This is a club for people who want to help solve the art theft problem throughout the internet. While complete success is impossible, members pledge to try to make a difference. Our primary goal is to stop the theft of other deviants posted work not only in other deviantART accounts, but in other websites.
NEWS!
+++I've sent the Art Theft Article to the nexopia administration and should be getting an update shortly on what we can expect to happen.
+++WE NEED MORE MEMBERS
+++I've provided direct quotes from the User Agreements of the sites listed under 'Sites with excessive art theft problems.' It would be smart to use these quotes when approaching people with stolen art in their pages so they know youre not simply a lunatic vigilante, and so they know that they are indeed in violation of site rules. HOW TO JOIN:
A members list will not be recorded, so anyone who wants to consider themselves as a member can do so. It would help if you devwatched the club to be updated with new information, and if you put a link to the club in your journal or signature to spread the word. If we get a lot of help, we can make a HUGE difference and make the internet a safer place for artists.
HOW TO HELP:
Apply for an account in one or more of the sites listed below, known for excessive art theft problems. Browse through profiles, and if you find stolen work, notify the member and make sure that they know they shouldnt be thieving art. If they dont agree to
take the work down immediately, report them to an admin of the site. Most blog communities have copyright policies in effect, and those steps should eliminate the problem, one profile at a time. To be more aware of what art you should be looking for, browse the daily top favorites on deviantARTs frontpage often to be more familiar with popular artists work, as it is most likely to be stolen. If you find an online community that seems to have a problem with art theft, send a note to the club so it can be added to the list. thaaaaaaaaanks
EXTRA WAYS TO HELP:
1. Encourage the use of obvious watermarks throughout the da community. If you see someone being harrassed because they use watermarks, defend the artist in question. Its the most effective way on da to prevent theft.
2. Spend extra time browsing through da's top favorites and top prints. These deviations are *VERY* likely to be stolen, and if you become familiar with who draws what, itll be easier to prove that theives are indeed stealing someone elses work.
3. Dont be shy when you find someone with someone elses work posted on their page! Its a good idea to give them a friendly warning at first, but keep track of their page just in case they refuse to comply. After you gave fair warning, and they know you know they stole the art, its perfectly acceptable to pull out all stops and do everything in your power to get the person banned from whatever page theyre on.
SITES WITH EXCESSIVE ART THEFT PROBLEMS:Nexopia www.nexopia.com Nexopia antiarttheft Forum!
www.nexopia.com/forumthreads.p…"The following is a partial list of the kind of Content that is illegal or prohibited on the Site. Nexopia will investigate and take appropriate action in its sole discretion against anyone who violates this provision, including without limitation, removing the offending communication from the Service, terminating the Membership of such violators, as well as other legal actions. It includes Content that:
..promotes an illegal or unauthorized copy of another person's copyrighted work.."
Gaia Online www.gaiaonline.com
--gaia members tend to redistribute images in signatures and comments. images in signatures are spread VERY quickly to other users. if you find someone with stolen work in their signature, notify them kindly first, then if they refuse to remove the work, contact an admin.
"While using the GAIA Online Experience, the User may not:
..3. Impersonate any person or entity, including, but not limited to, GAIA Online officials, Forum moderators, guide or host, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity.
..5. Upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that you do not have the rights to."
PureRave www.purerave.com
"Copyright Complaints
Purerave.com respects the intellectual property of others, and we ask our users to do the same. We may, in appropriate circumstances and at its discretion, terminate the access of users, and account holders who infringe the copyright rights of others.
If you believe that your work has been copied and is accessible on the Service in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, or that the Service contains links or other references to another online location that contains material or activity that infringes your copyright rights, you may notify the Service Provider by providing us with the needed information."
LiveJournal www.livejournal.com
--livejournal has the same problems as xanga. (see below)
"You agree to NOT use the service to:
6. Upload, post or otherwise transmit any content that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights of any party;"
Xanga www.xanga.com
--xanga has a HUGE problem with illegally redistributed icons and images. seek profiles created specifically to redistribute icons with work that doesnt belong to them (i think theyre called blogrings), and if they refuse to remove the images in question, report them immediately. if the admin is lazy (this happens often) remind them that the person is breaking site rules (and copyright law) by using art of another person without consent. [[right now i cant find any way to contact an admin to report art theft, but i've contacted the administration, explained our situation and requested a link to a place where art theft could be reported. i'll update once i recieve a response.]]
"You must agree not to use Xanga's products or services to:
+ impersonate any person or entity, including, but not limited to, a Xanga official, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity;
+ upload, post, email or otherwise transmit any Content that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights ("Rights") of any party;"
Piczo www.piczo.com
"4. Submissions. Under these Terms, you may NOT place any of the following material or obtain any such material using the Piczo service:
..Any material that could infringe rights of privacy, publicity or copyrights without the permission of the owner of these rights and the persons who are shown in the material.."
MySpace www.myspace.com
--Myspace members often post images in comments to other users. if you find someone who is doing this, make sure to tell them that what theyre doing is against myspace terms, and they could get banned. if it seems they intend to continue breaking the rule, contact an admin with a link to the message(s) and also to the persons profile.
"6. Copyright Policy. You may not post, distribute, or reproduce in any way any copyrighted material, trademarks, or other proprietary information 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 copyright upon prompt notification to MySpace.com"
NeoPets www.neopets.com
"Neopets.com respects the intellectual property of others, and we ask our users to do the same. Neopets.com may, in appropriate circumstances and at its discretion, terminate the accounts of users who infringe the intellectual property rights of others."
PhotoBucket www.photobucket.com
--Photobucket is an image hosting site. Most all images posted in comments, journals, profiles etc. are hosted through this page. by using the searchbar, you can easily find images that are being stolen. if you can notify the person through photobucket, the images on whatever site theyre posting the art on will no longer be available. try searching for a popular deviations title or a popular artists username. if the results display stolen artwork, click the 'contact member' button to ask the person to take the images down before you contact an admin and get them banned. be nice at first though. wait until they refuse to comply before you take action against them. ALWAYS keep track of who you find so you can make sure that the stolen artwork gets taken down.
"Users of Photobucket must agree to comply with all laws which apply to their location, including copyright and trademark laws. Images and files that violate copyrights or trademarks are not allowed. If someone has an infringement claim against you, you will be asked to remove the copyrighted file until the issue is resolved."
Fotolog www.fotolog.net
"You must agree to not use the service to:
..(c) impersonate any person or entity, including, but not limited to, a Fotolog official, forum leader, guide or host, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity;..
..(e) upload, post or otherwise transmit any Content that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights of any party;.."
Report Theft Here
my.fotolog.net/help.html?o=2Photodump www.photodump.com
--This is a new addition to our list. just recently, stolen artwork has been found with the photodump stamp in the corner. Theres a convenient button to report image violations, so use it if necessary.
VampireFreaks www.vampirefreaks.com
--The list becomes longer.
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If you have an urgent question, you can send the club founder,
azuzephre a note. I'll get it faster since i'm logged into that account more frequently. : )
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