???Windows Media bonus pack skin converter......

I think you have a very good point. Of course, a skinner could get around it by converting they're own WA skin to wmp and uploading them at the same time. It won't stop it completely, but it will make it less tempting.

There is nothing wrong with people converting for they're own use. If they post it as their own, however, then we Jafo them.

From Webster's:

Jafo (jah' foh) v. 1. to drop a huge legal sounding email on some unsuspecting ripper's head. 2. to stalk message boards zapping the uncouth and/or unlettered

I was using the first definition.

If they post it as their own, however, then we Jafo them

The thing that gets me is that a skinner, who understands about skinner's rights would know better than to post something they did that way. But this application would seem to attract a lot of the sort who don't have the skill or patience to make a skin and see a way of uploading something in their name. It just seemed too easy, to me. Instant knowledge with no learning curve, no explanation of ethics.. nothing at all.

If they post it as their own, however, then we Jafo them.

...as more of these applications come out, I can see that Jafo is going to be a very, very busy man!

This is strange.... I just dl BBX Winamp because someone said they couldn't and I wanted to test the link. This converter popped up and automatically converted the BBX skin to windows media. I looked and it is in there! I have never used the converter, I was only looking at it.

....it just feels strange converting an authors skins without knowing how they feel about it.

Here is the screenshot of my port... just look in the reply. (SHEESH) http://groups.msn.com/morphingpuppycom/general.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=29&all_topics=0

Maybe I should change my nick to 'The AccidentalSkinner!

um... Sorry Voo, I didn't mean to do that.

I wouldn't sweat it GM, its not like you posted it or as a port or took credit for it. I port stuff all the time for my own use, but you'll never see it unless I get permission, and neither will you. I think Voo knows that.

P.S. the copyright notice is for the player, not the skin

Thanks. I was feeling kind of guilty.

Yes. Looks very odd to me. Is there a way you can export the converted skin? Or doesn't WMP allow that?

Hmmmm.... I can't find the skin files, so maybe they hid them. That is good to know. Thanks....

...... me not finding files on my own computer is nothing new though...

Uh, oh!

I went and checked it out and Microsoft has placed in the instructions the Information at the end of my comment, it's realy up to each Individual on how honest he is and if he has any respect for other skinners. If you convert them for your own personal use I see no harm in that, however if you convert the skinners work and post it somewhere as your work then that's not right and you should be held acountable. I personaly value you skinners, you do something that I can only do in a limited capacity and myself and my desktop thank you.

Microsofts information:
If you are not the creator of the skin, you may need to get permission from the owner/authorized licensor of the skin before importing. In general, any unauthorized use of content without explicit permission and/or valid license may be a violation of the law, including U.S. and International copyright laws.

that´s for Winamp2 right? why can´t it just use Winamp2 skins without the need to convert them ... shouldn´t be to hard as it´s a really simple format.

/me shakes head

Yeah. We already knew that. It is just that if MS has a WA skin converter in WMP then one might feel it is OK to rip skins that way. That and if other companies are going to do the same then skinner's rights will be violated easier than ever.

It's nothing new, the Winamp skin importer for WMP has existed for a while, at least a year if not more than that. We haven't had much problems with it before.
It's quite simple: if there is no permission we don't accept it.

And anyway, the converter makes ugly skins. Why would anyone use a Winamp 2 looking skin for WMP when there so many awsome looking skins for WMP right now?

Yes. I am not even doubting it will effect this site. How about other sites? That's where we find the rips. But your last point made me not to worry about it too much.

Um, I have Winamp 3. It seems to be more for WMP, for converting skins intended for something else to its own libraries.

I don't even know why it worked when it did. I couldn't find any instructions at all when I found it (just poking around in my programs).

I just wanted to know how active skinners felt about it because it did bother me. After spending so much time patching up XP and IE vulnerabilities, this seemed like just one more .... and sometimes I get a sense that some boundaries get a little blurry at times. There have been other instances where it has seemed to me that MSN policies have abetted a pre-existing (and also predictable) situations and made things much worse.

...they seem to have a way of creating problems....
[Message Edited]

but it was a Winamp2 skin you converted (Winamp3 can use Winamp2 skins as well).

i doubt that converter can convert Winamp3 skins. all the Maki scripting and that WMP only supports 1-bit masks makes this rather impossible i think. anybody knows if it also converts Winamp3?

... there you see, I don't even know how to tell a winamp3 from a winamp2 skin, and I have already 'ported' a skin... it was just a little disconcerting to me is all. Earlier in the day I discovered the program, opened it, looked it over, wondered about it and closed it and forgot about it thinking it was something I didn't really like much. Then all I did was click on a link and there I was 'porting... per se.... someones excellent work! If I wanted to grow my ego some it seemed to me that I could have uploaded it on some obsure site and gotten some kudos... but I don't even know how to find the skins (though I suspect more able computer users than me could).

I doubt WMP can convert Winamp 3 skins, just as I doubt the reverse could be done as well.
BTW: what do you mean WMP only suports 1 bit masks? I've used PNGs in WMP with full 8 bit transparency, and I am quite sure as well I've seen gradients of white used for 8 bits transparency masks as well.

Paxx: not on the borders (where it´s most important).