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- Here I go point by point deconstructing this series of Q and A. I'll likely be banned, so be it.
- 1) Why Sell to IMVU?
- IMVU's offer and their genuine desire to leave Fur Affinity as a completely independent group is what convinced me that this was the right thing to do. They offered us a budget and financial assistance to improve the site, while still leaving us independently run.
- REBUTTAL: Really? IMVU is a for-profit corporate antity who's soul purpose is to make money. They clearly see something in FA that they want and it's not the hardware or code on the site, it's the user base and user generated content created by and for the Furry Community. This transaction was not an act of charity and seeing as how FA has nothing substantial to bring to the table other than it's content and user base, suggesting otherwise is frankly insulting to our intelligence. Making the claim that IMVU will not eventually influance or change how FA and it's users are allowed to operate is inherantly dishonest.
- 2) How does this affect me?
- It does not. FA is run independently of IMVU, and will continue to be a furry site RUN by furries. The only difference you will see is IMVU will add some unobtrusive third party ads and, with their financial help, the site will improve. You get a better site in the end.
- REBUTTAL: Again, this is not a charitable agreement, IMVU ultimately wants something in return for their investment. Nothing so far has been spelled out in clear terms as to the motivation for doing this. And "we want to make it better" is not an explaination. We want concrete evidence not vauge flowery retoric. It would greatly boost the credibility of both FA and IMVU by disclosing the contracts online for the community to review.
- 3) What are the details of the agreement?
- Business documents like terms of sale are not shared publicly and this is not an exception to that standard. It falls under under NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement). In addition, there has been talk about IMVU being a publicly traded company - it is not.
- REBUTTAL: I find this rather convenient and disingenious given the fact that the users of FA which generate the content and traffic are intrinsically linked to the value of FA. We as the content creators and users have a stake in this transaction yet we've been cut out of any input/opinion during negotiations behind our backs. Yet we're supposed to just accept their word? It's laughable. I find it difficult in light such deception to "just trust us". The content creators and users of FA have everything to lose here. This latest excuse does not inspire a sense of good faith between FA/IMVU and the user base.
- IMVU (and their board) are well aware of our content and what we host, and are fine with the site as-is.
- REBUTTAL: Really? That doesn't jibe with IMVU's TOS or operations on their other properties. Where is your evidence for this assertion? Are we really to believe that given the strict rules and guidelines IMVU applies to it's other properties will not at some point be applied here on FA? It is inherantly dishonest to say this. The FA user base can not reasonably believe that IMVU will never change how FA is operated. There are many examples of content on FA that IMVU would never allow or wish to attach themselves to. It would be a liability to IMVU's other business relations. We simply can not believe this.
- 4) What does IMVU get out of this?
- They get to use our site for advertising from their third-party partners who are interested in engaged users like ours who share a common interest - art. In addition, IMVU has a rather large furry segment which benefits from FA, and likewise, FA members can benefit from IMVU’s offerings.
- REBUTTAL: The get to USE? OUR? site? Wait a minute, doesn't IMVU OWN Furaffinity now? It sure does! Either IMVU owns FA or it does not own FA! Make up our minds! What kind of pathetic double-talk is this? As for common interests, what common interests? Art? In comparison to FA, IMVU is a joke. And what does "large furry segment" mean exactly? I nor most other furries responding to this thread have never even heard of IMVU until the other day and those that have used it found the experience mediocre at best. Honestly, what are you talking about?
- 5) Who is the site admin now?
- Dragoneer, and he has been given complete independence and authority by IMVU to run the site as he sees fit, and has been given budget to make the improvements the site has sorely needed. He works for IMVU, and is tasked with improving the the site full time.
- REBUTTAL: Oh, I'm sure Dragoneer 'You will accept my authorataaaa!, will remain the incompetent site admin of FA just long enough for IMVU to replace him. He is now an employee that can be fired and replaced. Given Dragoneers track record for "improving the sire", I'm not inspired with a lot of hope. Brilliant just absolutely brilliant move there.
- 6) What about our content? Does IMVU now own rights to it?
- No. IMVU does not own, have any rights, take commission from etc for any of your art shared/sold here. It is business as usual, and there are no changes planned in regards to that. You will not be required to sell your content as part of IMVU’s catalog, nor will IMVU have access to use your content as they see fit. Some quotes about “Section 9” of a document have been floating around but that section does not exist.
- REBUTTAL: No? Says who? This is critical in order to keeping FA alive. I'd like to see that in writing by both IMVU and FA. Not on some post but in the contract. Without proof of this assertion, we the FA user base and content creators have NO reasonable expectation to believe a word of this unless it is put into writing where we can see it for ourselves. Given the level of dishonesty we will rightfully remain suspicious of this claim. Now that IMVU owns FA, who is to say otherwise?
- 7) Do we have new content policies?
- No. IMVU's [Terms of Service and content policies do not apply to content shared/sold on our site. There is not going to be any banning of content/users. FA's site policies that are currently in place will continue to be applicable. While there are minor changes (mostly clarifications) to the AUP coming next week, IMVU has not suggested, nor requested, any changes be implemented to the site other than some upcoming advertising changes. It is our goal to integrate the ads in a non-obtrusive way (like our current ads).
- REBUTTAL: Again put it in writing or this is yet another empty statement backed by nothing.
- And on that note: all existing advertising will be honored, and will be kept as-is.
- 8) Have you given IMVU our information? Do they have access?
- No, and the sharing of FA user data/personal information is NOT part of our agreement and thus will not be happening in the future. FA data is FA data, and will not be shared with IMVU or used for marketing purposes.
- REBUTTAL: No? Are we honestly to believe that IMVU does not have access to our PMs and other personal information? THEY OWN THE SITE! This is such a dishonest claim and insulting to our intelligence. Are we to believe FA will hold hostage the data away from it's new owner IMVU? Come on now. How stupid do you think we are!
- 9) Are you going to have paid accounts/subscriptions etc?
- We have no plans to introduced paid account/subscriptions. If that were to happen in the future it would be site’s the decision, and one which would have to be thought over very carefully. However, we have no plans to do so at this time.
- REBUTTAL: "We have no plans..." Oh I'm sure FA has no plans, but that is not to say that IMVU has no plans! You better believe paywalls and premium accounts are in our future at some point. To believe otherwise is just foolish.
- 10) Are any IMVU staff on the administration/mod team?
- With exception of Dragoneer (who was brought on to IMVU staff to maintain and run the site), IMVU is hands-off and the site will continue to be run as it always has been: by furries, for furries.
- REBUTTAL: "IMVU is hands off" I'm shaking my head in disbelief at the utter contempt shown to the FA user base at this statement. All I can say is if IMVU is hands off, FA is doomed regardless. Everyone knows the track record of the "senior admin".
- 11) How does this apply to FA United (www.faunited.org)?
- Just like the website, nothing is changing in regards to the FA United’s direction (except that we may have a larger budget for nicer events!). The convention will still be held September 11-13, and the site is launching early next month.
- REBUTTAL: All I can say is I hope people are reporting their income properly, tax fraud is a nasty business killer.
- 12) What happened to the funds from the donation held in Oct 2014?The money raised for the donation drive went to several things:
- A) Upgrading our DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) protection from Cloudflare
- B) Purchased a new server (replacement app/advertising server)
- C) Upgraded existing servers (e.g. doubled the RAM in our main DB)
- D) Extensions to the site’s SSL certificates
- E) Purchased promised donor rewards
- REBUTTAL: Uh huh... how about some 'transparency' or at least a recipt pic or two?
- In addition, there have been rumors that the discussion of sale happened during this donation drive. This is incorrect. The donation drive (a reaction to constant DDoS attacks) was held mid-October. The sale of the site did not take place until January.
- REBUTTAL: Rumors are rumors however given the blatant deception and contempt towards the FA user base shown thus far, I could believe any of it.
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