[engine] Flag Inappropriate Addons

[Deciton_Reven]

Problem: Sometimes people are dummies and add content to the addon server that they shouldn't. Mostly copyrighted matters. Some of these are easy to overlook if they aren't obvious or look unappealing click and or to download. The current solution appears to just to make a topic on the forum, which isn't a bad solution per say, but there may be a better way.

Proposal: Add to the addons list a "report addon" button, that will flag an addon for who ever needs to know about such things to easily pick out.

Possible Downsides: Flagging of okay posts by trolls. Also even if the idea was implemented it still requires someone that is actively watching out for it, otherwise they'll sit around anyways not being taken care of. Work involved with limited staff, as it is for most [engine] suggestions at this time.

Alleviation: Treat improper flagging the same way as improper uploading is handled. Assuming there is a punishment for such a thing. Also, I don't know how to alleviate the watching problem if that exists except to increase the quality and/or quantity of the addon server moderation team?

Alternative: While less inclusive to all players to report, a stickied thread, in such a place as perhaps the user's forum, can make the reporting of violations more streamlined with far less work to the game (that is 0).

What has made me post this you may ask? Currently there is an addon on the server "anime" by "x-men" that was uploaded over a week ago self proclaimed to include content from "Dragon Ball, Bleach, One Piece, Naruto, [and] Fairy Tail" (as can be seen in the spoiler box'd image below) and I kinda wanted to report it, but was unsure how to do so.

Spoiler:

Thank you for your time, and have a safe and wonderful day.

[Pentarctagon]

Any requests for add-on removal should be sent to the Forum Moderators group, or the Forum Admins group, depending on what you're reporting, as stated in the (recently updated) add-on server rules.

[Sapient]

REMINDER: please report suspected copyright/trademark violations by private message to the Forum Administrators group.

It is not something to post in random forum threads.

[Deciton_Reven]

Yep got that the first time, but thanks.

[Pentarctagon]

Anyway, moving right along...

I support the general idea, definitely. I would be somewhat worried about the potential for people to abuse it, particularly as far as spamming, since there is no validation of any sort right now in the add-ons manager as far as I know. I suppose one way to help address that would be to require logging in before sending a report, like you would for the MP server (uploading and downloading would still not require logging in, of course).

[Deciton_Reven]

That's sounds wise. The existence of such a button might also help inform people that were unaware these types of addons are even a problem in the first place so they can be caught sooner, or well meaning people might catch themselves before making a silly. Perhaps, if a logging in is put into place, but it is still not enough, a limit of one pending "ticket" at a time is put into place as well? If the addon server was ever just flooded with unacceptable addons, a stronger counter tactic than "report and remove" would likely needed anyways.

[Elvish_Hunter]

(uploading and downloading would still not require logging in, of course).

If the addon server was ever just flooded with unacceptable addons, a stronger counter tactic than "report and remove" would likely needed anyways.

In this case, we might consider requiring to login to upload add-ons (downloading, of course, won't require anything). After all, in most cases, UMC authors are already forum users, and they usually want (and like) to get some sort of feedback about their hard work. This will also allow to apply stronger countermeasures against inappropriate add-ons, like temporary or permanent bans.
Granted, in order to check the feasibility of this solution, we'll need to check how many add-ons were uploaded by unregistered users so far.