Author Topic: Is Symbiostock a con? (Read 24929 times)

Dolores · « **on:** July 15, 2013, 08:11 »

I'm glad I got your attention... I have questions.

1. Where can I find the Symbiostock Privacy Policy? For both the artists that use it to set up their websites and their buyers.

2. Where can read about the security features of Symbiostock? How are images protected from unauthorised access? How is the buyer protected?

3. Which part of Symbiostock is open source and which isn't? Can the project be forked by a third party? Is there a guarantee that the project will remain open source?

All advice appreciated, thank you in advance.

Dolores

PS: About the contentious subject line of my post.. If this project has legs, its creators and supporters won't fear such questions. :-)

EmberMike · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2013, 08:22 »

I'm way too new to Symbiostock to be able to answer all of these questions, but what I can tell you from my brief experience with it and tinkering around with some of the code:

Images are protected, but I'm not sure how. All files available for purchase on a Symbiostock site are stored in a directory on the website but the images themselves can't be linked to or accessed directly.

Payments are made via PayPal, so in terms of buyer protection, a buyer is afforded the same security and protection as any other PayPal transaction would provide.

I believe that all of Symbiostock is open source. It's a WordPress theme, so all of the code that powers it is accessible to anyone who downloads the Symbiostock theme. No one has the lock and keys to the code, it's already all out there, so I don't see how it could ever not be open source in the future.

Kerioak~Christine · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2013, 08:29 »

First question - no, Symbiostock is not a con it is an opportunity for you to do something for yourself

Privacy policy - you create your own although there is a wordpress plug in to create one

grsphoto · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2013, 08:41 »

Quote from: Dolores on July 15, 2013, 08:11

3. Which part of Symbiostock is open source and which isn't? Can the project be forked by a third party? Is there a guarantee that the project will remain open source?

The "heart" of Symbiostock is an idea. The Idea of networking sites with the same purpose ( in this case selling stock images). The power is in the network and search ability across many individual sites. I believe that it will be forked by many third parties... some will close their network, some may open it more. This may spawn Symbiomusic, or Symbiogames, or Symbio?

cthoman · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2013, 08:56 »


KHAAAAAAN!

cascoly · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2013, 17:49 »

Quote from: Dolores on July 15, 2013, 08:11

....
Dolores

PS: About the contentious subject line of my post.. If this project has legs, its creators and supporters won't fear such questions. :-)

it's a pretty sad way to introduce yourself if you're real and not just trolling (esp'ly suspicious since you have ZERO previous posts and no profile
)
people here are more than willing to help out, but simple courtesy goes a long way

klsbear · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2013, 18:00 »

Since Symbiostock is a Wordpress theme I should think that much of the security protecting your images has to do with how much security you put into your web hosting and theme in terms of secure passwords and protecting your passwords. If you're logging on in a public cafe where your passwords might get highjacked and you give yourself a common user name like Admin, or using your site name (those two show up regularly on Wordfence hack attempts) then your site will not be nearly as secure as if you follow commonly advised internet security protocol with secure passwords and similar measures.

Amanda_K · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2013, 18:27 »

You have good questions, it looks like a lot of them have been answered for you. The creator of Symbiostock has never expressed interest in making the theme closed source at any point so theoretically it will stay open forever, and anyone could fork it to change/build on it. If they do, hopefully the will be aware that much of the value is in the networked aspect of the search results and changing too much may cause it not to be usable in that capacity.

As for your title, I'm sure there's no fear since the whole project has been just about as open as can be, but speaking strictly for myself ...it's not the nicest thing to read after just spending another several hours today writing documentation and tutorials. I guess it's fine, I don't expect everyone to fully embrace the project before they know anything about it.

I'll try to include answers to these questions in the knowledge base, for people who are curious in the future. Funny I was just writing up an article on Privacy Policy issues before I read this. Guess we better hurry up with the documentation!

Dolores · « **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2013, 02:56 »

Thanks for your responses everyone, but I don't believe my questions have been answered. The minimum we need to consider using a new portfolio platform is a Privacy Policy by the software creators and a clear outline of how security is handled. A guarantee regarding the open-source/commercial split of services would also be helpful. We'll keep up to date with progress and return once these basics are covered.

Sorry my subject title upset some. It was just a little test.

gillian vann · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2013, 03:03 »

I've seen this before from another member:

an apology that comes across as an insult, followed by

djpadavona · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2013, 07:06 »

This was an incredibly insulting and inflammatory title for a post. Seriously. Who does something like this?

Leo has given us an incredible tool, free of charge. What has Dolores given us?

plrang · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2013, 07:12 »

We do not have legs, same as Leo doesn't have legs
What Symbiostock? There is no Symbiostock

trolls are trolls

travelwitness · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2013, 07:34 »

I don't know, Dolores has posted 3 legitimate questions.

1 Privacy Policy - What info goes out to the network what stays in the theme, how does this affect third parties / developers
2 Security - What are the security features of both WordPress and Paypal
3 OpenSource - An introduction to OpenSource projects, what part of the code is free to develop and what are the conditions? Maybe something similar to this...http://wordpress.org/about/gpl/

All three need clarification and posting on Symbiostock.com to make the project crystal clear and transparent.

Agreed the title of the post was a little melodramatic :-)

Dolores · « **Reply #13 on:** July 16, 2013, 07:37 »

Quote from: djpadavona on July 16, 2013, 07:06

This was an incredibly insulting and inflammatory title for a post. Seriously. Who does something like this?

For your information, the question "Is this a con?" is always first in my mind when I come across a website offering something "for free" but without the legal basics covered. Even though I stated it in jest to attract attention, it's a valid question. The more sensitive the responses are to this, the longer we go without real answers, well... I'll draw my conclusions.

Quote from: djpadavona on July 16, 2013, 07:06

Leo has given us an incredible tool, free of charge. What has Dolores given us?

You can believe in free lunch if you like, your choice. I believe in business models, and Leo does seem to have a good thing going here. If he wants to attract serious users he will cover the legal angles as is the norm in all business, open-source or not.

EmberMike · « **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2013, 07:51 »

Quote from: travelwitness on July 16, 2013, 07:34

I don't know, Dolores has posted 3 legitimate questions.

1 Privacy Policy - What info goes out to the network what stays in the theme, how does this affect third parties / developers
2 Security - What are the security features of both WordPress and Paypal
3 OpenSource - An introduction to OpenSource projects, what part of the code is free to develop and what are the conditions? Maybe something similar to this...http://wordpress.org/about/gpl/

All three need clarification and posting on Symbiostock.com to make the project crystal clear and transparent.

Agreed the title of the post was a little melodramatic :-)

Regarding the line I bolded above, Leo is under no obligation to post any of this info. Symbiostock is a WordPress theme. A free one at that. If you take a look at the websites of other WordPress theme developers, including big ones like Obox, Themify, Woo, etc., they don't include any of this information either. In fact, some of theme even say on their websites that it isn't their responsibility to guarantee anything about their products, and it is up to the user to determine compatibility, security, etc.

It is absolutely not Leo's responsibility to provide info on the security of WordPress itself, nor PayPal. Those aren't his products, and anyone can very easily go to those companies to find out whatever they need to know about privacy and security.

Symbiostock is released under a GPL, a copy of which is included with the theme.

djpadavona · « **Reply #15 on:** July 16, 2013, 08:03 »

Quote from: Dolores on July 16, 2013, 07:37

You can believe in free lunch if you like, your choice. I believe in business models...

What I believe in is not walking into someone's home and immediately insulting their ethics just to prove whatever point it is that you have. You invalidate all of your points by choosing to be accusatory and aggravating when there is need for neither. Typical of people who hide behind the anonymity of internet message forum user names.

Dolores · « **Reply #16 on:** July 16, 2013, 08:42 »

Quote from: djpadavona on July 16, 2013, 08:03

Quote from: Dolores on July 16, 2013, 07:37
You can believe in free lunch if you like, your choice. I believe in business models...

What I believe in is not walking into someone's home and immediately insulting their ethics just to prove whatever point it is that you have. You invalidate all of your points by choosing to be accusatory and aggravating when there is need for neither. Typical of people who hide behind the anonymity of internet message forum user names.

What point do you think I'm trying to prove? Who am I accusing and aggravating? I'm asking questions and you don't seem to be either inclined or entitled to provide the answers, you're just dragging this thread down a tangent. If you can't answer, would you kindly refrain??

I see EmberMike's post above, but I'm not so well versed in the ways of Wordpress theme vendors. Even so, where code is involved from a party other than Wordpress, in a commercial environment, I believe that party is obliged to state their terms. Specifically:

1. What data, if any, does Symbiostock collect on its users, how, and for what purpose?
2. Under what conditions, if any, does the Symbiostock code contact servers other than the one setup by the user (ie. the server hosting the package)?
3. Who do I sue if my Symbiostock-based site is hacked and high-value images stolen?

Seriously, I think I'm talking basics here.

EmberMike · « **Reply #17 on:** July 16, 2013, 08:50 »

Quote from: Dolores on July 16, 2013, 08:42

3. Who do I sue if my Symbiostock-based site is hacked and high-value images stolen?

You know, I was going to actually try to provide helpful answers to the first two questions, but then I saw this one and decided not to. You're way out of line here, dolores. And also way out of touch with reality. I don't think any WordPress software on the planet makes any guarantees about security to the extent you're suggesting or hoping for.

GeoPappas · « **Reply #18 on:** July 16, 2013, 09:14 »

Quote from: EmberMike on July 16, 2013, 08:50

Quote from: Dolores on July 16, 2013, 08:42
3. Who do I sue if my Symbiostock-based site is hacked and high-value images stolen?

I don't think any WordPress software on the planet makes any guarantees about security to the extent you're suggesting or hoping for.

Neither do any of the stock agencies. And even if they do, they wouldn't (and couldn't) do anything if there was a security breach anyway.

marthamarks · « **Reply #19 on:** July 16, 2013, 09:21 »

Quote from: Dolores on July 16, 2013, 08:42

Seriously, I think I'm talking basics here.

You're talking rudeness here, which is why you're getting the reaction you are.

chromaco · « **Reply #20 on:** July 16, 2013, 09:36 »

Dolores. I think perhaps if you are not inclined to take initiative yourself and are simply looking for someone to blame if things go wrong, then symbiostock is not for you. It seems ironic to me that you are so distrustful and yet contribute to the micros in a scenario where trust is all you have. I would rather steer my own ship make my own prices and control my own future. To me this seems like a safer road to the future than waiting in vain with the hope that my sales for the last two months might finally get reported or that my royalty percentage won't get decreased again. I think you should stay away from hosting your own site. This is obviously not for you.

cthoman · « **Reply #21 on:** July 16, 2013, 11:18 »

Quote from: Dolores on July 16, 2013, 08:42

Who do I sue if my Symbiostock-based site is hacked and high-value images stolen?

Probably yourself. Nothing is really secure on the web. I don't think anybody will give you any guarantees. Are those actually offered anywhere?

Dolores · « **Reply #22 on:** July 16, 2013, 12:31 »

Let me try and translate "Who do I sue..." into drier language you may be familiar with. Bona fide sites and software vendors will have Terms and Conditions that will state the legal basis of what is being offered, including the agreed jurisdiction and what is or is not warranted. There will be a Privacy Policy as part of the terms, that will make it clear how data is or isn't shared, and that's important for security. The less shared, the more secure. There will be other things too, according to need. In this case, as we're dealing with a system within a system, further explanations would help, as stated. No, my dearies, this is not rudeness! This IS the basics.

I hope you all enjoy your work with Symbiostock. As has been suggested, it isn't for me. Thanks for that, at least that's some result, if not the one I hoped for.

dscott · « **Reply #23 on:** July 16, 2013, 12:56 »

Your "legal protection" at stock agencies is false sense of security. I've had images stolen and/or misused from iStock. When I discover and report it to iS Compliance all I get is a generic response. I have yet to receive any follow up regarding issues. Often checking the site months later shows the images are sill there and in use. This is not uncommon.

As for the theme, it's on Wordpress so it's up to the individual to secure their site, define the legal usage and protect themselves. If someone likes Symbiostock and feel it is a benefit to use it, they can enjoy the fact that a developer has provided them with his hard work free of charge.

cathyslife · « **Reply #24 on:** July 16, 2013, 13:03 »

While i think some of your questions are legit, your headline is a little offensive. But then again i was accused of being rude when i used the word secret and it caused a big uproar.

I have asked some of the same questions you are asking because i believe i have the right to know how the network interacts with my images and data. I have gotten some satisfactory answers so far, but since i am not a php programmer, nor have i scrubbed through every single page and piece of code, i believe that what i have been told is correct. There is a certain amount of trust required. But i also know that contributors images are being basically stolen from them by the agencies, too. So this venture is no different than anything on the web. I trust, but verify.

In todays world, anything done on the internet has the potential of being misused by someone. If i dont understand something, i ask someone who has more saavy than me. Thats the best i can do.

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Author Topic: Is Symbiostock a con? (Read 24929 times)

Dolores

EmberMike

Kerioak~Christine

grsphoto

cthoman

cascoly

klsbear

Amanda_K

Dolores

gillian vann

djpadavona

plrang

travelwitness

Dolores

EmberMike

djpadavona

Dolores

EmberMike

GeoPappas

marthamarks

chromaco

cthoman

Dolores

dscott

cathyslife

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