"Help!! Someone stole my artwork!"

Before you bring out the Art Theft bat, have a think about what constitutes art theft. Be absolutely sure it is stolen, or edited/changed without your permission.

FAQ #8: What does deviantART consider to be Art Theft?
Copyright Infringement (aka "Art Theft" or "Ripping")
Current deviantART policy defines 'Art Theft' to be any situation where a user takes the original art, photography, or writing of another person (a "third party") and then either misrepresents the original, unaltered work as one of their own creations or includes the work (either altered or unaltered) in a new image.

These submissions will be removed regardless of whether you have credited or linked back to the original source. Knowing where you ‘found’ the original image or knowing who created it or took the photo is not the same as actually having the legal permission to use it in your submission.

Only valid, legal, stock resources are allowed to be used as part of your deviantART submission. Public Domain imagery and works governed by certain Creative Commons licenses may also be used.

Limits of the Law: No Protection for Ideas

You cannot copyright ideas. For example, if you made a beautiful butterfly necklace, you have the right that no one else can make copies of it. However, people can still use the idea of a butterfly necklace, and that is not copyright.

Section 102 of the copyright law, title 17, United States Code, clearly expresses this principle: “In no case does copyright protection for an original work of authorship extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, method of operation, concept, principle, or discovery, regardless of the form in which it is described, explained, illustrated, or embodied in such work.”

Natural occurrences. You can’t stop someone from copying nature under copyright laws. This, however, is not an issue for many artists who borrow from nature, since variations on nature occur inherently in the creative process.

What is COPYRIGHT?

FAQ #2: Where can I find the official deviantART Copyright Policy?

FAQ #155: How do I report a submission which I think breaks the rules?
Beneath every Deviation or Scrapbook submission you will find the Artist's description area. At the top right of this boxed area you will find the Report Deviation link preceded by a small symbol to help it stand out.

Upon clicking the Report Deviation link you will be offered a standard form where you will be able to make selections and enter information or explanations. We have tried to word each selection to be as clear as possible.

FAQ #192: What evidence is required when we report stolen material?

You do need proof and evidence that the work is stolen. After you've clicked "Report Deviation", provide the link to the stolen work, and to the original work. Include a description of why you're reporting it, write the name of the person who stole the artwork (username); remember, giving more information will be more helpful.

Before I report the stolen artwork, I usually note the person and tell them that it is not their work, and to take it down. I will provide links for them to show them they cannot copy/steal other peoples works. If they do take it down, the matter is over, if not, then I will report it, providing evidence.

Be totally sure that what you are reporting can be reported to the ~helpdesk as a Policy Inquiry. Have a look here to check HOW to submit a policy inquiry, and what a Policy Inquiry involves.


FINDING YOUR ARTWORK ON OTHER WEBSITES:
About once a week, I will complete a search on my artwork to make sure it is safe and secure, and not on someone elses site being claimed as their own.

The biggest culprits seem to be Photobucket, where people think they are free to upload whatever they want on Photobucket.
SEARCH YOUR DEVIANTART USERNAME IN THE SEARCHBOX.
I have searched my artwork and I found them already. All I did was search "love4art" and it came up with MY work on their sites, and even a gift someone gave me.

Search GOOGLE. This is a very obvious one, but the most useful to find your works. If I am looking for a particular deviation, I will type "deviation name love4art", and click on Images.

One of the most brilliant devices ever invented is TINYEYE.COM. It performs a search on your IMAGE, not the writing (eg, picture.jpg). It will do a search on millions of pictures all over the web and try match a picture to yours. Apply for an account, it will take a few hours for them to approve you, but it is so worth it.

Visit WHOIS.NET. Search the website that stole your artwork, and it will provide information to the owner, and contact information (phone number, email address etc).

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOUR ARTWORK:

Watermarking! If you aren't sure how to create your own watermark on your image, click here to find out how OR deviantART provides watermarks automatically, so just click the "Watermark" option when you submit.
Be wary that your Print may or may not have a watermark option, and could be easily stolen.

Here is a good example of what a watermark should look like:



DISABLE DOWNLOADS. I can't stress this enough. If you don't want people to steal it, don't let it be downloadable. If there is no download button, people will be less likely to right click and "save as". Only enable downloading to Brushes, Actions, Textures, Stock, Tutorials, etc etc.

The people who add OUR pictures to Photobucket or myspace etc obviously don't always know it is WRONG to steal and post as their own.
In your Submission description, put this in it:


© COPYRIGHT YOUR USERNAME.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

This clearly shows that no one can take, use, sell, post as their own etc, and it may actually stop people from doing so.


I hope this news Article will help in some way, remember that this is the internet, and in one click of a button, someone can steal your artwork. Be wary and safe, and protect you & your works!