Animation Source Forums

Simply standing around doing nothing isn't going to work most of the time when people do confrot people who are taking art they are kind about until they 'thefter' starts to madly instult that artist.

I think now you can see why I brought this all up then. I am trying to take steps to help. Positive steps. Rather than just "standing around". I know you meant the artists when you referred to "simply standing around". But there are many of us in this one way or another, and with one point of view or another. And rather than see a growing animosity and hostility be fostered by what has happened thusfar, I kinda thought that doing what I have (including talking to individuals outside of discussion groups) would have had a more positive effect.

If it's unappreciated by the artists, as I can only assume you're implying, then I'll disappear, and we can allow this growing conflict to reach epic proportions. I seem to forget that many of the younger generations in our world today (I'm in my 30s, and was a teenager in the 80s...before the days of the internet) seem to think that conflict, hostility and confrontation, and vitriol, are de rigeur. And that being kind and benevolent, and trying to work towards peaceful resolution, is weak and annoying. (And I'm a conservative person!)

Well whatever steps people are taking I think it would be best if the myspaces were temporarily removed or frozen until all proper credit is given to the artists or the art is removed.

Eeyeah...that's nice. But there are some problems with that line of thinking:

1) How do you prove who "stole" images?

2) How in the world do you convince the MySpace Customer Service team to "temporarily remove or freeze" any accounts that are PROVEN to have taken artwork without permission? They barely act on stuff that constitutes clear violations of their Terms of Use (I know this for a fact...there is a person there into the "furry" movement, and he has a very offensive profile full of pornographic images, and he's a cyberbully. There are CLEAR violations of several of the MySpace Terms of Use. The resolution of the MySpace Customer Service Team is to issue one useless "warning", and then tell me that they do not get involved in personal conflicts! Imagine that! And this artwork stuff, by its very nature, constitutes personal conflict...which would be further complicated by the fact that complaints issued by non-MySpacers would probably not be dealt with by MySpace.)

3) Such a tactic is a sure to generate hostility with those who simply made mistakes. I think that such a move would only apply to those who are ALTERING images, or who are refusing to remove the images after being advised. Or who are ignoring those who advise them to remove the images. It's not so simple a thing as every MySpacer is being selfish and plagiarizing.

(And that guy I mentioned? He has a Balto tribute site too...with anthropomorphic furry art on it. Now how in the world does THAT honor Balto, or pay tribute to the cartoons?)

What more proof do you need when the artist who drew it has the originals themselves.

If I could I would rid of Myspace it is nothig but problems for artists.

It would'nt be much of a problem for me coz I'm gonna get my drawings copyrighted!!

Legally the characters in the upcoming project we are creating the ones we have 'created' ourselves as well as my characters have actual legal copywrites that are sent in. By law if other artists have this, they can take legal action and take anyone who refuses to remove the images to court.

what does one have to do to get their art copyrighted? i'm interested in doing so. i also look forward to the day when MySpace is shut down, because i've seen WAY more bad come out of it then good.

SIGH. Oh well. I see I'm not making too much headway here. Fine. Those of you artists who wish to go at loggerheads with the dishonest and uncooperative of the MySpacers, go. You're each made for each other. I'm tired of trying to help.

For those here who have understood what I was trying to do (even if you didn't think it had much of a chance), I appreciate it. There ARE MySpacers who also want benevolent interaction with the artists, and to do the right thing. There are, however, some idiots here who have unfairly characterized them, and that is a real shame (and I'm sick of engaging in useless debate with said idiots, because it resolves NOTHING. It only prolongs the problem, and wastes bandwidth ). It ruins any chance of resolution and fostering of good and cooperative relations.

There are certain things I feel which MUST be done to resolve these things. However, since I am not getting across to some of the more stubborn and infantile of people here, and on MySpace (who seem to be looking for a fight, and want unrest and hate to persist), I am going to post these, and then I'm going to leave this thread behind...

1. The e-mail addresses of the artists should be posted on their main gallery pages here. A shout box message board, I think, is not enough. Because the artist has to come back here in order to see it, and then cycle through it. E-mail is better, and more direct. It WILL make it easier for people to contact each artist for permission to use their work.

2. Artists probably SHOULD put watermarks on their works (as some have). I think it's fair to ask for a copy without the watermark once permission has been secured. This is what professional photographers and artists do when their work is purchased from their websites. I also think it's fair of the artist to have certain disclaimers and copyright statements that the "borrower" should agree to, at the risk of facing possible litigation if those conditions are not followed (which would be up to the artist to try and pursue if he or she was that upset over any eventual alteration of their work). If necessary, you can ask Steet to put in an agreement button which must be clicked before the art can be used (or perhaps even viewed). Sure, this would take some programming work, but it would be worth the trouble.

3. Artists NEED to stop trolling around on MySpace (and wherever else they may be) looking for people who MIGHT be using their work without permission, if the intent is to confront those people and stimulate conflict. And MySpacers (and others) who use the art without permission NEED to respect the rights of the artists, and their concerns.

Good freaking luck, people.

Your in your thirties and roleplaying Balto on Myspace with a bunch of kids. You seem to be very smart you should be more worried about life then Myspace. It would not matter to half those people if email addressed were listed they won't even give the artsits proper credit when they konw who they are.

The comment feature is simple and allows you to ask the artist to use there work with a click of a button.

Ah, great. More infantile prejudice. I won't even justify that attack with a response, other than that there are other adult role-players there. Pff. You're wasting my time trying to bait me into a flame war. I'm done biting. To hell with you dude.

I'm not trying to start a flame war, I don't mind adult roleplayers I just asked.

Thank you may the best come to you as well ^^

It doesn't seem like Drew is trying to do anything but state her opinion. I think that you are expecting too much that someone is going to try to insult you or goad you into a flame war.

You have posted many valid points, and the threat of art theft is very high especially on public web sites like Myspace. But somehow I never feel like I need to put watermarks or any precautions, even thought I know its probably the best thing to do, but thats just me. I agree we should have copyrights and watermarks (but not huge ones that take up more than half the picture) But I don't feel I need to constantly patrol MySpace just to see if someone has stolen my art.

The next comment is purely on and individual basis: I do art mainly for enjoyment, and to show some people on the web, just a little recognition, But I'm not doing any art for jobs, or anything really worth that much. Art theft is just not that important to me, yet.

this is straight out of the Myspace terms and conditions about their copyright policy :

Copyright Policy. You may not post, modify, distribute, or reproduce in any way any copyrighted material, trademarks, or other proprietary information belonging to others without obtaining the prior written consent of the owner of such proprietary rights. It is the policy of MySpace.com to terminate Membership privileges of any Member who repeatedly infringes the copyright rights of others upon receipt of prompt notification to MySpace.com by the copyright owner or the copyright owner's legal agent.