However, only one viewpoint may have a description. This is to prevent too many viewpoints being listed on the user’s Viewpoint list.
5. Lights (Menu)
   1. PointLights and SpotLights are permitted, while DirectionalLights are strictly prohibited (as they cause lag).
   2. Lights can only be used if they are inherent to the object’s function. An example would be a lamp.
   3. Please, use lights sparingly. No more than 3 lights per object.
   4. Lights must be off by default. The user must turn them on via toggle
      
6. Fog (Menu)
   1. Fog nodes are permitted however, the code that Spazz3D exports for Fog is not entirely compatible with Blaxxun Contact. Fog nodes need to be hand coded or exported from a different program than Spazz3D.
7. Backgrounds (Menu)
   1. Background will not affect an item once the item is dropped in a world and may help show off a dark item in the 3D preview. Items animated to alter backgrounds will, however, not be allowed. Keep in mind that backgrounds do add to the overall size of the VRML.
8. Links (Menu)
   1. Links to external sites are not allowed (e.g. to files on your hard drive, or to other websites).
   2. Inlines are prohibited.
      
9. PROTOs (Menu)
   1. PROTOs are permitted however, EXTERNPROTOs are not. The only exception to this rule is if you are calling a function from the Blaxxun Class Libraries for backwards-compatibility. The link reference must be blank (“”).
      
10. Shared Events (Menu)
    1. Shared Events are allowed, but one must try to create unique identifiers and check code so that different items in CT won't "cross-fire".
       
11. NavigationInfo (Menu)
    1. NavigationInfo is NOT allowed in any mall objects. 
       
12. Sound Nodes (Menu)
    1. While sound nodes were permitted in the past, this is no longer the case. Sound nodes are prohibited.
       
13. Scale and Placement
 (Menu)
Objects that are too large may cause problems when dropped in a world and faulty placement may cause problems with the object viewers in the Mall stores.  Therefore the following rules apply.
1. All objects in CT should be to scale. The scale of objects in Cybertown is 25% larger than their real life counterparts. Objects that are too large or too small may be rejected pending correction.
 All objects must rest on the ground. The ground is located at -1.75y. This includes objects that are normally located in the air.
3. All objects should be centered on the X and Z axis, unless it is a larger object, in which case the object may extend no farther than 1m on the +Z plane.
4. Objects can not be larger than 10mx10mx10m. Any exceptions to size requirements must be approved prior to upload by Mall Manager.
14. Textures and Thumbnails
 (Menu)
1. You may only upload one texture with your item. File size must be less than 40kb.
2. All textures deemed to be original artwork must be signed by the creator to indicate that the texture is their own work.
3. You may include up to 2 Universal Media textures in your object. When using Universal Media, a maximum of three textures (in total) may be used and total file size (textures + item, but not thumbnail) must not exceed 150 KB. Any UM textures used must be referenced from the CT mirror.
4. All thumbnails must be 450x450 or smaller in image size and smaller than 40kb in file size.

REQUIRED WORLD INFORMATION (Menu)

• Your CT name and the name of any other Creator that works jointly on an object.
• Upload Date.
• Your limit amount or unlimited.
• The original upload price (example: 2000cc’s) for personal and city holds.
• If it is a colony/city event hold the event will be required too.
  
• This information is required for various reasons but primarily to protect your creations.

Hand coding World Information: (Menu)
WorldInfo {
title "Name of Object"
info ["Creator Name"
"Uploaded Date"
"Limit Amount"
"Mall Price"]
}


How to add the World Information in Spazz: (Menu)

Click Here

RULES FOR ALL UPLOADS (Menu)

1. The thumbnail you provide for your object must accurately reflect your object. In other words, they have to match.
   
2. You may not use any non-alphanumeric character as the first character of your object. For example “e=mc^2” is legal, while “+2” is not.
   
3. Certain characters may not be used in object names as they are reserved for mall use. These are brackets [ ], parentheses ( ), and { }. These may not be contained in your object name.
   
4. Offensive content is prohibited. Depending on the degree of the offensive nature of the content, the mall may report the item to security.
   
5. Use of copyrighted, illegally obtained, or unauthorized content (models and/or textures) is prohibited. This includes both direct copies and derived works. A good rule of thumb is, “If you didn’t make it, don’t upload it.” Copyright infringement may be reported to security.
   
6. Free items should always be clearly marked as free or 0cc’s on the thumbnail, so that future buyers will know it was a free item. Selling object that were provided free in the Mall or in the flea market for a price is against UBP.  Only objects sold in the mall at 0cc may be listed as a Free Item.

RULES FOR HOLDS (Menu)

Once uploaded, a hold cannot be uploaded as a public item or re-uploaded as a hold.

• Personal Holds (Menu)
  
  • You can upload 1 to 10 copies of the object.
  • You may only upload 8 personal holds in a 28 day period (Every 4weeks beginning Oct.1st, 2003). When you use your 8 holds is up to you but once you have uploaded your limit of 8 you have to wait until the 29th day before you are allowed to upload any more holds. We ask that you add the day you uploaded in the world information too.
  • You pay 1,000 CCs per instance uploaded.
  • A Personal Hold object may not be listed as a Free Item.
  • The world info must include the Item Name, Creator Name, Month, Day and Year of Upload, Item Limit and 1000cc or the words personal hold

• Colony/City Event Holds (Menu)
  The Mall will allow Colony/City Event Holds. The following is required:
  • You can upload 1-30 copies of a limited item or make it unlimited. If more than 30 instances are to be made available, the thumbnail must not state a limit.
  • The thumbnail must state the event.
  • A Place Chief, CL, CD, NL's can only authorize for your own place, colony, or hood. Only Place Chiefs and CL's can authorize their own city/colony holds.
  • Permissions must include who is uploading the object and who will pick it up so it can be correctly set for pickup.
  • Thumbnail must state the Colony/City Event (both types of event hold)
  • Unlimited hold floor model will only be in the holds depot for 4 days.  After that,  it will be removed.
  • Cost of pick up for Colony/City Holds is 10cc’s per instance for both limited and unlimited objects.
  • A City/Colony Hold object may not be listed as a Free Item
  • The world info must include the Item Name, Creator Name, Month and Year of Upload, Item Limit and 10cc or the words "city hold"

RULES FOR STANDARD UPLOADS (Menu)

1. You are permitted to upload as many objects as you would like per day. However, you are limited to one poster, wall-hanging, carpet, or room-divider per day. Large Store is a very high traffic store, if you already have more than one object in the store at a time you may be asked to wait to upload more to this store at the Staffs' discretion due to space restrictions. This applies also to all seasonal stores, pending season and availability. Please do not ask for your object to be moved to a high traffic store like Holiday during the busy season.
   
2. Quantity
   • For an unlimited Object, you may upload up to 500 instances and restock up to 500 as it sells out.
   • Minimum initial upload for objects 1/51 or over is 10.
     
3. Rare Objects
   • A rare is a limited object that on the thumbnail states 50 instances or less to be sold in the Mall.  The minimum number of instances for a public rare is 10.  Anything less than 10 is required to be uploaded as a personal hold.
   • All but 5 of the instances must be uploaded. Example: a 1/45 must have 40 instances uploaded initially.
   • Object will not be dropped over or under stocked. A Mall Deputy will contact you for permission to stock it to the correct amount.
   • Failure to comply with these rules may result in a deletion of your object.
     
4. You may not sell more than the limit stated on the thumbnail. This is called overstocking. Overstocking is against the rules and is included as one of the punishable offenses listed below.  Please notify an MD right away if you overstock by accident.
   
5. Re-uploading: Only Unlimited Objects may be re-uploaded to the Mall once it is sold out and removed.
   
   
   Any Special exceptions must be in-boxed and approved by Mall Manager Prior to upload.

ADDITIONAL CREATOR RESPONSIBILITIES (Menu)

• It is the Creator's responsibility to read the rules and guidelines before uploading items to the Mall. Nobody can claim ignorance of a rule stated in these guidelines.
• The Creator is responsible to ensure that materials used in an object are original materials or are used only with appropriate permissions.
  
• The Creator is responsible for keeping their items in stock.
  
• If an item has stopped selling or will not be restocked and has sold out, the Creator should post a remove request, especially if the item has not yet been 4 days (or 2 in high traffic areas) in the Mall.
  
• If there is a problem with an item and the Creator needs to contact mall staff, they should do so through the inbox; there is no guarantee that a message on the message board will be read before a check or a drop.

Restocking: (Menu)

• Unlimited
  • No more than 500 instances of an object can be restocked at one time. More than 500 can be re-stocked, but not all at once.
    
• Rare 1/50 or less
  • You cannot sell more than stated in the thumb and the World info. If you do overstock, you are opening yourself to punishment, which may include a ban from uploading. You may only restock your 5 personal stock held back to buy.
    
• Limited 1/51 or more
  • The least public rare can be 10. It is required that anything less than 10 to be uploaded as a personal hold. You may only restock to your limited amount.
    
• Lowering Prices
  • Prices may be lowered upon request but can not be raised, unless it was an upload error in price.

Checking Information: (Menu)

• Price
  • The price of the object will be listed on the name field such as "(100)" meaning the object is 100 CC's.
    
• Rejection
  • If an object is rejected, a letter will be sent to the Creator's  inbox stating why.  If you require additional information about the reason for rejection, you may contact the mall staff through the Mall Inbox.
• Acceptance
  • All accepted objects will be posted on the mall's "Accept Lists" message board.

Dropping Information: (Menu)

• Dropped Date
  • When an item is dropped it will be dated such as "[0806]" meaning it was dropped August 6th.
    
• Price
  • The price will be added according to what's in the name field.
    
• Drop Message Board
  • All dropped objects will be listed on the Drop Message Board along with which store it was dropped in.
    
• Clubs
  • No objects will be dropped in clubs.

Removing Objects: (Menu)

• By Request
  • The creator can post a request on the Remove Board.  Make sure you post under the same nickname that you used to upload the item.  If you do not plan to restock a sold out item but it can not yet be removed by mall staff under other rules, please post a remove request.
    
• Sold Out
  • After an object has been in the mall for 4 full days (2 full days for the High Traffic stores: Collectibles, All Art Stores, and Large shop), and is sold out, it may be removed on the following day. The object may be re-uploaded by the Creator if they chose to as long as additional instances remain for upload.
    
• Two Months
  • After two months no matter how many are stocked, the object will be removed. The list of the objects removed will be posted on the Remove Message Board and may be re-uploaded if the object is unlimited. When the Creator uploads it again, it will get a new date.

PUNISHABLE OFFENSES: (Menu)

Everything listed in this section is subject to punishment but is not all inclusive.

• Infractions regarding Rares or Limiteds
  
1. You cannot sell more than stated in the thumb.
2. You cannot re-upload a rare that has sold the number stated in the original thumbnail using a different thumbnail.
3. You cannot upload the same Rare with different names and thumbnail, with the same 3D object.
4. You cannot restock rare or limited items so that more than the promised quantity becomes available in CT
5. You cannot re-upload limited items that have already sold the promised quantity. If an item disappears from the Mall before it has sold the promised quantity (and it's not been stocked for 2 months) the Creator may contact the Mall Staff about a possible re-upload.
    
• Copyright Infractions
  
1. You cannot upload an object already uploaded by another Creator.
2. You cannot upload an object (3D Model) that has not been uploaded to the city, but is copyrighted by someone else.
3. You cannot a picture that you did not make in an object as a thumbnail, or texture. You must make all pictures you upload to the mall.
4. You cannot use copyrighted materials of any type in an object without express permission of the copyright owner.
   Learn more about copyright laws R.I.G.H.T.S.
    
• You may not Upload items for the benefit of someone who is currently banned from uploading.
  
  
• Harassing or nagging Mall Staff, continuously making unsubstantiated accusations against staff or other Creators, or repeatedly ignoring the object guidelines.

Punishments: (Menu)

• If it is clear that the offense was the result of a misunderstanding, technical glitch or any such thing, there will be no punishment. (Note - there is no such thing as "misunderstandings" about using copyrighted materials and claiming it as your own.)
  
• A first time offense will usually result in a warning; if it is clear that the offender was aware of breaking the rules, a ban may be issued at once.
  
• If someone repeatedly breaks the above rules, they will be subjected to a limited upload ban.
  
• Very serious offenses, or breaking the rules again after a previous ban is lifted, may result in a permanent upload ban.
  
• Order of Punishments. - Breaking any rule listed under "Punishable Offences" above enables for punishments to be taken.
  
  1. Pre-warning by verbal or rejection for new Creators
  2. 1st Offence – Official Warning
  3. 2nd Offence - One month upload ban
  4. 3rd Offence - Two months upload ban
  5. 4th Offence - Three months upload ban
  6. 5th Offence - Permanent upload ban with a 6 month minimum before being able to repeal your ban
     
• Warning
  • Breaking any of the rules listed under "Punishable Offences" for the first time and you will be warned in your inbox. Information on what you did wrong and what can happen again will be mentioned in that message.
    
• Ban
  • A person can be banned from uploading if the mall staff as a whole agrees. A vote will be taken with the Mall Manager, deputies, and object checker.  Information about the incident may also be sent to security.
    
• Repeal
  • Any punishments taken can be repealed (except Warnings) to the Mall Manager's inbox. Bans can be lowered or dropped as decided by the Mall Manager. Permanent Bans may be dropped as decided by the whole mall staff.

If you feel a warning or ban has been wrongfully issued, you should appeal to the Mall Review Board. If you have other concerns about Mall business, you can address those to the same board.