Beware: eBay fraud -- Train MOC instructions

[Steinkopf]

EDIT: Split from this thread.

• Hello Locomotive Annie
  

Can you please send a complaint to EBay regarding the person who sold you the instructions for this locomotive also see if you can stop your payment for them, the original instructions were made by Michael Irvine who goes by the name of Pickyourownbogies on Flickr and Brickshelf. When I saw the render of the locomotive I knew straight away it was Michael's design and I sent him a message on Flickr to see if he was selling instructions to his designs, Michael has contacted me and informed me that he is not selling his instructions, this is just another case of some unscrupulous individual ripping of the hard work of members of the AFOL community and turning a profit from it.

Michael is pretty unhappy about this person doing this as he has put his instructions on Brickshelf for free so he can share his work with other members of the Lego Train community to use and enjoy. Can you please provide the name of the individual or the store so we can name and shame them so that no other members of the community fall victim too such lazy parasitic scum who take credit from other peoples work and make a profit from it.

Edited February 14, 2013 by Fugazi

[pickyourownbogie]

Hi Locomotive Annie

It’s sad that this post is my first contribution to Eurobricks.

I know (Das) Steinkopf as one of the best and most respected senior members of the Flickr Lego groups we share, and given his range of activities in various AFOLs he would have been very quick to spot this design.

If I can help you in any way to recover your monies, I would be happy to do so. Equally I am very happy to share any of my designs (such as they are) in the proper spirit.

Both you and I have been the victim of an opportunist. That’s not really the kind of person who I would like to see associated with any Lego community.

Here is the like to the original design on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/88718670@N02/8199393185/in/photostream

I can be contacted at pickyourownbogie@yahoo.co.uk if you feel the need.

Best wishes and good luck

Michael

A note to the moderators: As I mentioned, this is my first post, so I hope I haven’t broken any rules or been in any way inappropriate. It is a shame this type of person is allowed to operate in Lego communities, and I’m sad that Locomotive Annie has, effectively, been ‘ripped off’.

Is there a general thread monitoring and reporting on this type of activity?

[Locomotive Annie]

Oh dear! - now I'm feeling really disgusted to have been taken in by someone stealing another person's very clever and original work.

The link for the loco plans can be found here...... http://www.ebay.com/...984.m1497.l2648

...... and he has quite a few other loco and rolling stock plans up on ebay as well.

I really don't have any objection to paying for a train plan just so long as the money is actually going to the person who actually owns the plan and the intellectual property associated with it. In fact I would be more than happy to give Michael the $5.00 I was going to spend on his plan because I really like it and it would have taken me ages to come up with something as good on my own.

Edit: Oops, we crossed posts.

Edited February 14, 2013 by Locomotive Annie

[roamingstop]

Looks like he ripped off most of the Railbricks instruction archive as well - as other's work across the web.

[Electricsteam]

Yea I saw that... I think I told Lego 12 volts about it.... I cant beleve that guy has the nerve to rip off the good community a Eurobricks

[Locomotive Annie]

The seller's name is Michael Juenemann. I can tell you I'm feeling pretty darn upset right now.

[pickyourownbogie]

Hey - from my perspective it's no big deal. As far as I am concerned, you are very welcome to the design - and I'd look forward to see how you change and improve it :). It's just a shame this guy has a much more cynical view.

[Electricsteam]

Guys doesnt this look familiar...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lego-Custom-Train-Rotating-Coal-Loader-Instructions-Manual-city-town-creator-/330817558754?pt=Building_Toys_US&hash=item4d064358e2

one of your mocs LT12V

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lego-Custom-Train-Model-Switch-Tower-Instructions-Manual-city-town-signal-/330816281071?pt=Building_Toys_US&hash=item4d062fd9ef

one of Steigfelds mocs...

[LegoSjaak]

Anyway, it is a good looking loco....would love to have one of those as well!!!

Greetz, LegoSjaak

[Dan-147]

Looks like he ripped off most of the Railbricks instruction archive as well - as other's work across the web.

He got all of my freight cars. Just changed the colors and bogies (I use a modified version of Cale Leiphart's design)...

http://www.ebay.com/...=item20cf4f3c86

http://www.ebay.com/...=item20cf4f2756

http://www.ebay.com/...=item20cf4f81be

http://www.ebay.com/...=item20cf4f4cb7

http://www.ebay.com/...=item20cf4f81cd

http://www.ebay.com/...=item20cf4f4cc1

I had posted them on Railbricks to share with the community, not so some idiot could make a profit from it. I'm not really sure what to do about it though.

Dan-147

Edited February 14, 2013 by Dan-147

[Steinkopf]

It's sad to see that the goodwill of the community has been abused by the unscrupulous behaviour of these online maggots, may I suggest that everyone who has been affected by this problem be it the unwitting buyers or those members who have had their designs stolen lodge formal complaints with EBay and have this parasites account terminated.

Edited February 14, 2013 by Steinkopf

[CamelBoy68]

Its a sad state of affairs, which isn't restricted to original works - I often see loads of "instructions" to official TLG sets being sold on CD on eBay.

[Fugazi]

A note to the moderators: As I mentioned, this is my first post, so I hope I haven’t broken any rules or been in any way inappropriate. It is a shame this type of person is allowed to operate in Lego communities, and I’m sad that Locomotive Annie has, effectively, been ‘ripped off’.

Is there a general thread monitoring and reporting on this type of activity?

Welcome to Eurobricks and Train Tech, Michael. You did the right thing by raising this issue, and there's nothing inappropriate about it. Our members should be informed when unscrupulous individuals attempt to profit from other AFOL's work.

Complaints should of course be channelled to eBay customer service, as there's little that Eurobricks can do except raise awareness about this fraud. I don't believe that we have a specific thread for reporting such problems, and as this is particularly relevant to Train fans I suggest that we discuss this in this forum for the time being.

[pickyourownbogie]

Welcome to Eurobricks and Train Tech, Michael. You did the right thing by raising this issue, and there's nothing inappropriate about it. Our members should be informed when unscrupulous individuals attempt to profit from other AFOL's work.

Complaints should of course be channelled to eBay customer service, as there's little that Eurobricks can do except raise awareness about this fraud. I don't believe that we have a specific thread for reporting such problems, and as this is particularly relevant to Train fans I suggest that we discuss this in this forum for the time being.

Thank you for the response, advice and the welcome. Of course, I understand this is not a Eurobricks issue in any way, but as you note, perhaps raising the awareness amongst all your good members will definitely help curtail these quite detestable activities.

[Fugazi]

Of course, I understand this is not a Eurobricks issue in any way, but as you note, perhaps raising the awareness amongst all your good members will definitely help curtail these quite detestable activities.

Absolutely. I do hope that the defrauded buyers will be able to obtain some form of reimbursement from eBay.

[Murdoch17]

Is this the same guy?

http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=bricksnorthwest&itemID=39289761

He is selling the same engine (and Railbricks models!) on Bricklink!

Edited February 14, 2013 by Murdoch17

[JopieK]

better report it to railbricks / bricklink as well then ;)

[DaveBey]

Michael is pretty unhappy about this person doing this as he has put his instructions on Brickshelf for free so he can share his work with other members of the Lego Train community to use and enjoy.

On the lookout for new instructions / build techniques, I couldn't find these on Brickshelf. Maybe I missed something?

Is this the same guy?

http://www.bricklink...itemID=39289761

He is selling the same engine (and Railbricks models!) on Bricklink!

"His" Spinecar Instructions are from my 10170-Style Double-Stack Car for 7939 Containers on Brickshelf.

Apparently I should've charged for those!

Cheers from Claremore, Oklahoma USA!

Dave

[pickyourownbogie]

^{@DaveBey - I've now deleted all the LXF files from my Brickshelf account. As I've said earlier in this thread, I have no issues sharing ideas and files with other decent AFOL - that's what I believe the community is about - but perhaps just simply posting them on Brickshelf was a mistake given how some, less scrupulous, individuals are benefitting.}

[Ballast]

Hi Pickyourownbogie,

Perhaps you can watermark your instructions, it would be a shame but understandable if you kept them for yourself. I really liked them though :)

[Duq]

Has someone reported that guy on Bricklink yet? He's selling my instructions too.

[Edit ] I just have: http://www.bricklink...e.asp?ID=702247

Had a look at the eBay link. The DB V200 here is James Mathis'. Anyone recognise the other designs here?

http://www.ebay.com/...=item35c1119460

For the original owners of the IP: go to this page on eBay to report: http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/vero-rights-owner.html

[large88]

Wow, this is really annoying for those who put time and effort in these creations only to see someone else profit from them.

I remember a trick someone used to "safely" share instructions with others. I will explain:

Firstly do not put them on the web for everyone to download.

Ask people to contact you via email if they want to obtain your instructions, for free or money does not matter.

When you have some contact info of the interested person hide this info, a place only you will know where to find it, in the instructions you send them.

If your instructions turn up somewhere you don't like them to be you just download/buy them and look up the info you have hidden. You then know who has "leaked" them. You can then contact this person or report them to moderators/authorities.

Telling people you are using this technique to safeguard you intellectual property might keep them from "stealing" from you.

Some of you may already know this but I felt like sharing this to provide a somewhat safer way of sharing instructions.

[pickyourownbogie]

Hi Pickyourownbogie,

Perhaps you can watermark your instructions, it would be a shame but understandable if you kept them for yourself. I really liked them though :)

Hi Ballast

It's not about keeping them to myself - as I said I'd be delighted to share with anyone who asks, that's part of what I love about AFOLs. But at the moment I now have second thoughts about simply listing them openly on Brickshelf.

[Electricsteam]

He ripped of LT12V

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lego-Custom-Train-Rotating-Coal-Loader-Instructions-Manual-city-town-creator-/330817558754?pt=Building_Toys_US&hash=item4d064358e2

and Steigfelds

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lego-Custom-Train-Model-Switch-Tower-Instructions-Manual-city-town-signal-/330816281071?pt=Building_Toys_US&hash=item4d062fd9ef

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lego-Custom-Silver-Pot-Inn-Instructions-Manual-house-city-town-village-/330837271611?pt=Building_Toys_US&hash=item4d0770243b

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Guys doesnt this look familiar...

http://www.ebay.com/...=item4d064358e2

one of your mocs LT12V

http://www.ebay.com/...=item4d062fd9ef

one of Steigfelds mocs...

Very similar to my coal distric ...but the father of these amazing projects is Reinhard Ben Beneke that made ​​available free of charge on brickshelf and railbrick.

It's a shame that some peaople try to take profits from intellectual property of others ... but so is life: light side vs dark side!

If my BR instructions are published (one day) they will be for free...