McLaugh, the information is not sold. When you download an object, the manufacturer who owns the rights to the product sees it not your user information or contact details, just your company name. Again, the idea is to provide the architect/design community with real world products (high-end), and the manufacturers are just looking for reassurance that the goods will not be copied. We do live in the information age.
And FYI, I had to register to each and every one of the following sites: vray-materials.de, yahoogroups, renderosity, cadforums.cz to name a few.
McLaugh, when you present a product which belongs to a manufacturer, you have to assure them of their ownership. The site is a bridge between the manufacturing/design worlds.
Try reading the privacy policy which states: "PRIVACY POLICY
Privacy for our users is a high priority at Archipedia and 3D-Pedia. Thus we do not share any personal information
obtained online without permission from the submitting user, and we never will, with the exception of communication of the
disclosure of the company name to Vendor?s who?s objects have been downloaded.
The sole purpose is to aid Vendors in their direct marketing to clients. All information gathered by Archipedia
and 3D-Pedia is used solely for the purpose of enhancing the functionality and level of service we are able to provide
our users.
We do not store credit card information as all credit card payments are executed via Paypal and are
subject to their policy."