Enhancement to VIP and Creator Programs

Varsha · Last edited by Varsha on Thu May 10, 2012 1:04 pm; edited 1 time in total

Today we are announcing a significant change to our VIP and Creator programs.

Please note that the IMVU message you receive states the effective date of this change as being May 8, 2012. That is not accurate. The change is in effect as of 10 AM (Pacific Time) on May 10, 2012. Thank you.

May 10, 2012[/b][/color] new Content Creators must be VIPs in order to submit virtual goods to IMVU’s catalog.

However, all users who as of May 10, 2012 10 AM Pacific Time, are enrolled in the Content Creator program will be “grandfathered” for an indefinite period of time. This means that if you have signed up for the Content Creator program prior to May 10th, you will continue to enjoy uninterrupted product submission capabilities without the necessity of being a VIP. Of course, many of you are already part of our exclusive VIP club for the many other benefits you enjoy. We reserve the right to end the “grandfathering” benefit at any time, but we do not anticipate doing so now.

Why this change?

1. To strengthen the VIP program. VIPs today enjoy a range of enhanced services on IMVU, and, going forward, this will include the ability to participate in the Content Creation program. VIP benefits already include prioritized Customer Support, the ability to create up to 10 public rooms, the ability to create up to 10 groups, the ability to whisper privately in chats, a monthly credit bonus, and more.

2. To strengthen the Virtual Goods Policy (VGP) and Terms of Service (TOS). The IMVU community overall wants adherence to the VGP and TOS. When a few people break the rules, the community loses IMVU members who might otherwise stay and become long-term, credit-buying and virtual goods-buying customers. So, when IMVU members leave, then Content Creators lose too. Over time, we’ve learned that Content Creators who are VIPs are most likely to be “good citizens” and to observe both VGP and TOS. We believe this is because VIP Content Creators are the most invested in the overall health of IMVU. They understand that for their individual virtual goods business to grow, it is important that the overall community of IMVU members must grow. We want to reward this behavior.

3. To reduce texture theft and other infringement. Again, we observe that Content Creators who are VIPs are much more likely to be “good citizens” and “play by the rules.” Sometimes, good Creators are adversely affected by texture theft by other, “bad” Creators. Raising the qualifications for product submission will very likely reduce such theft and infringement.

We are also celebrating the wonderful content creators that have already made our catalog the largest virtual goods catalog in the world – your loyalty, creativity and innovation has made our community a wonderful experience enjoyed by millions. Thank you for your ingenuity and creativity. You can continue to submit your wonderful creations to our catalog irrespective of your VIP status.

What are the details?

If you are already registered as a Content Creator as of May 9th, you will experience no change. These Creators are “grandfathered” into the current program, though IMVU reserves the right to right to end the “grandfathering” benefit at any time (we do not anticipate doing so now).

However, effective today anyone interested in becoming a Content Creator and submitting items to the catalog will have to be a VIP. If their VIP subscription stops or lapses, these Content Creators will continue to earn credits generated from the direct or indirect sales of their existing products in the catalog, but they will not be able to access the Create Mode to submit new products or to edit existing products. In addition, all products from such Creators will not be shown in search results in our catalog i.e. they will be suppressed.

We hope this change means a better experience for our entire community.

Sincerely,
The IMVU Team
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Varsha - Sr. Manager Community Experience

Varsha · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 9:04 am Post subject:

FAQs

1. Who exactly is grandfathered?

Any IMVU user who is already registered to be a creator as of May 10, 2012 by 10 AM Pacific Time.

2. What if I am already registered as an IMVU user but have not joined the Creator program yet?

Effective May 10, 2012, in order to become a Creator you will need to become a VIP if you are not already one.

3. Does this change the credit pend process?

No. Credit pend process stays the same.

4. I am already registered as a creator on one account but wish to transfer those privileges to another account. Can I do so?

No.

5. What happens if my products are re-rated?

There is no change to the way products are reviewed and/or re-rated if necessary.

6. Going forward will I still have to register/buy my name in order to become a Content Creator?

No. Effective May 10, 2012, you will only need to join the VIP program to become a creator. You will need to stay a VIP in order to create and submit products to the catalog. Buying a name will no longer be related to being a Creator. If you have purchased your name prior to May 10, 2012 but have not yet registered to be a Creator then you will need to become a VIP in order to become one.

7. Will this affect the tier system?

Not directly. Tiers will be calculated every month using the same system as before.

8. I am already registered as a Creator prior to May 10, 2012 and am a VIP. Will I be affected if my VIP lapses after May 10, 2012?

No. You will continue to be Creator irrespective of your VIP status.

9. Is this the same as Merchant Pass that has been discussed previously?

No. The Merchant Pass concept previously discussed envisioned a different process. The intent of this change is however the same as discussed in the announcement.

The following FAQs only pertain to those Creators who join the creator program after May 10, 2012 and are required to be VIP to do so:

10. What will happen if my VIP lapses?

You will no longer have access to the Create mode in 3D Chat, will no longer be able to submit new items to the catalog, and no longer be able to edit existing items. In addition, your products will be suppressed from catalog search results. They will only be accessible via a direct link or Product ID (PID).

Example: Creator A joins the creator program after May 8, 2012 and submits a Red Scarf to the catalog. If his/her VIP lapses, that Red Scarf will not be shown in search results if someone is browsing through accessories or does a keyword search for “Red Scarf”. Creator A can however still earn their credits if the Red Scarf is in the derivation chain for other products or if someone buys the Red Scarf via a direct link.

11. Can I still earn credits if my VIP lapses?

Yes. You will continue to earn credits if any of your products in the catalog are sold including products derived from yours.

12. What happens if I discontinue and then re-join the VIP program?

Once you are a VIP again, you will be able to submit new products to the catalog. Your previously submitted products will again be part of the search results.

13. Will I have access to the Create Mode if my VIP is no longer active?

No.
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Varsha - Sr. Manager Community Experience

Sikk · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 11584 Location: USA - AZ

Thanks, Varsha.

My only issue is that it would have been nice to be given a few days notice for those who own an account and their name already that this was about to go live, so that they could activate their account as a developer, since they already paid for their name.

I understand why we weren't, but still. Those of us that are honest get penalized for all of the crooked ones out there.
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mikeyvw · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 2453 Location: USA - OR

“grandfathered” for an indefinite period of time

Does that mean sometime down the road I will lose the ability to submit stuff? Will I still be able to edit my existing stuff? How do we maintain our existing items if we don't have VIP? What if a client update breaks stuff and I can't fix it?

mikeyvw · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 2453 Location: USA - OR

Oh wow. If VIP lapses our stuff will not be searchable. Thats not very nice of you. Evil or Very Mad

Mommajack · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 9:17 am Post subject:

Varsha · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 9:18 am Post subject:

We reserve the right to make changes to our services and policies in the future. However there are no plans to change the grandfathering in the near future.

For new content creators who sign up to be a creator after this change, yes, they will lose access to Create mode if their VIP lapses. If any products from these creators need to be edited because it is broken because of a change on IMVU's end, a help ticket will need to be filed. Those instances will be handled on a case by case basis.
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Varsha - Sr. Manager Community Experience

Goldilocks · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 3201 Location: USA

Although, overall, I see this as a good thing, this part concerns me:

Varsha · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 9:22 am Post subject:

Sikk · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 11584 Location: USA - AZ

It still makes us very nervous reading it.

Imagine your bank telling you that your money that you worked hard for is only FDIC insured for an indefinite amount of time.
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Goldilocks · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 3201 Location: USA

Notorious · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 18427 Location: USA

I see this as a lie of sorts.

Creators are now being told they will have to pay a fee to create here, which in 2008 or whenever the heck it was, that word "grandfathered" was used and stated clearly that long-time supporters of the site would not pay a fee.

Sure they are beginning by posting at 10:02am that this took effect 2 minutes ago. Love the warning here.

I actually have about 12 accounts I would have purchased their names for if I had been warned to avoid this VIP necessity they are pushing. Lost revenue for IMVU...I won't bother investing now.

Hell since they brought in Tiers & IPR I even stopped creating on my other viable accounts...because the site shifted.

I have VIP on the account that I CHAT with and that I use for CHATTING.

VIP features aren't even good.

I have a help ticket from 2/2011 that is unresolved.

I don't use VIP actions on people.

I see advertising from third parties that IMVU cleverly calls partners now.

I don't frequent the VIP elite forums.

I hide the VIP monthly gifts because I don't like the repetitious themes AND creator being utilized.

The only VIP value for me is the 5k in credits that I blaze through in throwing back into IMVU.

So IMVU saying new registered creators as of 36 minutes ago will have to be a VIP is just the first step. Mark my words.
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I give up. Censorship is ridiculous.

Ismeny · Joined: 31 Mar 2009 Posts: 3760 Location: El Salvador

it is better I skip my thought and comments, I only have a question:

For the newest creators, it is always needed to buy your name and VIP .. or just buying VIP they can create?

I didnt understand that part, thank you
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mikeyvw · Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 2453 Location: USA - OR

Why would I file a help ticket to fix something I can't sell anymore? The people who bought it can file a ticket. Its their problem not mine. Laughing

Varsha · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 9:40 am Post subject: