1. The Service
ModelDirectory.org ("we", "us", "the platform") is an open directory for 3D model files — STL, OBJ, STEP, BLEND, F3D, and related formats. The platform allows registered users to upload, publish, discover, and download 3D model files, and optionally anchor a cryptographic fingerprint of each file to a public blockchain to establish an immutable timestamp of authorship.
By accessing modeldirectory.org or any of its subdomains, or by using our API, you ("you", "the user") agree to these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, you must not use the platform.
These Terms apply to all visitors, registered users, and anyone who submits content to the platform.
2. Accounts
2.1 Registration
Some features — including uploading models and purchasing files — require a registered account. You may register using an email address and password or via a supported OAuth provider (currently Google). You must provide accurate and current information at registration and keep it up to date.
2.2 Age Requirement
You must be at least 13 years old (or the minimum digital age of consent in your jurisdiction, if higher) to create an account. Persons under 16 in the EU/UK require verifiable parental consent.
2.3 Account Security
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately at [email protected] if you suspect unauthorized access.
2.4 Termination by You
You may delete your account at any time via the Settings tab in your account dashboard. Deletion removes your personal data per our Privacy Policy but does not automatically remove content you have published, which may remain available under the license you selected unless you delete individual models first.
3. Uploading Content
3.1 Rights Assertion
Before publishing any file you must confirm, by checking the required boxes in the upload flow, that:
- You are the original author of the file, or you hold a valid license that permits you to re-publish it under the license you select.
- The file does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party.
- You agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy.
Important: False rights assertions may result in immediate account suspension and may expose you to legal liability under applicable copyright law.
This assertion is stored permanently with your upload record. It cannot be edited after submission and forms the basis for IP dispute resolution.
3.2 Provenance Metadata
At upload, the platform automatically records:
- A SHA-256 cryptographic hash of your original file, computed in your browser before transmission.
- A server-side SHA-256 hash computed after receipt (used to verify file integrity).
- Your user ID, upload timestamp, selected license, and declared file format.
These records are immutable. They cannot be altered by you or by us once created.
3.3 Validation
All uploads pass through an automated validation pipeline that includes: file format detection, antivirus scanning, geometry analysis, and hash verification. Files that fail validation are not published. You will be shown the reason for failure.
3.4 File Size and Format Limits
Maximum file sizes: 500 MB for STL, OBJ, STEP, BLEND, and F3D files; 1 GB for ZIP archives. Supported formats: STL (binary and ASCII), OBJ, STEP/STP, BLEND, F3D, and ZIP archives containing a recognized model file.
4. License You Grant to ModelDirectory.org
By uploading content to the platform, you grant ModelDirectory.org a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to:
- Store and serve your file and its associated metadata.
- Display your model name, description, tags, preview images, and file hash publicly.
- Generate and store derivative data such as geometry statistics, bounding box information, and format-converted preview representations.
- Anchor your file's SHA-256 hash to a public blockchain if you enable the Blockchain Timestamp feature.
- Transmit your file to users who download it under the license you selected.
This license is limited strictly to operating and improving the platform. We will not sell, sublicense, or commercially exploit your content outside the scope of the platform's services without your explicit consent.
This license does not transfer ownership of your content to us. You retain all copyright and moral rights in your work.
5. Content Licenses
When you upload a model, you select one of the following licenses that governs how other users may use it. You are bound by the terms of your chosen license.
| License | What others may do | Commercial use |
|---|---|---|
| CC0 (Public Domain) | Anything, no restrictions, no attribution required | Yes |
| CC BY | Share and adapt with credit | Yes |
| CC BY-SA | Share and adapt with credit; share-alike required | Yes |
| CC BY-NC | Non-commercial use with credit | No |
| Custom Commercial | As defined by you in the listing description | As defined |
| All Rights Reserved | Download only; no reuse, redistribution, or modification without explicit permission from you | No (without permission) |
License selection is permanent once the model is published. If you need to change the license on a published model, you must delete the model and re-upload it with the new license. Changing the license does not retroactively affect copies already downloaded under the previous license.
6. Prohibited and Restricted Content
ModelDirectory.org distinguishes between content that is absolutely prohibited and content that is permitted subject to mandatory classification and access controls. Content that does not fall into either category is treated as general-audience material. The platform assigns each model a content rating (general, mature, adult, or weapon) which governs its visibility, search indexing, and thumbnail presentation.
6.1 Absolutely Prohibited Content
The following content is strictly prohibited and will be removed upon discovery, regardless of license, framing, or stated purpose. Uploading prohibited content may result in immediate and permanent account termination, forfeiture of all balances, and referral to law enforcement where mandated by applicable law:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Copyright-infringing models | Unauthorized replicas of commercially protected products or characters without a valid license from the rights holder |
| Illegal weapons and weapons of mass effect | Functional firearms and their regulated components; untraceable unserialized firearms ("ghost guns"); suppressors and solvent-trap kits configured as suppressors; improvised explosive device components; chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapon delivery systems or precursor components; any weapon whose manufacture, possession, or distribution is unlawful under the laws of the United States, the European Union, or the United Kingdom |
| Malicious geometry | Mesh files or CAD data engineered to damage 3D printers, exploit or crash slicing software, or consume disproportionate computational resources of other users or the platform |
| Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and content harmful to minors | Any content — including 3D models, renders, or associated metadata — that sexualizes or depicts sexual abuse of individuals under the age of 18, or that is designed to facilitate harm to minors. Such content will be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and relevant law enforcement agencies as required by 18 U.S.C. § 2258A and equivalent applicable law |
| Fraudulent or deceptive listings | Models submitted with false rights assertions, fabricated license grants, manufactured provenance records, or materially misleading descriptions intended to deceive users or inflate proof-tier credentials |
| Doxxing, targeted harassment, and non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) | Models, metadata, or associated media designed to identify, harass, extort, or harm specific private individuals; or three-dimensional representations of real persons in sexual contexts without demonstrable informed consent |
6.2 Restricted Content — Adult and Mature Material
The platform permits adult and sexually explicit content involving consenting adults, subject to the following mandatory conditions. Uploading adult or mature content without compliance with these conditions constitutes a violation of these Terms:
| Rating | Description | Access Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Mature | Suggestive but non-explicit content; implied nudity; suggestive poses or attire; content suitable for audiences 16 and over | Displayed with a "Mature" label; excluded from default search results; requires user account opt-in to appear in search. Thumbnail displayed with a content warning overlay |
| Adult | Explicitly sexual content depicting genitalia, sexual acts, or full nudity in a sexual context; suitable only for audiences 18 and over | Requires affirmative age verification at the account level (18+); excluded from all unverified sessions; thumbnail blurred in all listing contexts; not indexed by search until the session is age-verified; not promoted, featured, or surfaced in any general browse interface |
By uploading content rated mature or adult, you represent and warrant that: (a) all depicted persons are adults aged 18 or over and that you hold documentary evidence of this; (b) all depicted persons have provided informed, documented consent to the creation and distribution of the content; (c) you have complied with all record-keeping requirements under 18 U.S.C. § 2257 and equivalent applicable law; and (d) the content does not otherwise violate section 6.1 of these Terms.
6.3 Restricted Content — Weapons
The platform permits 3D model files depicting weapons — including edged weapons, firearms replicas, bows, historical arms, fantasy weapons, cosplay props, airsoft replicas, and NERF-compatible accessories — where such items are lawful to possess or manufacture in replica form under applicable law and the model does not constitute an illegal weapon under section 6.1. Such content is subject to the following mandatory conditions:
| Condition | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mandatory weapon label | All models classified as depicting a weapon are assigned a "Weapon" content rating and displayed with a visible label in all listing and detail views. The platform applies this classification automatically and may supplement or correct creator-supplied categorization |
| Search visibility | Weapon-rated models are excluded from default promoted search results and category browsing but remain discoverable via keyword search. Users may filter search results to include or exclude weapon-rated content |
| Functional weapon risk disclosure | If a model has functional weapon characteristics — i.e., the printed artifact could reasonably function as a weapon capable of causing bodily harm — you must disclose this in the model description. Failure to disclose known functional weapon characteristics is a violation of section 6.1 (fraudulent listings) |
| Jurisdiction compliance | You are solely responsible for ensuring that the manufacture, possession, and distribution of any weapon replica in printed form complies with the laws of your jurisdiction and any jurisdiction in which you know or have reason to believe the model will be downloaded or printed |
6.4 Creator Obligations Regarding Content Classification
When you upload content, you must accurately select or confirm the appropriate content rating. The platform's automated systems will independently classify content and may override or supplement your selection. If the platform reclassifies your content, you will be notified by email within 24 hours. You may dispute the classification via the appeals process in section 11.3. Deliberately misclassifying prohibited content as restricted content, or restricted content as general-audience content, is a violation of section 6.1 (fraudulent listings) and may result in account termination.
6.5 Paid and Commercial Content
Models offered for purchase through the marketplace must comply with all content restrictions in this section. Adult-rated models may only be sold to age-verified users. The platform reserves the right to delist paid content that is reclassified as prohibited following payment processing; in such cases, affected purchasers will receive a full refund.
7. Blockchain Timestamp Feature
When you enable the Blockchain Timestamp option during upload, the platform submits a transaction to the Polygon blockchain containing the SHA-256 hash of your file. This creates an on-chain record proving that a file with that exact hash existed at a specific point in time.
What it proves: That a file matching the hash existed no later than the block timestamp. It does not prove authorship, originality, or copyright ownership — those remain your responsibility to establish by other means.
7.1 Costs and Availability
Timestamps on the Polygon network are currently free to users. Timestamps on the Ethereum mainnet incur a gas fee paid by you. Bitcoin timestamping via OpenTimestamps is processed in batched transactions; you are not charged, but confirmation may take hours to days.
7.2 Irreversibility
Blockchain transactions are irreversible. Once your file's hash is submitted to the chain, it cannot be removed or amended. Deleting your model from ModelDirectory.org does not remove the on-chain timestamp record.
7.3 No Legal Guarantee
We make no warranty that a blockchain timestamp constitutes legally admissible evidence of copyright or authorship in any jurisdiction. You should seek independent legal advice if you intend to use a timestamp as evidence in legal proceedings.
8. Marketplace
The platform includes a marketplace that allows creators to sell paid downloads of their models. The following conditions apply:
- Only models with a rights assertion on file, with no open DMCA claims, and cleared by the moderation team may be listed for sale.
- Payments are processed by Stripe. By making a purchase you agree to Stripe's terms of service in addition to these Terms.
- Upon successful payment, you receive a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to download and use the file under the terms of the license the creator selected.
- All sales are final unless the file is materially different from its description, in which case contact [email protected] within 14 days of purchase.
- The platform retains a commission on each sale. Commission rates are published in the creator dashboard.
9. DMCA and Copyright Infringement
9.1 Reporting Infringement
ModelDirectory.org respects intellectual property rights and complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), 17 U.S.C. § 512. If you believe content on the platform infringes your copyright, please submit a takedown notice at modeldirectory.org/dmca or by email to the designated agent below.
Your notice must include:
- Your full legal name and contact information (address, email, phone).
- The URL(s) or model ID(s) of the allegedly infringing content on this platform.
- A description of the original copyrighted work you own or are authorized to represent.
- A statement that you have a good faith belief that the use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
- A statement that the information in your notice is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on behalf of the owner.
- Your physical or electronic signature.
9.2 Designated DMCA Agent
ModelDirectory.org — DMCA Agent
Email: [email protected]
A US Copyright Office DMCA agent registration is pending. This page will be updated upon registration.
9.3 Counter-Notice
If your content has been removed and you believe the removal was a mistake or misidentification, you may submit a counter-notice to [email protected]. Your counter-notice must include:
- Your name, address, phone, and email.
- Identification of the removed content and its former URL on the platform.
- A statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good faith belief that removal was due to mistake or misidentification.
- A statement consenting to the jurisdiction of the federal district court for your location and agreeing to accept service from the original claimant.
- Your physical or electronic signature.
Upon receiving a valid counter-notice we will forward it to the claimant. If no court order is received within 14 business days, we will restore your content.
9.4 Response SLA
We will acknowledge receipt of a takedown request immediately and aim to complete initial human review within 48 hours. Final decisions on straightforward cases are made within 30 days.
10. Repeat Infringer Policy
In accordance with DMCA safe harbor requirements, ModelDirectory.org maintains a repeat infringer policy:
- First confirmed infringement: Written warning and removal of the infringing content.
- Second confirmed infringement: 30-day account suspension and removal of all infringing content.
- Third confirmed infringement: Permanent account termination and removal of all content.
Strikes are assessed per account. A successful counter-notice appeal resets only the contested strike. Infringements that are the subject of a pending appeal do not count toward thresholds until the appeal is resolved.
11. Moderation and Account Termination
11.1 Our Rights
We may, at our sole discretion, remove any content, suspend any account, or terminate any account permanently if we determine that the content or account violates these Terms, applicable law, or poses a risk to the platform, other users, or third parties.
11.2 Notice
When we take action against your content or account, we will notify you by email within 24 hours, explaining the specific violation and the action taken, and providing instructions on how to appeal (see 11.3).
11.3 Appeals
You may appeal any moderation decision within 30 days of notification by emailing [email protected] or using the appeals function in your account dashboard. Appeals are reviewed by a different moderator than the one who made the original decision. You will receive a written decision within 14 days.
11.4 Termination by Us
We may terminate your account with 30 days' notice for any reason or without notice for serious violations including: uploading malware, CSAM, or weapons files; engaging in fraud; or persistent, wilful copyright infringement. Upon termination we will provide a data export of your account information on request within 30 days.
12. Disclaimer of Warranties
The platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, or uninterrupted or error-free operation.
We do not warrant that:
- Any model on the platform is printable, safe, or fit for any particular purpose.
- Any blockchain timestamp constitutes legally admissible evidence in any jurisdiction.
- The platform will be available at all times or free from bugs, viruses, or errors.
- User-submitted content is accurate, lawfully uploaded, or free from infringement.
You download and use 3D models at your own risk. Always validate files in a secure environment before printing.
13. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, ModelDirectory.org and its operators, employees, contractors, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages — including loss of profits, data, goodwill, or use — arising out of or in connection with your use of the platform, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Our total aggregate liability to you for any claim arising from these Terms or your use of the platform shall not exceed the greater of: (a) the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim, or (b) US $100.
Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties or limitation of liability for certain types of damages. The above limitations may not apply to you in full in those jurisdictions.
14. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless ModelDirectory.org and its operators, employees, and contractors from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or relating to:
- Your use of the platform in violation of these Terms.
- Content you upload, including any claim that it infringes a third party's intellectual property rights.
- Your false rights assertion.
- Any violation of applicable law by you.
15. Governing Law and Disputes
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
Any dispute arising from these Terms that cannot be resolved informally shall be submitted to binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, conducted in English. The arbitration shall take place in Delaware, USA. You waive any right to a jury trial or class action in connection with any dispute relating to these Terms.
Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent ongoing harm.
If you are a consumer resident in the EU, you also have the right to refer disputes to the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform at ec.europa.eu/odr.
16. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will:
- Post the revised Terms on this page with a new "Last updated" date.
- Send a notification to your registered email address for material changes, with at least 14 days' notice before the changes take effect.
Your continued use of the platform after the effective date of revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of those Terms. If you disagree with a revision, you must stop using the platform and may delete your account before the effective date.
17. Contact
Questions about these Terms? Contact us:
ModelDirectory.org
General: [email protected]
Privacy: [email protected]
DMCA / Copyright: [email protected]
Appeals: [email protected]
See also: Privacy Policy