Shops, Points, and Pretend Currency Systems

dietbacon · #1 Feb. 11, 2019 14:05:05

Hi!

We are updating this policy in response to the questions we have seen asked about the original policy that was written here. To summarize, we do allow people to use pretend point based systems on Scratch, but there are 4 main things to remember when trying to use these systems:

It must be a pretend currency that is not real or easily confused with real or crypto currencies.
It needs to exist only on the Scratch website – it cannot require using another website, app, or browser add-on.
Participation is optional – if someone remixes content from a Scratch project in a way that is consistent with Scratch Community Guidelines, but chooses not to “pay” for something intended to be used with the point system, they are allowed to do this.
It must follow all Scratch Community Guidelines .

For more details about each of these items:

1. Any exchange system you create must be pretend, and should not be easily confused with real-world currencies.

Using real money or something that feels like a real currency, such as creating a new crypto-currency, is not allowed on Scratch.
You may not use Scratch to advertise, or buy and sell real things, services, or currencies. This means you cannot do things like buy or sell your personal belongings, crypto currencies, currencies/points for online games, or advertise any products or services.
We advise avoiding names like coins, money, and currency. Consider names like points, stardust, gems, candies, or credits instead. Be creative!

2. Your exchange system must be completely maintained on the Scratch website (through features like projects, comments, forum posts or studios)

If any feature of your system requires others to leave the Scratch website, use an app, or use a browser add-on or script in order to use your system fully, it is not allowed.

3. Participation must be completely optional, and you may not force someone to participate in your exchange system. (For example, all projects on Scratch are remixable, so you cannot demand others “pay” to remix your projects.)

It is not okay to use social actions (likes, favorites, views, or follows) as a form of payment. Scratch social actions should always be something that Scratchers give freely, not something they do because they are getting “paid” for it.
It is never okay to say mean or insulting things, or engage in inappropriate behavior because you do not like the system someone has created, or don't like the way they are or are not participating in it.

4. You must follow all Scratch Community Guidelines.

If we notice your system is involved in a high number of Community Guideline violations, we reserve the right to remove it from Scratch.

(This policy has been revised as of August 2023.)

Last edited by dietbacon (Aug. 11, 2023 18:17:27)

puppypearl2016 · #2 Feb. 11, 2019 17:49:30

What if the buyer were to just take the item and not do anything to it and not give credit to the original owner? I would think that they should at least give credit.

NilsTheBest · #3 Feb. 11, 2019 18:17:36

Thanks for the clarification! I've heard of some currency going on recently and wasn't sure as to whether it was reportable or not.

Last edited by NilsTheBest (Feb. 11, 2019 18:19:02)

drmike51 · #4 Feb. 11, 2019 21:52:26

Okay, how many points do I have? This is the first time i found something like this

jakel181 · #5 Feb. 12, 2019 12:47:28

As par of what Nils said, Thanks for the clarification.

NilsTheBest · #6 Feb. 12, 2019 17:34:01

drmike51 wrote:
Okay, how many points do I have? This is the first time i found something like this

Have you read the full post yet? They were giving clarification on why it isn't necessarily a good idea to have a points / currency system on Scratch ^^

World_Languages · #7 Feb. 12, 2019 22:52:01

dietbacon wrote:

Participation in these point systems must be completely optional. You can create a studio with rules that you would like people to follow, but all of Scratch’s Community Guidelines still apply. For example, all projects on Scratch are remixable. If someone doesn’t give you ‘points’ for something, they can still remix, re-color, and share parts of those projects on Scratch as long as they follow the Community Guidelines.

It is not okay to say mean things, demand that Scratchers ‘pay’ if they have remixed or used something from your projects, or encourage others to post mean comments to someone because they didn’t participate in the point system.

Many of the projects being created require people to agree to some set of rules they must follow. Your project can include a list of rules, but it shouldn’t insist people do anything that doesn’t line up with our Community Guidelines.

Using something that feels like a real currency, such as creating a new crypto-currency for these studios, is not allowed on Scratch. Creating your own pretend point system that you keep track of in projects, comments, or studios is fine, but you should avoid doing anything that feels more like real money than this. Scratch isn’t meant for advertising or buying and selling things with real-world money.

Thank you for clarifying

Oh, and also:
5. Scratch “status” systems aren't allowed either.

felinemeower · #8 Feb. 13, 2019 00:53:27

I use points sometimes, but just to have a fun thing to do on Scratch. Is it a bad thing? Should I stop?

when green flag clicked
ask [Am I Allowed To Use Points?] and wait
if <(answer) = [No]> then
Leave all Mall-Simulators and Do Something Else

sti_scratch · #9 Feb. 13, 2019 02:25:58

puppypearl2016 wrote:
What if the buyer were to just take the item and not do anything to it and not give credit to the original owner? I would think that they should at least give credit.

Legally, they SHOULD give credit and do something to it, whether adding a red dot to the side or whatever, however small, however big. But legally, they are NOT obligated to give points, coins, crescents, whatever Scratch mallsims name them these days.

sti_scratch · #10 Feb. 13, 2019 02:29:19

World_Languages wrote:

dietbacon wrote:

Participation in these point systems must be completely optional. You can create a studio with rules that you would like people to follow, but all of Scratch’s Community Guidelines still apply. For example, all projects on Scratch are remixable. If someone doesn’t give you ‘points’ for something, they can still remix, re-color, and share parts of those projects on Scratch as long as they follow the Community Guidelines.

It is not okay to say mean things, demand that Scratchers ‘pay’ if they have remixed or used something from your projects, or encourage others to post mean comments to someone because they didn’t participate in the point system.

Many of the projects being created require people to agree to some set of rules they must follow. Your project can include a list of rules, but it shouldn’t insist people do anything that doesn’t line up with our Community Guidelines.

Using something that feels like a real currency, such as creating a new crypto-currency for these studios, is not allowed on Scratch. Creating your own pretend point system that you keep track of in projects, comments, or studios is fine, but you should avoid doing anything that feels more like real money than this. Scratch isn’t meant for advertising or buying and selling things with real-world money.

Thank you for clarifying
Oh, and also:
5. Scratch “status” systems aren't allowed either.

Please clarify what you mean by “'status' systems”.

-PoIar- · #11 Feb. 13, 2019 02:35:45

Thank you for the clarification!

PopStarYoda · #12 Feb. 13, 2019 02:47:44

Thanks so much for clarifying!

puppypearl2016 · #13 Feb. 13, 2019 04:40:09

Ok thanks

EncloCreations · #14 Feb. 13, 2019 05:09:22

That fourth one felt like a huge spotlight being pointed at me haha. Seems good

BlueLava_Productions · #15 Feb. 14, 2019 18:45:18

this is great because I was pretty scared when someone said recieve your mattcoin or something.

drmike51 · #16 Feb. 14, 2019 20:28:41

-TapiocaPearl- wrote:

drmike51 wrote:
Okay, how many points do I have? This is the first time i found something like this
what is your banking number?

I don't know?

rabbitsnowflake · #17 Feb. 15, 2019 02:40:19

drmike51 wrote:

-TapiocaPearl- wrote:

drmike51 wrote:
Okay, how many points do I have? This is the first time i found something like this
what is your banking number?
I don't know?

So, you have to like fill out a form to join, so if your not part of any, you don’t have points!

PurpleRabbit07 · #18 Feb. 15, 2019 17:40:29

Thanks - I will refer to this in my plannings for a shop currency.

katixirro · #19 Feb. 15, 2019 20:56:06

I don’t think this is fair. People are allowed to tell other people what to do with their work, to a certain extent of course, but still… We should be allowed to decide whether other people can use our work, it is ours after all, not Scratch’s.

There should be a rule that you have to ask another Scratcher to use their work, even if you give credit, unless it is a remix.

EDIT: I am not saying this against remixes, just that it seems unfair that “you can sell stuff as long as it’s not real money, but anyone can use it even without paying as long as they credit you”. That’s basically saying, “This shop can sell stuff, but people are allowed to steal from it as long as they say it was from that shop”. Do you get me?

Last edited by katixirro (Feb. 15, 2019 21:18:14)

World_Languages · #20 Feb. 15, 2019 20:59:21

katixirro wrote:
I don’t think this is fair. People are allowed to tell other people what to do with their work, to a certain extent of course, but still… We should be allowed to decide whether other people can use our work, it is ours after all, not Scratch’s.

When you share something on Scratch, it automatically can be used by anyone if they give credit. Read the FAQs for more info.

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