_    _   _  _ _______MAJOR TOM_______ _  _   _    _

                   by Steve Moss

        Version 2.0 REMIX - November 20, 1999

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  -A SHORT THOUGHT ABOUT RIPPED SKINS-


  When I first released a preview version of "Major
  Tom" over the summer, it was because I was incredibly
  frustrated with my progress; I'd spent a long time
  trying to work through some tough spots within the
  design.  It's only my second skin, and is much more
  complex than my previous one.  I'd hoped that I
  hadn't been kidding myself by continuing work on it.
  I wanted some feedback so I could decide whether
  seeing it through to completion was worthwhile.

  For that reason,  I posted it at skinz.org.

  Within a day or two, it had already been downloaded
  500 times, and the comments were very positive.  I'd
  worked really hard at what I had, and I now felt
  really good about it.  Immediately, I started
  plugging away at the remainder of the skin.

  I regularly check (read: daily) skinz.org and
  (used to frequent) customize.org to see what other
  folks are doing and see what kind of ideas they're 
  working with.  Everybody brings something unique to
  the table... it's just not always theirs.

  Imagine my surprise one day when I checked 
  customize.org's New Uploads area and found a skin
  called "1960" by a "StevenMoss."  It was, verbatim, 
  "Major Tom, version 0.1," but with a bullshit
  titlebar and the other windows' graphics extrapolated
  (poorly) from the sole window I'd yet completed.

  Not only had this person taken all of my graphics,
  but the sleaze stole my damned name!

  After a while in custo's New Uploads area, '1960' was put
  in the real Winamp section.  People began to download it, 
  and many thought it was my work.  Why shouldn't they?  My
  name was on it.  So I made folks aware it was a rip.  After
  a week of this, I succeeded in contacting one of Custo's 
  moderators and the skin was deleted.

  Nonetheless, ripping continues.  Unfortunately, it can only
  be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and it requires that
  you are aware of the rip.  How many people's hard work is
  currently being masqueraded as another's without their 
  knowledge?  How many people believe the lie?  How long do 
  we need to put up with this?

  For me, skinning is a hobby.  I like doing it.  It's also
  a learning thing; I become better with my tools and learn
  what mistakes not to make next time.  I don't want
  sharing my work with all of you to be one of those
  mistakes.  

				-Steve Moss
  
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  -CONTACT-

  If you have any sort of feedback (and believe me,
  it's all appreciated), drop me a line.  You can
  reach me at...
             steveo@israel.crosswinds.net

  If you wish, check out my homepage.  Dig it at...
             http://www.rit.edu/~slm2401

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