Images being stolen from DeviantART, Violating copyright laws Options

[WindSorcerous]

I left a while ago because I wasn't into doing layouts anymore. I went onto deviantART for my photography. When I came back to createblog, I noticed a lot of images were taken from artists on DA to make layouts, or use for photos, etc. So, what added to my reason why I left was that members on createblog were taking images from deviantART.com. If you use an image from deviantART for one of your layouts, it is stealing and violating copyright laws.

What I'm annoyed about is that to make all my old layouts I went to a graphic site that gave permission to use images. What I didn't realize was that those images did not belong to that user but were from all over the web...probably some from deviantART and others from individual artists. Be careful in selecting images. Either make your own or have direct permission from the user because you can't trust sites that say the images are free to use. They might not be their own...

In light of all of this, I'm going to have my layouts removed because I do not feel it is right to still have them up. Though I gave credit to the owner of the site...those images were not belonging to that user in the first place. Eh, I younger at the time, but now since I know it is not an excuse. Also, giving credit to the artist does not cut it. You need to have expressed written permission. Even if the piece does not have a signature; it is still copyrighted by the owner.


So please, do not steal images from deviantART or anywhere else for that matter. Take your own photos or make your own from scratch. Manipulations of photos and removing the siguature from an artist's piece is stealing. Be unique, be original!


Sorry for all of you who really liked my layouts, but I removed them.

<3


Oh, and the reason why I put "retired" was because I still have people contacting me asking me to help them with layouts LoL I forgot all about them until just recently

[pshaa.shauna]

Mmhmm. That irritated me. I make my own images, or use ones where they are specifically meant to be used for layouts.


But you weren't that much younger when you made them...

[WindSorcerous]

About two years ago...though I submitted them later.

[pshaa.shauna]

Oh, I see. That makes more sense.

[*Statues/Shadows*]

I really hate it when people take things too seriously.

[pshaa.shauna]

You know Nicki, you tend to take some things too seriosuly in other people's eyes.

[WindSorcerous]

I really hate it when people take things too seriously.

Stealing artwork isn't serious? With that kind of response this site should be shut down. Images stolen are copyrighted.

[*mipadi*]

Artists spend a lot of time creating things, so it is frustrating to just see it taken, without any attribution.

Of course, in a general sense, I'm sort of torn on this issue. I'm not a visual artist, but I do write, and more importantly, I write a lot of software, too. I see art, writing, even software, and most intellectual property, as something that should be shared, rather than hoarded. Most of my software, for example, is released under an open-source license, if at all possible. Of course, most open-source licenses require attribution of all authors, which is simply a nice thing to do.

But DeviantART doesn't release art under such a scheme, so at the present, permission should be obtained unless the artist has specifically released it into the public domain.

[WindSorcerous]

Artists spend a lot of time creating things, so it is frustrating to just see it taken, without any attribution.

Of course, in a general sense, I'm sort of torn on this issue. I'm not a visual artist, but I do write, and more importantly, I write a lot of software, too. I see art, writing, even software, and most intellectual property, as something that should be shared, rather than hoarded. Most of my software, for example, is released under an open-source license, if at all possible. Of course, most open-source licenses require attribution of all authors, which is simply a nice thing to do.

But DeviantART doesn't release art under such a scheme, so at the present, permission should be obtained unless the artist has specifically released it into the public domain.

It is always different if the artist gives permission but this is not the case here.

[kimmytree]

Thats terrible, but I really respect the fact that you are volintarily removing them.

I've noticed some of the photography people submit here on createblog isnt their own work. That really bothers me. There's been some photos on here that i've actually seen at devientart, and its obvious that its not by the same person. o_O

[*mipadi*]

CreateBlog's Terms of Service do stipulate that the submitter must have permission to reproduce any non-original work used in their own creation.

[WindSorcerous]

Thats terrible, but I really respect the fact that you are volintarily removing them.

I've noticed some of the photography people submit here on createblog aren't their own work. That really bothers me. There's been some photos on here that i've actually seen at devientart, and its obvious that its not the same person. o_O

Well since I found out the images were taken from other artists and put on another site; I felt it was wrong having them up. I wouldn't want my art stolen and put on another site only to be told anyone can use it. Goes to show you can't be more careful.

But yeah, many images are taken from photographers on DA. I'm always checking to make sure my work isn't stolen though it's copyrighted...that hasn't stopped anyone.

I'm hoping they remove my layouts soon.

CreateBlog's Terms of Service do stipulate that the submitter must have permission to reproduce any non-original work used in their own creation.

Yep, so it's not only violating deviantARTS copyrights and the artist's, but createblog's terms as well...

I do know it is difficult when someone says this image is free for all use when really it was stolen from someone else....
That does happen a lot.

[*Zatanna*]

It's unfortunate that these things happen and I do respect your decision to actually do something about what you believe is wrong.

I know that some artists make the disclaimer that you "can use, but please credit." I wouldn't think those would require written permission.

Also, I think that most artists realize (or should at least realize) that once you post something on the internet, your work is vulnurable to being used or stolen. It's unfortunate, but that's just the way it is. You would hope that people would respect the artists enough to get permission. *sighs*

As far as photography, graphics, etc that are both submitted as a graphic here and/or used in layouts, I think that the moderators for those areas are really doing the best they can to ensure art isn't being stolen. I don't envy them at all in that task.

So if you see something you think is stolen, help cB out and inform someone (design staff, My Space Staff, Xanga Staff, admins) that you have spotted a copyright infringement.

[*StanleyThePanda*]

^ I agree.

Yeah its unfortunate, but its the internet.
If you dont want it stolen, then dont post it.. or better yet, put a big watermark on it.

[WindSorcerous]

It's unfortunate that these things happen and I do respect your decision to actually do something about what you believe is wrong.

I know that some artists make the disclaimer that you "can use, but please credit." I wouldn't think those wouldn't require written permission.

Also, I think that most artists realize (or should at least realize) that once you post something on the internet, your work is vulnurable to being used or stolen. It's unfortunate, but that's just the way it is. You would hope that people would respect the artists enough to get permission. *sighs*

As far as photography, graphics, etc that are both submitted as a graphic here and/or used in layouts, I think that the moderators for those areas are really doing the best they can to ensure art isn't being stolen. I don't envy them at all in that task.

So if you see something you think is stolen, help cB out and inform someone (design staff, My Space Staff, Xanga Staff, admins) that you have spotted a copyright infringement.

If there is a disclaimer then I do count that as permission, but what happened to me was the images I used (though they had a disclaimer stating that) were actually taken from other people in the first place...I know that can't be helped, but I'm still removing my layouts anyway because it is still wrong.

Though I know putting work on the internet is risky...having a copyright and a signature...if it is stolen, you can do something about it.

[*mipadi*]

I think, more often than not, the submitter isn't malicious; rather, the submitter probably didn't know the law. We're in an age when kids download anything from the Internet: music, movies, and so forth. Many don't even know that downloading music is usually a violation of copyright law, for example, so they definitely don't understand that taking images from a place like dA is violating copyrights.

cB should probably make this sort of thing more clear when users submit images.

[WindSorcerous]

I think, more often than not, the submitter isn't malicious; rather, the submitter probably didn't know the law. We're in an age when kids download anything from the Internet: music, movies, and so forth. Many don't even know that downloading music is usually a violation of copyright law, for example, so they definitely don't understand that taking images from a place like dA is violating copyrights.

cB should probably make this sort of thing more clear when users submit images.

I completely agree.

[gelionie]

That's why cB sometimes depends on different users to report on violated submissions as the few design mods here are not enough to make sure that each submission is created by the submitter.

[WindSorcerous]

That's why cB sometimes depends on different users to report on violated submissions as the few design mods here are not enough to make sure that each submission is created by the submitter.

Yeah, I can imagine how hard it must be sometimes...
There's just too many.

[NinjaxMageLayout...]

Stealing artwork isn't serious? With that kind of response this site should be shut down. Images stolen are copyrighted.

Ok.You should'nt say that This site should be shut down becauses its not the site doing anything or stealing its the people.People have their own inidivisual actions and if they steal then thats on them but dont blame CB blame some of the members.Stealing is serious and i hell as hate as much as you when someone steals my ©Copyright work,it really sucks.And it violates cB's terms of use.

[marzipan]

I think, more often than not, the submitter isn't malicious; rather, the submitter probably didn't know the law. We're in an age when kids download anything from the Internet: music, movies, and so forth. Many don't even know that downloading music is usually a violation of copyright law, for example, so they definitely don't understand that taking images from a place like dA is violating copyrights.

cB should probably make this sort of thing more clear when users submit images.

i agree.

[WindSorcerous]

Ok.You should'nt say that This site should be shut down becauses its not the site doing anything or stealing its the people.People have their own inidivisual actions and if they steal then thats on them but dont blame CB blame some of the members.Stealing is serious and i hell as hate as much as you when someone steals my ©Copyright work,it really sucks.And it violates cB's terms of use.

Yeah, I know I was just angry that someone didn't take it seriously...
LoL but I'm good now. Yeah, this site is great, but I was just saying that if EVERYONE who was a member had the same beliefs like that then...well yeah, it wouldn't be good to have the site, but that's not true at all. I suppose I was trying to prove a point but I didn't explain... >_<


Problem is...most people don't take art theft seriously or just don't know about it. I think it needs to be brought to more people's attention, y'know?

[technicolour]

It would be a bit naive to think that only if people had the same views as you do about images. People just don't understand..which means there is going to be situations like this. It happens. And this place is so dang big that it's hard trying to catch everyone.


But I think that when submitting..there should be this:

IF THIS IMAGE CAME FROM DEVIANT ART IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Just..much bigger. And bold. And in red.
I like that idea.

[WindSorcerous]

It would be a bit naive to think that only if people had the same views as you do about images. People just don't understand..which means there is going to be situations like this. It happens. And this place is so dang big that it's hard trying to catch everyone.
But I think that when submitting..there should be this:

IF THIS IMAGE CAME FROM DEVIANT ART IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Just..much bigger. And bold. And in red.
I like that idea.

I think that if it's brought to more people's attention then it wouldn't be so much of a problem...most people don't know. Some do it on purpose, but most really think there's nothing wrong with it. But yeah, haha I like your idea! :)

[*incoherent*]

i have to say this. i agree that what you are doing is right, but going as far as to "retire" from cB is ridiculous. just because you simply made some layouts with images you found on the internet does not mean you need to hold it against the community for also not knowing the direct source of the image. you sound like alvin when he doesnt make staff.