[Opensim-dev] Proposal to eliminate the name, description and invType fields from the assets db table

[Melanie]

Hi,

Sean Dague wrote:
> Let's seperate the use case you have, from the way you would implement
> it on top of the existing system, which is wasteful in a bunch of ways.
> The use case is to track inventory generations of the same asset.  I
> think that would be much better done by adding a field to inventory
> which is seeded on a new upload.  Inventory transfers/copies keep that
> seed.

That would only handle agent inventory. It would not handle textures 
applied to prims, or used in clothing, or audio files referenced by 
UUID from a script. Basically any asset that gets detached from 
inventory becomes untraceable.

The problem is this:

User A uploads a texture. She creates a skin, which she sells.

User B uses a ripper to clone the appearance of a person wearing 
that skin. They extract the texture, and download it.

They then proceeed to reupload the texture, create a skin from it, 
and sell that.

Person A files a DMCA complaint, which results in a takedown order. 
If upload coalescing were in effect, those skins would use the same 
UUID. There would be no way to destroy the skins that were created 
from the copy and leave the ones created by the original creator 
unharmed.

If one upload = one asset, all I need is to replace the image data 
with a "missing image", or, as Neb suggested, "Missing Ethics" 
bitmap. All items created from it are instantaneously unwearable.

All builds a stolen building texture is used on would then show that 
replacement image, e.g. be unusable. The DMCA takedown would be 
compiled with.

With coalescing, there is no way that can be done, I would have to 
remove the asset, which will destroy all builds/items created by the 
legitimate creator as well. She would have a lot of very angry 
customers.

For those who want coalescing to save space, by all means, put it 
in, but please leave the option for one upload = one asset. The 
legal implications or business could be tremendous if that option is 
taken away, negatively impacting all commercial grids.

Melanie