Fandom/Kins Rules Update Feedback Box

Canon characters & Kin galleries: +1 to banning, since it's just stealing from the source (and potentially fan art by creators who do not allow reposting!!)

Derivative Characters: 

• Explicit redesigns (eg. Naruto as a dog or furry): +1 to banning since this is basically just fan art, just as a different species. I see this all over toyhouse and even if there is often no written information on most of them, it's mostly just the canon character as a dog or whatever.
• Characters that're described as an OC or sona...: +1 to banning, it's basically the “redesigns” as stated above from how I see it
• Personalised playable MCs...: +1 and -1 to banning depending on what it is. If they are just taking a main character from a game with no character customization beyond clothing/hairstyle (Uncharted, Hitman, Until Dawn, etc.), then it should be banned. However, if it's a game like Stardew Valley, Skyrim, Fallout, Pokemon Trainers, anything with full main character customization, then it should be allowed. This is basically a fan character, which I get more into below.
• Personalised pet site/game characters...: I only really know about Neopets so I feel I can't really comment on this, though I do feel that Neopets are basically canon species as stated below...
• Characters belonging to a canon species...: -1 to banning, unless someone is just taking straight from the source (screencaps from the show, official comics, etc.). If they have their own art drawn by the creator (or commissions), personalized backstory, etc., I think it is 100% okay, even with alterations to the designs of canon. I feel these can still be classified as fan characters, too.
• Characters belonging to a canon setting...: -1 for banning (and I'm going to get real into this because of my own fan characters that I've put so much work into) since this is literally just touching on fan characters, which are still *original characters, just in a canon setting that isn't your own (*which is why they aren't 100% original if they're in a fandom). Many people have Naruto fan characters, Dragon Age fan characters, etc.; they aren't taking a canon character and calling it theirs or whatever, and most fandoms give the freedom to create your own outfits and stuff for your character. I find it pretty annoying with the school uniform thing, but sometimes that just cannot be avoided such as Hogwarts OCs (unless someone makes an AU), but BNHA is an easy work around with the hero outfits. Nonetheless, I'm a strong -1 for banning on this since this is in no way just taking canon characters and calling them your own, or redesigning canon characters and calling them your own.

The net net, as it is right now. If you change no rules, you will loose no customers/users.

However, as from what I can see, rather it's right or wrong, if you change the rules to not even allow "inspired by" characters, you will loose ALLOT of people.
Honestly, it's not hurting anyone. Yeah, it might be a little annoying sometimes but it's not like I can't just not look at a particular users characters.

How I see "inspired by" characters is the same way I see cosplayers/cosplays. They just love a series, and it's a part of the fandom. Sometimes people sell their cosplays, sometimes they modify cosplays to be more unique, and sometimes they try to get as close to the character as they possibly can. I don't see companies being like, " YOUR STEALING MY CHARACTER STOP." when they see them at conventions. No, in fact, they usually love it.

That's just my two cents tho.

Firstly, thank you very much everyone for your feedback, assistance, and immense patience while we've sorted this out. I apologise for the stress and concern this has caused anyone.

The following rules update has been made: https://toyhou.se/~forums/18.announcements/97219.caching-bug-important-rules-update-important-

The survey results were very clear cut for canon characters (vast majority said no), and fandom characters (vast majority said OK), so we were mostly on the fence for inspired characters. I'd like try this set of rules first and make further amendments if we see people trying to abuse loopholes, or if we run into a lot of edge cases that we have trouble moderating. 

Thank you again for your patience. Further feedback can be submitted at the ticket desk.