Nail on the head.
I think the route of a lot of the flak Expansion gets on DeviantArt is because of envy.
Has your art ever been ripped off/hacked up/traced?
I recently found a drawing on DeviantART that is clearly a tracing of one of my drawings. This got me thinking, has this ever happened to you? Has any of your art or have you found anyones art that has been traced over, morph, or just out right stolen?
Here's the original drawings that I did:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/43339268/
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/42640280/
And here is the hack-job of it (warning: its an anti-inflation piece)
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/50593453/
Sat, 07/28/2007 - 01:05
#3
Sat, 07/28/2007 - 03:02
#4
darth_clone19
Actually, its a she.
I love women, but when they get dead set on talking bullshit about some fetish which does whatever to women, god cant stop them.
Sat, 07/28/2007 - 10:03
#5
Sounds familiar. The two worst-case scenarios were:
1) Someone on DeviantART stole one of my renderings from elsewhere on the Web and posted it in his DA account for printing -- that is, for money. I generally don't sign my work or watermark it, but I wrote to the DA admins and explained that a certain work was mine, and that I could show the developmental stages and components of the final image. The culprit had several other works that were not his. They all evaporated quickly.
2) Following the release of the 2005 CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY there were many fans on MySpace who wanted to be turned into blueberries. I was happy to oblige. A MySpacer nicknamed "Violet," who is still there, posted many of the images. I was not blind to the fact that Violet's gallery included chopped inflation images from all over the Web, mostly from ExBlue. However, a line was crossed when Violet did a chop job (aliased edges and everything) on an image I made for one of his/her guests. I wouldn't be surprised if "Violet" is reading this post. (And I have a very strong hunch that she is a he.)
I've seen many things I've created -- for a particular site -- eventually appear far and wide on the Web. The oldest was a sound file made back in '86. A friend with a Mac Plus wanted a wacky desktop that looked like the CRT was completely transparent so the entire innards of the computer were visible. I did my crude best with the tools available to draw such an image. The final touch was a cartoony character front-and-center banging on the glass, as if he were stuck inside. Then came the sound file, a simple recording of me saying "Lemme outta here!" followed by the sounds of heavy knocking on CRT glass. The sound was accelerated to Alvin and the Chipmunks pitch, and eventually uploaded to a bulletin board. I was surprised to stumble across the sound file a few years back.
"Hey, what happened to him?"
"He died of a flashback."
Sat, 07/28/2007 - 13:41
#6
If there's one thing I hate more than theft, it's intolerance.
Sun, 07/29/2007 - 01:34
#7
SvenS
I've had one minor thing that I was able to have taken down quickly, but I wouldn't doubt there are a few more things out there. You can always release your work with a Creative Commons license, but when it comes right down to it, there is no real way to control what happens to your work once it's been posted. That's true for anything. I've always uploaded work with the full knowledge of this.
While you can't prevent someone from posting your work as their's, you can do a few things to help make it easier to prove it's yours and have it taken down:
1) Watermark your work - put a translucent logo or text on an upper layer of the digital work that identifies it as such - make sure it can't be cut out. This is the easiest and probably the most effective. It would take quite a lot of effort to remove it without it being obvious.
2) Crop the final picture that you are going to upload. The thief doesn't have access to your source files and won't be able to know what you've left out.
3) Add some Gaussian blur to the final picture and reduce the resolution - again, the thief won't be able to produce a hi-rez version like you can.
4) When you find something of your's stolen, be very polite (but firm) when contacting the offender. Give them one chance to take it down. After that, ignore them completely and go straight to the hosting site/ISP. Be polite and helpful. If they will not remove it without you identifying yourself in RL, then you're either out-of-luck or you'll have to de-cloak and go to court (something I wouldn't recommend unless there was a LOT of money involved in the theft).
As for stories? Not much you can do, other than make sure you've placed a (c) copyright on it and are able to prove a timeline of where and when you first posted and getting the word out on the offender.
Mon, 07/30/2007 - 14:08
#8
Le sigh... I've had that happen FAR too many times. I can't stand it when someone else takes my artwork, tinkers with it, and reposts it claiming it's their own. Alot of people on DA were doing that to me, and they weren't even TRYING to make it passable. I'm talking about a big white BOX, obviously drawn in MSPaint, covering up my logo.
SvenS wrote:
1) Watermark your work - put a translucent logo or text on an upper layer of the digital work that identifies it as such - make sure it can't be cut out. This is the easiest and probably the most effective. It would take quite a lot of effort to remove it without it being obvious.
When i first started doing Inflation work, I had a HUGE watermark. But then i got jibes and hate-mail from fans who wanted to see the artwork more clearly. I obliged and then people started stealing my work. The lesson is, you can't please everyone. I do suggest you put a watermark on your piece, but WHERE is entirely up to you because no matter what you do someone will be upset with it.
SvenS wrote:
2) Crop the final picture that you are going to upload. The thief doesn't have access to your source files and won't be able to know what you've left out.
That's a bit harder for me since i don't usually have ANYTHING around the edges of my pictures. So cropping it won't really 'work' and it makes it feel unnatural when i'm coloring to have that much extra space all around.
SvenS wrote:
3) Add some Gaussian blur to the final picture and reduce the resolution - again, the thief won't be able to produce a hi-rez version like you can.
I strongly dislike this idea. I agree one should never post the high-resolution version of their own work, and should shrink it down for the internet... but i don't think you should go to the length of purpously making your image burry to avoid thieves. What about those ACTUAL fans who want to see the image?
SvenS wrote:
4) When you find something of your's stolen, be very polite (but firm) when contacting the offender. Give them one chance to take it down. After that, ignore them completely and go straight to the hosting site/ISP. Be polite and helpful. If they will not remove it without you identifying yourself in RL, then you're either out-of-luck or you'll have to de-cloak and go to court (something I wouldn't recommend unless there was a LOT of money involved in the theft).
Usually, people will take my stuff down when I ask them politely. I alwasy make sure that no matter how pissed off I am when I find someone stealing my work, to ask them politely before I instigate anything. If i ask them politely and they STILL won't take it down, then it's ok to get serious and go to the mods, web host, admin or whatever to get it removed forcefully. Will this prevent them from doing it again? probably not. All you can do is maintain a watchfull vigilance and sweep in quickly when it happens. If you do that enough they might start to get the idea it's not worth the fighting and just leave your stuff alone.
Tue, 07/31/2007 - 19:29
#9
Inflate123
Or, you know, consider the potential source of his rage and thereby discount it.
Wed, 08/01/2007 - 02:21
#10
LOL funny how she immediatly blocks you after you leave a comment.
Wed, 08/01/2007 - 02:37
#11
darth_clone19
Yeah. she is f'ing deranged, if you ask me.
Wed, 08/01/2007 - 06:03
#12
Inflate123
Not deranged. Just young and confused.
Hopefully the lesson learned will be "hate silently, praise loudly."
Wed, 08/01/2007 - 13:06
#13
Thinking about it,it really is quite stupid to rip off a peice of artwork and try and copy it in your own way because; If you like the artwork trying to recreate it will only result in making it look worse and thereby ruining something that you liked, and if you are trying to copy a peice of artwork to try and appeal to a certain crowd the people of that crowd will instantly know it is a rip off and inform the artist.
Wed, 08/01/2007 - 13:40
#14
Really Ironic how she has more blocked ppl on her list than she has Watchers.
I really wouldnt call her Intolerant, I would say that Ignorant and Inmature better describe her.
Wed, 08/01/2007 - 14:59
#15
It seems to me that, at least from personal experience, it's usually females who tend to act out the most against inflation art. Probably not too hard to figure out why, of course, but I don't make stuff degrading yaoi art when I see it. I've seen yaoi of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart...I mean, great old ones, come on, Colbert and Stewart!!! Appalled? Yes! Good picture? Sorta! Did I turn away and just ignore it? You bet!
Wed, 08/01/2007 - 20:39
#16
darth_clone19
Yeah, and our own female troops are never around to back us up, which makes our case more a lost cause that it always is :(
All of that makes you think about the actual meaning of something, when you say "Thats degrading". I mean, then a woman likes it, it has to stop being degrading, right? Maybe its not degrading at all. Maybe nothing is degrading, its just the word we have to make us sound important when all we are trying to say is "I dont like that"
Thu, 08/02/2007 - 00:25
#17
Inflate123
inflatman wrote:
Thinking about it,it really is quite stupid to rip off a peice of artwork and try and copy it in your own way because; If you like the artwork trying to recreate it will only result in making it look worse and thereby ruining something that you liked, and if you are trying to copy a peice of artwork to try and appeal to a certain crowd the people of that crowd will instantly know it is a rip off and inform the artist.
Before she blocked me, she FINALLY got the message that the theft of AD's art is what I was actually upset about.
I'm really not all that bothered by the hate; we all agree it's nothing new and acceptance is not even a realistic goal. It's the art theft that got me. Zero tolerance for that shit.
Fri, 08/03/2007 - 00:43
#18
Archangel_Dread...
You know, I kinda regret posting this topic, I thought that there was a little more maturity in this community than what was present during this farce.
Fri, 08/03/2007 - 06:55
#19
Inflate123
Um, wow, understood. But next time, just PM me and tell me to keep my mouth shut.
Fri, 08/03/2007 - 14:07
#20
Archangel_Dreadnought wrote:
You know, I kinda regret posting this topic, I thought that there was a little more maturity in this community than what was present during this farce.
I don't get you sometimes Arch. You start a topic that obviously is going to get people worked up (i mean, how can you NOT get worked up about your artwork being ripped/hacked up/traced?) then you post saying you regret doing it cuz you found out we were all not mature...
yes... the logic makes sense.
Honestly i havn't seen anything in this post to warrent such an attack, which seemed directed upon 123 for him bringing up that DA incident. What would you do if i brought up every time my art has been ripped and hacked and took you to a journal full of hate and swearing about it in this thread? Get mad at me too? cuz i'm not mature? It's my journal, i'm allowed to go ballistic there cuz it's my thoughts.
I've lost my point... i'm just saying... you're gonna get people pissed off in a thread about people pissing other people off. Deal with it.
Fri, 08/03/2007 - 15:42
#21
Archangel_Dread...
I wasn't attacking inflate123 at all, in fact, I think that he was one of the more mature people in this ordeal. I was taking about some other people (mostly on DA).
As far as getting upset about having my art "stolen", there ain't anything that I can to about it, so, why waste time worry about it? Besides, thats one way to know that you are getting better, by how often your art work is "stolen".
The question of the topic was asking if that happened to anyone else, I guess I shoulda left the links out.
Fri, 08/03/2007 - 20:04
#22
darth_clone19
Yeah, that thing on DA got out of hand fast. But, what can one do?
That girl probably got a bad day because of this thread....who cares? Serves her right for being a crazy, paranoid, intolerant, and immature in the first place. She never even listened to anything we told her, she just mouthed off. Thats why Inflate above said "FINALLY" in caps. Not too bright, that girl.
Tue, 08/07/2007 - 07:43
#23
Inflate123
In all fairness, AD didn't ask for anyone to come to the rescue. That's just where I went with it, so I'm sorry if that made you regret sharing your feelings on the subject.
Fri, 08/10/2007 - 04:59
#24
Well... personally I don't mind the attacks against us, (and fetishes in general). We're different and I know for fact that everyone will not see the same way as us, and thus reticule and make fun of it. Be honest, I love satire. There was this one comic that made fun of WG, and I enjoyed reading it. It made me laugh. Shit... my friends always make fun of my sexuality, and it makes me laugh.
However, I like it when its tasteful and more importantly: not copied. If a person will post their views, that can draw their own artwork.
Thats my view on the entire situation.
Fri, 08/10/2007 - 07:24
#25
sorry if you guys wanted this to die out but i had to post this.Im trying my best not to insult people with this so bare with me on this. Here is my opinion just ignore people cant comprehend things that are natural to us here and why fight back it would just bring more flame and it would build up... yes it was wrong of her to do that and im surpised the admins there did nothing(i could be wrong about that) its still a shame that we get looked at like wierdos whens there more wierd things that people are into. I mean if she didnt want to fight she shouldn't of made that picture or tried to.
Sat, 08/11/2007 - 05:48
#26
And I thought dA had grown up.
Damn, was I wrong.
Sat, 08/11/2007 - 12:56
#27
Blacklist wrote:
And I thought dA had grown up.Damn, was I wrong.
It's not DA's fault, it's the people who are ON DA that's the problem.
Sat, 08/11/2007 - 21:52
#28
CattyN wrote:
It's not DA's fault, it's the people who are ON DA that's the problem.
Yeah! Pop the corksucking bastages!
Mon, 01/28/2008 - 05:04
#29
I'm just kinda curious to the reasoning behind why people would claim non-professional art as their own.
I mean when they'd be put to the test to draw something they'd fail pretty quick there.
Mon, 01/28/2008 - 11:04
#30
dragon_6860
Attention, I'd wager, and because it's less likely to bite them if anyone finds out, I mean, you copy a Picasso, it's a bit hard to hide. Copy some random guys work? that's a bit tougher to prove.
Thu, 05/29/2008 - 10:36
#31
I'm actually still trying to get Footpumpgirl to take down the stuff I did for her. I was not happy how she whored herself out on DA and here, and didn't want my stuff associated with it. Almost a year later it's still there, and some pieces here -.-
Thu, 06/05/2008 - 21:54
#32
http://enzo3.deviantart.com/art/water-inflation-87755673
Tue, 06/10/2008 - 01:17
#33
shadowdragon150 wrote:
http://enzo3.deviantart.com/art/water-inflation-87755673
I'm not sure if anyone else took action, but I submitted a report a couple days ago, and recieved a note today that the piece was removed.
Tue, 06/10/2008 - 07:59
#34
Inflate123
Good to hear. I reported it as well, but didn't know if they would take action since I couldn't provide a URL to CattyN's work, as he took it down himself.
Tue, 06/10/2008 - 18:16
#35
Inflate123 wrote:
Good to hear. I reported it as well, but didn't know if they would take action since I couldn't provide a URL to CattyN's work, as he took it down himself.
I mentioned that in the report, but also said that all they needed for proof was the rest of the guy's gallery.
Wed, 06/11/2008 - 00:45
#36
Inflate123
Hey, I did get a message after all. For great justice!
Worst that's ever happened to me is someone posting my stories to Usenet after removing any and all trace of my name from them. And then he got belligerent when confronted. Jackassery on many levels.
I'd like to point something out:
ArchangelDreadnought: 352,515 pageviews, 577 people watching
YuHawk: 1,506 pageviews, 7 people watching
Don't ya just love it when some adolescent wannabe anime artist tells someone with orders of magnitude more talent and popularity that he needs to get a life?
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