Oml I feel you. I had a 'friend' that basically used me for free art...ugh..
Kinda. It's sorta tricky but there is a way. I think characters have to be attached to some sort of brand/company and/or media such as a movie, TV, book, etc. Copyright doesn't protect ideas, only when its used in some sort of medium. That also makes it hard to report unfortunately.
Still, it's frowned upon to steal/misuse someone's character and people can get a lot of backlash for it (usually if it's a well known character).
The best thing to do is not to engage these types of people and block them. B/c if they pursue you it becomes harassment and that can definitely be reported.
Kinda. It's sorta tricky but there is a way. I think characters have to be attached to some sort of brand/company and/or media such as a movie, TV, book, etc. Copyright doesn't protect ideas, only when its used in some sort of medium. That also makes it hard to report unfortunately.
Still, it's frowned upon to steal/misuse someone's character and people can get a lot of backlash for it (usually if it's a well known character).
The best thing to do is not to engage these types of people and block them. B/c if they pursue you it becomes harassment and that can definitely be reported.
That's horrible. Tbh though I too was like that, but it was mostly at the beginning when I didn't really know how this site worked and what it was like for the artists...being here for a while though I know what its like so I don't ask for free art, unless of course someone writes a journal that theyre doing requests, but even then i'll only ask if I know the artist a bit. But even then I don't like to burden people. Of course, if i'm declined then its no problem. Ive seen so many on here who get butthurt if their request is declined, or they'll try to guilt trip the artist. I guess these people have taught me how not to be, so now unless I know the artist is ok to do requests and is a friend of mine, only then will I ask, but I don't do even do that now. I will do trades, collaborations or look for artists who do point commissions and always mention them in my journal. As someone who used to do freelance translation, I couldn't work for free unless its for family or very close friends. A friend of mine said she gets asked for free art from businesses, even her dentist! The most annoying this is they say they cant pay her...This astounds me a lot more than people on here asking for free stuff, because you'd expect people with businesses to be mature adults and understand that you need money for jobs, even simple sketches.
I hope the person left you alone.
Wow, that's quite complicated in regards to characters....I get the feeling that da don't always take the bullying seriously though, and I do not agree with their 'tracing is ok' policy. I feel it just encourages theft...
(late reply, sorry!)
Definitely! I learned about copyright and stuff early on but I get what you mean about not wanting to pester the artist. Basically being respectful that they don't have to do your request and it's on their terms. Most of the time it's younger kids doing that kind of thing and it's kinda...forgivable? They'll eventually learn and grow (well most of the time LOL).
Ugh...I get what you mean. Even in the professional industry people may ask for free work, completely unpaid or for 'exposure.' Usually the business is just cheap (and usually shady too) and wants to spend the least amount of money possible. Sometimes people don't think that there's a human being behind the art and that a lot of time and effort goes into it.
Ty c: We eventually lost contact.
At least that's what I think it is (from what I've read
) DA might be understaffed and not able to properly deal with stuff like that which really sucks. :/ The tracing one is weird because tracing an image and creating something based upon it would classify it as a 'derivative work.' By default/regular copyright that's not allowed. Strange???
Definitely! I learned about copyright and stuff early on but I get what you mean about not wanting to pester the artist. Basically being respectful that they don't have to do your request and it's on their terms. Most of the time it's younger kids doing that kind of thing and it's kinda...forgivable? They'll eventually learn and grow (well most of the time LOL).
Ugh...I get what you mean. Even in the professional industry people may ask for free work, completely unpaid or for 'exposure.' Usually the business is just cheap (and usually shady too) and wants to spend the least amount of money possible. Sometimes people don't think that there's a human being behind the art and that a lot of time and effort goes into it.
Ty c: We eventually lost contact.
At least that's what I think it is (from what I've read
) DA might be understaffed and not able to properly deal with stuff like that which really sucks. :/ The tracing one is weird because tracing an image and creating something based upon it would classify it as a 'derivative work.' By default/regular copyright that's not allowed. Strange???hello!
and no worries, apologies for my late reply too. 
Oh I see, though I guess it makes sense younger people doing that more. I've noticed some people who spam people asking for requests, basically sending the same message to a lot of artists. This one guy was doing that, making a huge list of what he wants, without even asking the artist first if they do requests!
I find this so disrespectful. Whats wrong with sending a message first, asking 'Do you do requests?' rather than 'I want a request of [insert extremely long list of characters] Makes me wonder what happened to people like that that they think this is acceptable?
Yeah. It seems like a lot of people nowadays want something for nothing. Somebody on here who works in film professionally (he id some of the graphics in the movie Casper) was asked by someone to help them out on a movie project for free of course. His response to them was amazing.
It's similar even with jobs. For example in this country, a lot of young people who have just finished studying are happy to do workplacements for free, the sad thing is the employers exploit them just because they're young and will work for free. Also- employers have even work placements difficult to get, like theyre treating them in the same way you would apply for a paid job- with interviews and all. No idea what happened to make them this way.
Could be...I was chatting with someone recently who said that in the past DA were very quick to remove stolen art and even other people who were not the artist could report the art and get it removed- no idea why they changed it now, so only the artist could file a claim
Agree on the tracing, but I heard that it somehow brings more users to the site or something?!
and no worries, apologies for my late reply too. Oh I see, though I guess it makes sense younger people doing that more. I've noticed some people who spam people asking for requests, basically sending the same message to a lot of artists. This one guy was doing that, making a huge list of what he wants, without even asking the artist first if they do requests!
I find this so disrespectful. Whats wrong with sending a message first, asking 'Do you do requests?' rather than 'I want a request of [insert extremely long list of characters] Makes me wonder what happened to people like that that they think this is acceptable?Yeah. It seems like a lot of people nowadays want something for nothing. Somebody on here who works in film professionally (he id some of the graphics in the movie Casper) was asked by someone to help them out on a movie project for free of course. His response to them was amazing.
It's similar even with jobs. For example in this country, a lot of young people who have just finished studying are happy to do workplacements for free, the sad thing is the employers exploit them just because they're young and will work for free. Also- employers have even work placements difficult to get, like theyre treating them in the same way you would apply for a paid job- with interviews and all. No idea what happened to make them this way.Could be...I was chatting with someone recently who said that in the past DA were very quick to remove stolen art and even other people who were not the artist could report the art and get it removed- no idea why they changed it now, so only the artist could file a claim
Agree on the tracing, but I heard that it somehow brings more users to the site or something?!Lmao oh my goodness, I can imagine how embarrassing that would be to the artist to have to decline that. I've seen people do that for requests even though the artist does do them, and it's kinda taking advantage of that.
Yeah really -.- Some people have no manners.
Err'body cheap X) Asjjkldja wow, I'm not surprised though. I can understand if it's a not for profit project, but once money is involved you gotta pay up. I'd love to see his response if you still have a link to it
Ohhh I've heard of that...Ugh, it's so disgusting how a company can exploit people like that, especially young, inexperienced workers who may not know any better. Or are desperate Then again those types of companies usually have or develop a poor reputation from doing that. So it's kinda karma.
I guess that was dA in its prime. I think only the artist can file the claim (in some cases or websites) because the artist may have given permission for the person to use it. DeviantART still allows claims from people other than the artist so that's good (I had to check lol). Wow really? I've never heard of that. Like...how would it???? I don't understand, wut
Maybe with the DeviantART Eclipse thing these issues will be overhauled. We can only hope
Yeah really -.- Some people have no manners.
Err'body cheap X) Asjjkldja wow, I'm not surprised though. I can understand if it's a not for profit project, but once money is involved you gotta pay up. I'd love to see his response if you still have a link to it
Ohhh I've heard of that...Ugh, it's so disgusting how a company can exploit people like that, especially young, inexperienced workers who may not know any better. Or are desperate
Then again those types of companies usually have or develop a poor reputation from doing that. So it's kinda karma.I guess that was dA in its prime. I think only the artist can file the claim (in some cases or websites) because the artist may have given permission for the person to use it. DeviantART still allows claims from people other than the artist so that's good (I had to check lol). Wow really? I've never heard of that. Like...how would it???? I don't understand, wut
Maybe with the DeviantART Eclipse thing these issues will be overhauled. We can only hope
Totally! 
I've had it happen to me too, but I usually just ignore such messages because I really cannot take them seriously. Usually I ignore and don't hear from them again, but for those who persist I just explain I don't do requests.
True that, and having worked freelance myself, I would never be able to do work for free, unless of course I had a full time and did freelance on the side. Luckily I have a fulltime job now, but no time for freelance! XD
Yeah I seriously don't get what the companies gain from doing that- I think people are nice enough to want to work for free, yet it seems to make companies big headed and arrogant. If they're really going to impose such rules, they may as well start paying. 
You're right, I never thought of that, the artist having perhaps given permission. I had a friend on here who had done an awesome drawinf of one of my ocs, but she no longer used this site, so I asked her if it was ok to add it to my gallery (this was the only time I did that) and she had no problem with it. However, I took it down when one day another friend asked if she could do a drawing for me. I agreed, and she drew the same oc, but it was so very obvious she had traced my friend's drawing, and out of respect I decided to remove it. This person did this a lot, tracing stuff, I'm surprised she was never reported. I heard about being able to report anonymously, but I still cant figure out how t do it. And in any case, it may not work as the original drawing is no longer on here....
Yeah,its weird...The only logical thing I can think of is, people check out this site, read the rules and think 'oh wow, a site which allows tracing! I must join!'
How is DA eclipse supposed to work exactly? I'm still unsure
I've had it happen to me too, but I usually just ignore such messages because I really cannot take them seriously. Usually I ignore and don't hear from them again, but for those who persist I just explain I don't do requests.True that, and having worked freelance myself, I would never be able to do work for free, unless of course I had a full time and did freelance on the side. Luckily I have a fulltime job now, but no time for freelance! XD
Yeah
I seriously don't get what the companies gain from doing that- I think people are nice enough to want to work for free, yet it seems to make companies big headed and arrogant. If they're really going to impose such rules, they may as well start paying. You're right, I never thought of that, the artist having perhaps given permission. I had a friend on here who had done an awesome drawinf of one of my ocs, but she no longer used this site, so I asked her if it was ok to add it to my gallery (this was the only time I did that) and she had no problem with it. However, I took it down when one day another friend asked if she could do a drawing for me. I agreed, and she drew the same oc, but it was so very obvious she had traced my friend's drawing, and out of respect I decided to remove it. This person did this a lot, tracing stuff, I'm surprised she was never reported. I heard about being able to report anonymously, but I still cant figure out how t do it. And in any case, it may not work as the original drawing is no longer on here....
Yeah,its weird...The only logical thing I can think of is, people check out this site, read the rules and think 'oh wow, a site which allows tracing! I must join!'
How is DA eclipse supposed to work exactly? I'm still unsure
Wish I could totally do requests, but unfortunately art takes so much work
I think it might be because art is often undervalued and underappreciated so people don't really take it seriously. Even though it's a skill and deserving of the same respect as any other profession.
Ya, I often see some people (usually the commissioner) upload their commissioned piece into their gallery as sort of a place to collect their art.
Oh jeez wow. Sad that you had to take it down because of them I hope the tracer has stopped doing this. DA might be a little lax with tracers because sometimes it can be hard to prove (eg. a very similar pose) or maybe they just don't care...Not sure if you can report anonmously on dA but I'd still go through with it if the person hasn't stopped tracing.
Ommgg. I mean, there was literally a category on dA called 'Traced Bases.' It looks like they removed it but dA whyyy were you encouraging this!
Eclipse is a massive overhaul of dA (website design mostly). There's some previews of it somewhere and I think BETA testers can try it out
I think it might be because art is often undervalued and underappreciated so people don't really take it seriously. Even though it's a skill and deserving of the same respect as any other profession.
Ya, I often see some people (usually the commissioner) upload their commissioned piece into their gallery as sort of a place to collect their art.
Oh jeez wow. Sad that you had to take it down because of them
I hope the tracer has stopped doing this. DA might be a little lax with tracers because sometimes it can be hard to prove (eg. a very similar pose) or maybe they just don't care...Not sure if you can report anonmously on dA but I'd still go through with it if the person hasn't stopped tracing.Ommgg. I mean, there was literally a category on dA called 'Traced Bases.' It looks like they removed it but dA whyyy were you encouraging this!
Eclipse is a massive overhaul of dA (website design mostly). There's some previews of it somewhere and I think BETA testers can try it out