What do you do when you find someone selling UGCs?

[theemoofrog]

I found this on a local store's facebook page. How should I go about informing them that they're kind of being dicks for selling someone else's work?
https://www.facebook.com/gamegurus/photos/a.191591254214612.42894.107127549327650/1107470885959973/?type=3&theater

[JakeHC]

The worst part is that they aren't even using one standard cover. They're all mixed. My OCD is going crazy.

Edit - in fact I went through some of their photos. They're even selling fake GBA games. They either, don't know or don't care about the legality of what they're doing. Going to rip someone off for the price of a legit cart.

[wiggy]

Do yourself a favor and stop worrying about it.

1. The real "work" is of the original artist who created the box art. We're just slapping it into templates. It could be labeled as production design at best.

2. Whoever is selling it doesn't give a crap what you think. You'll just be wasting your time and energy confronting them.

3. They're actually selling games in the cases. Personally, and I think many here have also expressed this feeling, I find that far less offensive than selling empty cases on eBay and such. It's just a nice way to easily and affordably package them.

[TDIRunner]

Do yourself a favor and stop worrying about it.

1. The real "work" is of the original artist who created the box art. We're just slapping it into templates. It could be labeled as production design at best.

2. Whoever is selling it doesn't give a crap what you think. You'll just be wasting your time and energy confronting them.

3. They're actually selling games in the cases. Personally, and I think many here have also expressed this feeling, I find that far less offensive than selling empty cases on eBay and such. It's just a nice way to easily and affordably package them.

I agree with all of this, but especially part 3.  Not everyone may agree, but I personally don't see a problem with selling games that are included in a case.  Usually, the case is used to help promote the sale, but at the end of the day, the price is set off of the game alone, and therefore, the seller isn't really making money off of the covers they downloaded from this site.  But of course, that's an opinion coming from someone who doesn't create many covers (at least not the kind that would be hosted here).  The actual cover artists may feel differently.  

For example, wayyyyyyyy back I bought a lot of 8 different 32x games off of eBay that all came in UGCs with high quality prints included.  I bought the 8 32x games including Kolibri for about 50% less than market value at the time.  The fact that the games were included in the cases made the sale more appealing, but I would argue that since the games sold so cheap, I don't feel that the seller really made a profit off of the hard work of the cover artists here.

Also, the cases that those games came in are what brought me here.  I thought those cases were so cool, I had to figure out how to make more........ and now it's a damn obsession.  

[Polygon]

Yes, it irks me. Not too long ago I made a cover for Battle Squadron for the Genesis. Didn't take long for people to start selling it on eBay. And while I agree with Wiggy to a point I just realize that I don't make covers for money. I make them to help other people and I make them because I find it cathartic. I can't stop them and stewing over it is a waste of my energy.

[Spiden]

People are opportunistic. They will do anything to make money. Ebay is filled with my repro covers. I cant be to mad though. Half my repro covers are using other peoples work.

[romevi]

It doesn't really bother me as much as there's nothing I can do about it. PM and tell 'em off? Sure, but it's not guaranteed they'll stop. There are so many selling them sans games that it's just gonna be more work on eBay's end and I'll doubt they'll lift heavy fingers to solve the problem quickly.

[amiga1200]

even if it was possible to curb it, NOPE!
i'm no artist, but i understand the principle.
i don't give a piss really.
my efforts make sites money, and i get shit back in return, but i can, and DO post in my 'traditional' way, worth WAY more than shiddy money, a FAIR return. (words leave their mark, cash is tomorrows sewage.)
...
more power to em, at least it propagates the share all-round.
the same applies to any type of 'ware' largely unknown, as long as it's  out there, bound to fall into altruistic hands eventually.
 

[herno]

Unless you are hand drawing the art yourself, it's all subjective to interpretation.  Where is the art coming from that creates the cases?  Probably from someone else who created the original artwork to begin with.  I understand the concept and how people feel, but really, not everyone has access to a printer or the know-how to "do it themselves".  As long as someone is not charging an arm and a leg for the service of printing out the cover and throwing it in a box, I really don't see the problem.  I mean, that's why we do this, right?  I don't care.  I'll share anything I create and if someone wants to charge to make someone a cover and case using my art, more power to them.  Doesn't hurt my feelings.  I do this for fun.

[FritzWhite]

Ignore, no time to bother with that.

[larryinc64]

Honestly I feel worse for the person being ripped off for paying $5+ for a single game case.

[banisher]

I personally think Retro Game Cases is worse.