Sony issues LittleBigPlanet moderation guidelines

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 13th 2008 at 11:30AM }

Curious as to why your magnificent LittleBigPlanet level, in which Mario investigates Princess Peach's plumbing, was deleted without warning? Well, it's probably because you failed to heed Sony's "suggestions" to creators. Also, because you're a copyright-infringing sicko. The list of diplomatic commandments, issued to CVG in response to widespread confusion over LittleBigPlanet's moderation policies, reads as follows:

Ensure that the content you share with other users is suitable for all ages - everybody has access to your level if you publish it
Please respect other people's intellectual property rights. For example, don't use images, brands or logos that you're not entitled to use.
If you come across any content that you feel the need to report, then please do it responsibly. Hoax reports will be considered inappropriate behavior.

As will designing a Heavenly Sword level before Sony has the opportunity to sell you one as DLC. But don't give up, folks -- the one thing that can never be moderated is imagination!

Tags: LBP, LittleBigPlanet, Moderation, Sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 13th 2008 11:35AM

Smart move on Sony's part to issue these guidelines, but they probably would have avoided that shitstorm from last week if they had issued those guidelines during the beta.

JJ Rooster @ Nov 13th 2008 12:41PM

Nope. They needed to build hype and mislead people into buying the game. Only when first week sales are done do they start to crack down on content.

Just like how GH World Tour allowed covers for the first week and then got around to deleting them all.

LBP is great, but they better get the fucking online servers working properly because it's damn near unplayable with lag.

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 13th 2008 1:16PM

"LBP is great, but they better get the fucking online servers working properly because it's damn near unplayable with lag."

You still having issues? I haven't had any issues since the patch dropped a day or so after the release. Then again I do have very high speed internet.

Vol @ Nov 13th 2008 3:19PM

LittleBigFlop.

JJ Rooster @ Nov 13th 2008 3:43PM

The LBP forum mentions they upgraded the servers again on Nov. 11, so I'll try again.

Single player while connected was fine, but a cop-op session was like 1993 dial-up lag!

sk8monroe81 @ Nov 13th 2008 4:54PM

a lot of people would not have bought the game if they released a bunch of legal parameters before the games release.

sony made a business decision to sell more copies that is all.

BananaBoat @ Nov 13th 2008 7:24PM

I feel pretty screwed out of my money right now. The Beta was a cornucopia of content with ideas taken from every form of popular culture. Sony didn't say a damn word during the Beta, despite the God of War level, the Mario level, the Wipeout level, the Shadow of the Colossus level etc. They let everyone believe that LBP would operate in some sort of a youtube-esque gray area where content flowed freely, and only the douche companies sending takedown notices would stand in the way of the free exchange of levels. Now we find out that Sony is more interested in protecting their own (being a member of the RIAA and the MPAA themselves) than in keeping their customers happy. All of the multi-cultural love-fest shine of the LBP Beta is now gone, and I doubt I'll be playing the game much for the remainder of the year.

Way to ruin a great thing, Sony. It's no surprise that LBP wasn't the smash success that you hoped it would be...I guess most people saw through your crap. If only I had saved myself the sixty dollars that they did....could have rented the thing if I knew that the only attraction would be the single player campaign and user made calculators....

Burritoclock @ Nov 13th 2008 11:37AM

Makes no sense still. So GoW, a sony property, is off limits, but Ninja Warrior, Mirrors Edge, Saw, etc are ok, Mario levels will be deleted, however the donkey kong level lives on, but we will delete a Price is Right level, but Lost levels are ok, as long as Boone isn't in it.

I could keep going you get the point me thinks.

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 13th 2008 11:43AM

Either the levels simply haven't yet been deleted or they don't violate any IP laws. I don't think it's in the title so much as it is having actual pictures all over your stage from Mario bros 2

Burritoclock @ Nov 13th 2008 12:16PM

So in your opinion, my Wipeout level based on the TV show that uses the same colors, follows the shows stages to a t, and is called "Wipeout" is ok except that I used pictures of the host to give the instructions. So if I delete them and replace them with a cardboard cut out i'll be ok. But can you say my level is 100% safe, because if not that's the point I was trying to make. Stage 1 took 6 hours of my life, Stage 2 atleast twice that (not because it's long, but the trial and error for the timing can take forever if you actually care at all.)

It can already be argued that I "wasted" those hours of my life, but if my levels deleted then I REALLY wasted them. That's why it's frustrating...

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 13th 2008 12:24PM

Yeah it's really hard to say. Going from what Sony has posted in these guidelines your level should be safe so long as you don't use any pictures or logos that you do not have permission to use. It is very vague. I would say to be 100% safe just tweak the name a bit (Wiped Out!) and remove any artwork or logos associated with the actual game from your level.

Hyams @ Nov 13th 2008 1:32PM

Now I think about it, the GOW level was probably deleted not because of IP infringement, but because of its adult content.

I mean, the game features plenty of blood on spikes and stuff, and it has you sacrificing 'people' in order to progress.

cc123 @ Nov 13th 2008 2:10PM

I'm pretty sure the GoW level got nuked because of what Hyams said. A shame because it was a fantastic level but I can see some parent filing a complaint when they got to the part that required a human sacrifice to go further.

They really should implement some kind of parental control for levels.

Dirty @ Nov 13th 2008 11:39AM

Cant they just put a disclaimer in their user agreement somewhere. Or let people host their own servers.

Back in the day we used to Mod games with copyrighted shit all the time. The Barney mod for Doom or the Simpsons quake mod.

The lawyers have them by the balls. They could at least wait until the copyright holder gave them a cease and desist.

This just makes me mad... and I havent even played LBP yet.

BigD145 @ Nov 13th 2008 12:30PM

The mods you're talking about were all unofficial. The game license holder never hosted them. With LBP, Sony hosts everything and so all content is official. Sony owns everything you make.

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 13th 2008 11:40AM

Sounds pretty straight forward if you ask me. Those are three very basic criteria that everyone should have no problem following. I'm really loving this game more with each passing day. So much for my Star Wars level though :(

why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 13th 2008 11:40AM

Did Sony properly secure the rights to use the "have a nice day" smiley in the lower right of their poster there? DC/Warner eventually gave into Harvey Ball and credited him in their Watchmen stuff (like the movie trailer).

jumpshot @ Nov 13th 2008 1:10PM

They'll have to take that up with Forest Gump, really. Since the movie, we all know the truth.

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 13th 2008 11:43AM

Either the levels simply haven't yet been deleted or they don't violate any IP laws. I don't think it's in the title so much as it is having actual pictures all over your stage from Mario bros 2.

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 13th 2008 11:44AM

was meant for burrito

sicsided @ Nov 13th 2008 11:52AM

I wish I got payed in burrito's for my comments :(

....

baby sea tuna @ Nov 13th 2008 1:44PM

Great, now I'm hungry.

djmajin @ Nov 13th 2008 11:43AM

yet Sony themselves created a line rider level as part of the game for the story mode... so does this mean they will delete that level off the disc since clearly it is as much an homage to line rider as these are to the games they are remaking

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 13th 2008 11:48AM

Can't say for sure but I would guess the issue with using someones IP would be having pictures posted in your level that you don't have permission to use. For all we know (nothing) Sony *Could* have had permission to make a line rider level.

It says right in #2

Please respect other people's intellectual property rights. For example, don't use *images*, *brands* or *logos* that you're not entitled to use.

Don't think paying homage or s similar likeness is an issue. The problem is using someone elses stuff in terms of the pictures w/o permission.

Dr. @ Nov 13th 2008 12:30PM

How does Sony know if I got permission from the copyright holder or not?

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 13th 2008 1:18PM

Dr.

I guess they wouldn't unless you informed them.

Tez @ Nov 13th 2008 1:19PM

I guess that's why they're involving the level's creator before just deleting it, now.

JerJer @ Nov 13th 2008 11:50AM

how do i get this stupid box to work?!

Shagittarius @ Nov 13th 2008 11:51AM

If only someone could reproduce the controls of all those better games I might actually care to play it again.

Burritoclock @ Nov 13th 2008 12:18PM

You are being way overly harsh, yes it can be frustrating, but it is hardly worth following around to trash it. I mean it is really not THAT bad.

It's no Jericho (anyone remember it? Worst game in a long time).

Shagittarius @ Nov 13th 2008 12:24PM

I thought Jericho was repetative but I certainly wouldn't put it in the 'worst game ever' category. I'm not saying LBP is the worst game ever either, but it pretty much plays like your would expect a game focused on graphics and flavor to play (not very well).

Burritoclock @ Nov 13th 2008 12:37PM

I will at least agree that I don't understand how the jumping could not be tweaked to perfection as it is the single most important part of the actual gameplay.

I guess I like the game enough to overlook it somewhat.

I will add that I did not expect to like it as much as I have, and everyone with a PS3 should at the very least give it a try, even if you think it's for kids, too cute, or what have you.

deaftly @ Nov 13th 2008 1:01PM

Its a fun solid little platformer with a level creator. Nothing more then that really. I'll prob keep it around just to mess with the levels that people create, plus the music is awesome. They really need to fix those controls though.

Ranus Studios @ Nov 13th 2008 11:53AM

Oh, Ludwig. Only you would link to a Spongebob video at the end of a post.

samfish @ Nov 13th 2008 11:55AM

I don't see anything there that says I can't photograph my penis with the PSeye and make levels out of that.

Shagittarius @ Nov 13th 2008 11:56AM

That would be a short level.

*Disclaimer: I don't actually know how big samfish is.

FailedNinja @ Nov 13th 2008 11:56AM

You really think that's appropriate for all ages?

John Z @ Nov 13th 2008 12:10PM

FailedNinja, you really don't want him to answer that question...

samfish @ Nov 13th 2008 12:16PM

I was going to respond to it, but...there's no way I can make said joke without kinda sounding like Sergeant Hatred.

Also Shag, my dick is so big it has feet.

Shagittarius @ Nov 13th 2008 12:25PM

Does it hop around?

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 13th 2008 12:28PM

Samfish

Ensure that the content you share with other users is suitable for all ages - everybody has access to your level if you publish it ...

if your Penis has feet does it also wear shoes & socks? In your case Is it jock itch or athletes foot?

Sam @ Nov 13th 2008 11:55AM

I really hope they give you some kind of warning before they delete your level. I mean it takes bloody ages to create anything decent and I sure as hell don't want to have wasted all that time just because I need to change something small.

http://gadgetsgamesandstuff.blogspot.com

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 13th 2008 12:30PM

I also hope they start issuing warnings instead of just deleting levels. To be safe you just need to make sure you don't use anyones IP (pictures, brands or logos). Even that is vague - I wonder if the actual title is grounds for IP violation.

jquadman @ Nov 13th 2008 1:17PM

They aren't deleting it from your PS3, it just won't be available online. I haven't seen confirmation, but I believe you would have a chance to republish the level after taking out the objectionable material.

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 13th 2008 1:21PM

jquadman

The last report that came out here on Joystiq said they were actually deleting them from peoples PS3's all together.

Skippy @ Nov 13th 2008 8:07PM

No, they're not deleting them locally. You can still get to them as long as you're not signed in.

cassiel @ Nov 13th 2008 12:01PM

What I'm wondering is how closely gamers will be able to get to the the line between Deleted and Safe.

When a player names their level Star Wars or Back to the Future and uses direct images from the movies then it's pretty obvious and easy to attack.

But what about a level that is clearly inspired by one of these IP's but doesn't blatantly steal from them? For example: Instead of making a series of levels called Saw, simply call it Axe (although at this point I wouldn't be surprised if Sony took it down for fear of litigious reprisal from a certain body spray)

In writing this I keep thinking about the upcoming Burnout vehicle additions, where the Ecto 1 becomes the Manhattan Spirit (I think that's the right name). My point being, perhaps this could be a way for some creative designers to avoid deletion while still giving a nod their favorite IP?

Mike @ Nov 13th 2008 12:10PM

It really doesn't make sense - anything created in LBP would, strictly legally speaking, fall under the category of "parody", and be protected under the terms of fair use. So, either Sony is erring on the side of caution, and when I say erring I mean pissing off a lot of fans, OR, Sony is squashing levels based on IP's they have plans on charging for in the future. Either way, this is gonna hurt the LBP community.