“It’s about time!” Users happy to see Roblox archiving stolen cosmetics

Roblox is taking a decisive step to clean up its Marketplace with the introduction of the Proactive Marketplace Archive, a system that is designed to automatically archive avatar items that may infringe on intellectual property (IP) rights.

Starting from September 4, 2024, both 2D and 3D avatar items, like t-shirts and accessories, will be archived if they don’t comply with Roblox’s Terms of Use and Community Standards. Creators won’t need to take any action themselves, as Roblox will handle the process. Twitter seems happy with the change, with UGC Creator Vhaega commenting that this is "the only good decision Roblox has made so far in 2024!!"

This change stems from long-standing concerns voiced by users who uploaded content when they were younger and less aware of the implications of using copyrighted material. One community member commented, "Great update, glad that something like this has been added — acknowledging that a lot of people uploaded IP-infringing content without knowing 6+ years ago (normally classic shirts/pants) where I’m sure a lot of people don’t even know that they can submit a manual request for archiving them."

However, the change won’t affect everything. Limited items, bundles, images, models, and meshes are not covered under this system. Users whose items are archived will receive inbox notifications and emails, but, the most important thing is that they won’t face any account moderation consequences from having these items - such as getting banned.

While the move is a relief for some, it’s not without controversy. Another long-time user voiced frustration, saying, "I wouldn’t be surprised, frankly, if Roblox was purposefully allowing this for as long as possible to bring in revenue from it until they weren’t able to anymore. It’s the right approach, for now, but… it will permanently and irreversibly damage older games, as well as innocent fan projects."

Despite the concerns, Roblox’s focus on building tools to better manage IP is gaining cautious optimism. In the coming months, a new self-serve feature will roll out, allowing creators to archive their own avatar items—something many users are excited about due to current delays in manual requests.

While the immediate future might be rocky for some creators, Roblox’s latest efforts finally seem geared toward balancing creative freedom with respect for IP rights. YouTube commenters seem to mainly be concerned with losing their cosplay items, but Roblox has been refunding the Robux spent on archived items, and I would hope that users would rather not be wearing stolen designs.

Want to read more about Roblox at Pro Game Guides? Check out When and where to watch the RDC 2024 event – Roblox and All 2024 Roblox Innovation Awards Nominees and Winners.