Proposed Code of Conduct for Storefronts (OOC Post)

[Sarzonia]

This proposed code of conduct applies to both storefront owners and customers. Feedback is welcomed and additional codes are also welcomed.

The Customer
1. The customer-nation shall ensure that sufficient funds are available before placing an order at a storefront. The customer-nation may do this by checking one of three budgetary calculators (Pipian (replace Sarzonia with your nation's name and replace the 21 with your nation's percentage of GDP spent on defense), Thirdgeek (replace Sarzonia with your country's name to get your figures), or Thrace Taliteann). You are supposed to account for money needed for salaries, supplies, support, and other logistical and non-combat elements and not spend your entire funds on buying ships, tanks or artillery, or fighter jets. However, so many people spend on actual weapons on NS and do not factor in other expenses that very few storefront owners will get you for lack of attention to logistics. However, that lack of logistical foresight will show up in RPs, so keep that in mind.

2. The customer-nation shall write the order clearly and effectively. Some storefront owners (notably Isselmere and I) ask you to do some RP, even if it's as simple as "my country would like." That is a good way to provide you with quick RP skills. It helped me get more comfortable with RP here on NationStates. However, check the storefront thread you want to order from to find out what the storefront owner expects.

3. The customer-nation shall be courteous to the storefront owner at all times. There is no rule that forces a storefront owner to sell you items. If the storefront owner is giving you an IC reason for denying your order (be it lack of funds or concerns about your government type), getting nasty will not help your cause. Not only may you be alienating the storefront you tried to purchase from, but other storefront owners will be paying attention to purchases from their competitors. You may find it increasingly more difficult to purchase items if you start to get a reputation as a hard head.

4. The customer-nation shall pay attention to storefront conventions when it comes to payment of orders. Typing "money wired on confirmation" and receiving said confirmation usually means that the order is considered a done deal.

The Owner
1. The owner-nation shall outline policies regarding sales, discounts, and other storefront rules in a clear manner. In addition, the owner shall enforce these policies consistently with all customers.

2. The owner-nation shall confirm or deny the order in a reasonable timeframe as his or her Internet access and RL responsibilities allow. Denials for IC reasons such as those listed above shall be made ICly with an explanation. Denials for OOC reasons (for instance, if a country that the storefront owner IGNORES tries to buy something), the owner should post an OOC note denying the order.

3. The owner-nation shall be courteous to the customer-nation at all times. Even in a "game" that is largely based on the imaginations of its players, customer service is a vital element of storefronts. The better storefronts act as businesses, and businesses that neglect their customers in a highly competitive environment will be left behind.

4. The owner-nation shall not advertise his own storefront in an attempt to draw customers from a competitor's storefront. This is considered rude and the moderators will intervene if you do not delete such a post.

Copyrights
In addition, unless items are RL equipment that can not be copyrighted on NS, items listed on one storefront shall be considered to have the copyright of the storefront where they are being sold, unless otherwise stated. In other words, if you post an original design (be it a combination of features of two or more RL designs, a modification of one RL design, or a completely original design), you may copyright it. If you use an existing design or you simply rename an existing design, you may not copyright it. You may not use the statistics for one product and change its name to "create" another product. It WILL get you in trouble with other players. Since this applies to either a customer or an owner, it has its own paragraph.

There are many websites that deal with RL technologies and can help provide inspiration for your own designs. You can use Army, Navy or Air Force-related websites. You can also Google for a particular class you're creating. If you're creating something like a Doujin-equivalent Trimaran battleship, you may ask for feedback from storefront owners who already have such ships in their stores, but do not just swipe the stats from one and use them for your own, and most certainly do not attempt to sell them, and especially not at a lower price than the product you are copying.

Following these rules and procedures will help you improve your experience at your storefront, whether you are the customer or the owner.

[Klonor]

I whole heartedly agree.

I'd actually like to add an addition, if you'd permit it. I have (for the past several months) had an FAQ at the top of my Storefront which outlines what I require for use of my storefront. Just so people who go to it for the first time actually know what it is and how to use it (I once had a customer who thought I was an artist trying to sell my designs to a Sci-Fi show).

*NOTE* This is just an FAQ for my Storefront, the requirements and obligations stated here are in no way mandatory for your Storefronts. When I say "You must...." or "You can't......." don't feel I'm saying you have to do that in your own threads.

The FAQ I use. Easily adapted to other Storefronts.

FAQ
Q:So what is this?
A:It's a place where you can buy spacecraft and space technology.
Q:So it's a storefront? Can I just say-"I'd like 300 Hecate class Destroyers *Money wired*"?
A:Abseloutely not.
Q:Why not?
A:Because there's no RPing. This game is about RPing.
Q:Alright then, how do I order?
A:Well, you sorta have to do something like this, note that this should be written out.
The ____ of ____ would like to purchase *number* *products*. *Now you describe your reason for procurement in detail, and how they will be used*.*Now describe how you want them delivered*.
*Now you end it with some kind of signature of a Department, person, whatever*
Q:Uhh... Okay. So once I buy these, I can sell them to other people right? And give them away?
A:Nope. If you ever try to redistribute these products without permission from me, I will come down on you faster than rabid squirrels on a bag of peanuts.
Q:Will you perform background checks to see whether I'm a godmodder, flamer, spammer, warmonger, idiot, and then deny my order if I am one of those?
A:Yes.
Q:Oh, right, and what is the tech level for all of these?
A: Distant future. Think many giant uberships with laser guns and FTL
Q:How'd you make those pictures?
A:I made nothing. I got all my ships (except those specifically stated) from the computer game FreeSpace

*This FAQ designed and written (with some slight modifications by myself) by the nation of New Empire*

[Sarzonia]

Sounds good to me.

The code of conduct isn't static or inflexible. If you have ideas, please feel free to post them.

[Sarzonia]

*added a separate section relating to copyright issues*

[Weapons-Tech incorp]

to clearify

on the subject of copyrights. I was a little confused by it, in regards to what can be copyrighted.

I created all of my weapons. ( rifles and pistols.) can i copyright them?

[Sarzonia]

to clearify

on the subject of copyrights. I was a little confused by it, in regards to what can be copyrighted.

I created all of my weapons. ( rifles and pistols.) can i copyright them?

Sorry for the confusion.

If the design is a RL design (such as the Iowa-class battleship), it can not be copyrighted. If it's a unique modification of an Iowa, the MODIFICATIONS can be copyrighted (I think Great Mateo does that). If it's a rename of an RL design and it's made clear that it is (or it's pointed out that it is), it can not be copyrighted.

If you've based a design on an RL design but have changed statistics around to do something unique (for instance, increase stealth capabilities for a fighter jet or make a tank that's more mobile or that has a better armour scheme), that CAN be copyrighted. Your weapons fall under that category.

[Weapons-Tech incorp]

thank you for the explianation

[Chardonay]

For the record, weapons tech, you did not invent all your weapons. Your AMR is a direct clone of a proposed AMR, and you provided a link to the site (though I had it already, I used it as a reference for my AMR). As such, though people can't copy your slightly modified description, they can copy the gun.

[Sarzonia]

Thanks Chardonay.

[Sarzonia]

*bump*

[Isselmere]

Sounds like a good *sticky* to me.

[Sarzonia]

Thanks Isselmere!

I'm thinking if the mods ever create a separate forum just for storefronts that it'd be a good candidate for a sticky on that forum.

[Granzi]

Great work, as always, Sarzonia.

It serves to remind some of us to contribute technically more to NS.

[Sarzonia]

Thanks Granzi!

I just brainstormed the idea and decided to run with it.

[Praetonia]

A storefront forum would be excellent. It would keep II free of storefront whilst at the same time keeping them easy to find if you need something. And it would eliminate all of the pointless bumps.