Real estate is typically a ridiculously HIGH PRICED, ONE-TIME sale with which a very small percentage makes a nice little bit of change…

As for competition, well, there is a ton of it out there if somebody googles 3D assets/models/textures and has been for many years. Seeing how many of those things come up as Turbosquid results does not mean that there is little competition but is a tribute to the success of TS search engine campaigns (which is where part of their revenue goes).

As for how the TS revenue is spent: It doesn’t particularly matter to me how the money is invested…

I believe this should matter. There are two types of structures a 3D marketplace can have: our current royalty structure, which gives us resources to invest in growing the customer base (and the industry as a whole; many customers that we hustled for ourselves spill over to other marketplaces), or a higher royalty rate and no resources to grow the market. Artists can actively choose which type of marketplace they’d like to work with.

The TS royalty rates between 40 and 60 percent are justified because this is your marketplace. The rates may not be embraced by the majority of contributing artists but who cares. As long as the income flows, the system works. Ethics, however, may conflict here but, again, who cares.

Someone elsewhere made the point that, if TS were a real estate agent taking a 60% commission on sales, it wouldn’t stay in business long. Obviously we’re dealing with a different scenario as there’s really not a great deal of competition in this industry – yet – but that’s where attempts can be made to buy-out the competition and subsequently control the market. However, in doing so, TS has managed to effectively place The3dStudio as a primary competitor that is unwilling to merge.

Would it really hurt TS that greatly to, at least, offer 20% higher royalties to the artists? I’m not asking simply because I’m interested in your business but as a prior member artist.

As for how the TS revenue is spent: It doesn’t particularly matter to me how the money is invested or if it’s merely pocketed. It’s your business. The only problem I’ve got is how tales are spun. According to advertisement, TS is the highest selling venue. Perhaps by volume, yes, but from the perspective of the individual contributing artists, hardly the case.

In closing: there is competition out there and there will come a day when the TS royalty practices will either bend or break. The question is: does TS wait to be forced to make a decision at that point or reassess its’ practices now to save-face? I could speculate…

Posted edited to conform to TurboSquid Code of Conduct

1) Proper names for Authors, not JoeCracker etc. That does not give me confidence to buy.
2) A clean up of TS to get rid of pirate models. That would give you credibility.
3) A customer bill of rights, that clearly states, that the model’s I pay for are NOT pirate.
4) Validation of every model uploaded that its not pirate. That gives us both relief.

Those things a) i’ve been waiting for a long time. b) Would make you a ‘serious’ business.

If you want to get back and attract new customers and are serious about that,
those points ARE the only way forward to get the business serious & professional.

I state this in all sincerity as a customer, who has purchased, who is concerned about getting legal work, and as one who values the efforts of legitimate artists.

Chris