Steam has removed some fan created assets from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive after receiving a DMCA takedown over apparent plagiarism.
Two Steam users, Auzzii and sic, made a community sticker and gun decal, called Howling Dawn and M4A4 Howl, respectively. Thanks to Steam’s Counter-Strike: GO Items Workshop, they were able to sell these designs to others users. DeviantART user CalvinAlbus pointed out that, in fact, these designs were based on art he put up on DA, a piece called Aggression. You can read his explanation of events here.
Steam promptly received a DMCA notice, presumably from CalvinAlbus but also possibly from DeviantART, and took action immediately. They have banned the two Steam users from life and cut them off the system completely. Even the money they made from these designs was withheld from them, and everyone who did buy it received a replacement design from Steam themselves.
Steam also took pains to explain the intent and rules behind the Items Workshop. Contributions can be made without Valve review or approval, but contributors signed a legal agreement vouching that the work they submit is their own. They made it clear that contributors take responsibility for ownership claims on the work they create. Of course, other fans can help monitor that.
Unfortunately, it seems that sic, one of the creators, was unaware that the work was plagiarized. Steam has decided, pointing out the earlier signed agreement, that he also needs to take responsibility for the said plagiarism and he stays banned from the community.
Steam ends indicating that they will not revise their rules, but this issue has created significant issues to the company, and the community as a whole. They ask fans to stay vigilant regarding possible plagiarism issues, and to tell possible victims of plagiarism to go to Valve’s DMCA takedown page for guidance.
