BOYCOTT, GOD DAMMIT.
Finally, after three weeks of communicating with the site and communicating (if you can even call it that) with the one who posted the image, I have had an image of mine removed from this website, glitter-graphics.com. I can count over 100 images on this website that have been ripped from artists on deviantART, some of which I know personally. The people taking these images do not ask for permission, they simply hit the copy button and then make them a tacky glittery GIF image, and then parade them as their own. The site even refers to the person who posted the image as the "owner."
I and my fellow artists work HARD on our images, and often times for no profit or recognition at all. We do it because we love it, and then someone comes along, takes it, and gets recognition and sometimes even PAYMENT for it, pretending it's theirs.
This happens all the time. Sites like glitter-graphics.com photobucket, MySpace, and probably countless others are all good places to find ripped-off, copyrighted artwork being displayed POORLY by someone who just hit copy and paste.
People, please remember, just because you can see it for free on the internet does NOT mean it's free for use. Anyone downloading images from these sites because they "like them" is encouraging the one who posted the STOLEN artwork to keep doing it. It's ridiculously hard, especially over the internet, to prove to the image hosting websites that the artwork is yours, and you oftentimes have to go through miles of red tape before the image is taken down. Also, that tends to be the ONLY action made against the perpetrating user! They're rarely even banned from the websites for their CRIME. And yes, it is in fact a CRIME to use copyrighted artwork without permission, let alone pretend it belongs to you!
I ask all those who call themselves my friends and family to take this very seriously. Someone was out there parading around a poorly edited and reproduced image of mine. Those of you that know me know how much work and pride, blood, sweat, and tears I pour into my artwork. There are thousands out there just like me having the same problem, and it takes so much time and effort to correct the problem that many of us stop posting our images at all.
So please, if you want pretty images to look at, stop downloading from these sites. If you want to use an image, PLEASE just ask the person who created it! Many times you'll find that they are a kind and pleasant person who has no problem with you using their image so long as it's within reason, and you make sure to give them credit. If you download from these sites, you're not giving the right person credit for the image.
How would you feel if someone took a picture of you, and pretended it was them? It's the same feeling. You feel robbed of your identity, you feel personally insulted, and worst of all, the person who did it will actually ARGUE with you about it.
Stop using images from these websites on your own personal webpages.
Stop using images from these websites in your e-mail signatures.
Stop using images from these websites to create greeting cards.
Stop using images from these websites for any personal use.
If you want to use an image, ask the one who created it. If you don't know who created it, then just PLEASE don't use it. Don't encourage theft.
-Becky
Another frustrated artist who's been ripped off.
I and my fellow artists work HARD on our images, and often times for no profit or recognition at all. We do it because we love it, and then someone comes along, takes it, and gets recognition and sometimes even PAYMENT for it, pretending it's theirs.
This happens all the time. Sites like glitter-graphics.com photobucket, MySpace, and probably countless others are all good places to find ripped-off, copyrighted artwork being displayed POORLY by someone who just hit copy and paste.
People, please remember, just because you can see it for free on the internet does NOT mean it's free for use. Anyone downloading images from these sites because they "like them" is encouraging the one who posted the STOLEN artwork to keep doing it. It's ridiculously hard, especially over the internet, to prove to the image hosting websites that the artwork is yours, and you oftentimes have to go through miles of red tape before the image is taken down. Also, that tends to be the ONLY action made against the perpetrating user! They're rarely even banned from the websites for their CRIME. And yes, it is in fact a CRIME to use copyrighted artwork without permission, let alone pretend it belongs to you!
I ask all those who call themselves my friends and family to take this very seriously. Someone was out there parading around a poorly edited and reproduced image of mine. Those of you that know me know how much work and pride, blood, sweat, and tears I pour into my artwork. There are thousands out there just like me having the same problem, and it takes so much time and effort to correct the problem that many of us stop posting our images at all.
So please, if you want pretty images to look at, stop downloading from these sites. If you want to use an image, PLEASE just ask the person who created it! Many times you'll find that they are a kind and pleasant person who has no problem with you using their image so long as it's within reason, and you make sure to give them credit. If you download from these sites, you're not giving the right person credit for the image.
How would you feel if someone took a picture of you, and pretended it was them? It's the same feeling. You feel robbed of your identity, you feel personally insulted, and worst of all, the person who did it will actually ARGUE with you about it.
Stop using images from these websites on your own personal webpages.
Stop using images from these websites in your e-mail signatures.
Stop using images from these websites to create greeting cards.
Stop using images from these websites for any personal use.
If you want to use an image, ask the one who created it. If you don't know who created it, then just PLEASE don't use it. Don't encourage theft.
-Becky
Another frustrated artist who's been ripped off.