Quick Question regarding the selling of models on this and many other sites. (CLOSED)

hey guys and gals and alien people.

So I have been thinking about selling models on sites like this, CGTrader, etc..., etc...   I work mainly in Houdini and Maya.  But that's irrelevent to the question.  

On almost every site that I have looked at everyone is selling copyrighted, proprietary models.  There is absolutely no way every artist on these sites have gotten "permission" from the people that own those rights..  I know they say.  Not for commercial, blah, blah.  But they are selling them.  Anyways, I just don't see how it's legal.  And it seems pointless trying to put in the effort if everyone is just using movie and game trademarks and such.

Anyways, I am just curious and would appreciate it if anyone could explain to me the legality behind it.  Because as they say "Everyone is doing it!"

Thanks,

Jeremy Dickinson

BioSpark Studios

Radiian Interactive

Yeah, just because everyone is doing it doesn't make it legal.

The law is... If you make a copy, model, photo, whatever, of copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright holder you are in violation. Period. 

The thing is... these artists who sell the copyrighted material, are assuming that the owners, ie: Marvel, Disney, Paramount, etc.
won't waste the time or money to come after them. As long as they fly under the radar, the big guys won't say anything.

If someone started making millions of dollars on X-Wing models, then I think you'd see some lawyers' ears perk up.

My 2 cents.