Snow Mountain - Fight Art Theft!

This section of Lurker Zone was taken from Starnine with the permition of the owner, Tabby Kitsune.

Button by PlaguedOne. Please do not hotlink to this image.

Why make a page about art theft?

Simply because it's becoming too much. As the popularity of the internet grows, and as it becomes easier for ANYONE to come online, more and more people do not understand media on the internet is copyrighted.

What is art theft?

Art theft is when someone takes art not their own and either:
Claims it as their own work, posting it in galleries and their site
Posts it in a group of images, such as an MSN or Yahoo club without artist permission
Uses it to make graphics such as websites, buttons and LJ avatars without artist permission.
Traces said art, altering minor details and claiming it as their own.
Taking an artist's black and white image, coloring it and claiming it as their own.
Steals another artist's designs,characters, or ideas and claims them as their own.

What is copyright?

To quote directly from Copyright.gov.
"Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works."

How is artwork copyrighted?

Artwork is automatically copyrighted the moment it is created or written down. One can also buy a copyright for added protection under the law. Once an artwork is made, it is protected BY LAW. Artists can press charges for art theft.

Internet Art Myths

"Being on the internet makes it free"

"If it is on the internet, it is free for the taking."
The most common idiot logic out there and it is COMPLETELY FALSE. Just because it is in plain view to look at, does not mean one could take it.
You go to a muesum to look at art, but you do not rip it off the wall and use it to make a pillow. You can go look at people's cars, but you are not allowed to drive off with them. Same concept applies to artwork and character designs.

"Changing it makes it mine"

"If I edit it more than 5 times, it's legally mine."
Whatever genius thought this one up needs to be slapped, hard. Another COMPLETELY FALSE rumor. Taking the art is illegal, and editting it just drags you into a DEEPER hole. It's exactly like trying to plagerize your college paper. Take text, edit it a bit... but then you get caught, and your college kicks you out.
There is no law behind this trick. Don't try it because the courts will just laugh.

"It's not from my country"

"This artwork is from another country, therefore I can take it."
Or.. "I don't know the language to ask this person, so I'll just take the art."
WRONG. The japanese are the number one people to get ripped off. Because of such actions, they usually take all their artwork offline which is a huge disappointment to those who enjoy their work.
The fact is, the copyright law extends to MOST OTHER COUNTRIES, including Japan, Mexico, China, Australia..ect ect. Practically every country in the world are working together with this law.
So if you're in Mexico or another country and you take art from a US artist or Swedish artist, YOU'RE BREAKING THE LAW.

"It's fanart/official art"

"It's art of an offical character, so I can take it!"
Another no-no. Even if it's of offical art, it is still copyrighted to the artist. Offical artwork is copyrighted to the company that makes it. IF the company wanted to, they could cease all artists making fanart. However, they feel that fanart is a great form of free advertising. They also allow the use of offical artwork for the same reason, thus people can make fansites with it. Companies, however, CANNOT take fanart of their characters and use them without permission. Thus, artists and companies know their limits, and stealing art of characters is wrong.

What Can I Do?

There are several things that can be done. Here's a good list on how to help, if you see an art thief in action.

Report the thief to the original artist.
Sometimes, there's nothing you can do but report to the original artist and let them handle it. Don't worry, even just a TINY email will work. The artist will appreciate it, trust us.

Report it to server.
Sites like MSN and yahoo will list if you report illegal material to them. Most of the time, so will the art galleries like Sheezy, deviant, side7 as long as you have proof of the original artwork. All these places have a help center to report misconduct.

Ask the thief to take down the art/graphic/ect.
Please please PLEASE do not flame the theif. That will only reflect badly on you. Sometimes, a theif just needs to be educated on what they have done, for they do not realize it was illegal. With the internet becoming so easy to get onto, most likely younger kids will come online and snatch up art for a pretty graphic and use it. We all probably did it before they were set straight. If the theif is rebellious and refuses, however, try one of the above methods to solve the problem.