http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:tracing-is-NOT-art&section=today deviantART RSS for by:tracing-is-NOT-art en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:36:20 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://tracing-is-NOT-art.deviantart.com/journal/28026976/ http://tracing-is-NOT-art.deviantart.com/journal/28026976/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:46:07 PDT
We thought we'd take a little time to address two common questions we've been getting lately.


What do I do if someone has traced my art, and it has not been taken down even when reported?
This one comes up a lot. Because of dA's new (and self-contradicting) tracing policy, in many cases only the original artist has the right to request the removal of a traced deviation. If you've reported the deviation, and it has not been taken down, send a link of the tracing to the original artist.

If you ARE the original artist, and the tracing still hasn't been taken down, here are some tips for how to report.
Make sure you include the phrases:
-my original artwork
-used without permission
-request immediate removal

And remember, it doesn't help anything to be cheeky. dAdmins spend much of their day going through similar complaints, and by report #981237948, they just want to get it over with.
Use what your momma taught you:
-be polite
-use please and thank you
-don't trash talk the tracer
-keep it short and sweet

If you've done all of these, and the deviation has STILL not been removed, drop us a note here, and we will personally look into the matter for you.



I tried to report a trace, but the tracer just claimed it as an RPC/Base. What should I do?
First, let's define a few things: a base is an image (often pixelated) that dA users submit with the INTENTION of being traced/edited so that users can customize them (think paper dolls). RPC stands for Role Play Character, but we usually see it come up (at least here on dA) when someone has taken a screenshot/another artist's work, bucket-filled the hair and eyes with a different color, and labeled it as "OMG MINE DON'T STEAL".

If the tracer DID in fact use a base (examples here: [link] ), then it's completely legitimate. Bases are designed to be taken, customized, and re-used.
As an important note, if the tracer used a base, there SHOULD be a link to the original base in the description of the new piece; this link should connect to a naked-looking person pic categorized under Customization~Dolls~BASE.
If a) there is no link, and the tracer cannot produce a link when asked, OR b) the link goes to something NOT categorized under base, they may not have used a legitimate base, and it may be art theft. If you know for certain that no base was used, and it was in fact traced, follow the rules from the first question.

If the trace is an RPC, there are two ways to deal with it:
If the pic is a re-color of someone's original work, follow the guidelines in the first question. It doesn't matter how 'different' it looks; if it's traced, and the original artist wants it down, it has no right to still be up.
If the pic is a re-color of a screenshot, things get a bit trickier. You must find the exact screenshot which was used, and link to it when you report the deviation, otherwise nothing will be done. On the bright side, most tracers use google search to find their screencaps, so often you can find the same image the same way. Good luck!


And remember, please be courteous at all times. Even if we want to call an art thief a *******ing ****itty ***** ***** with ******** and ****** in the ********** and ********* on a *********ing ******* sandwich, it really doesn't help anything. In fact, it lowers our own credibility. So let's keep it civil, shall we? Thanks, all. And keep reporting!

~TiNA

]]> ~tracing-is-NOT-art http://tracing-is-NOT-art.deviantart.com/journal/23257209/ http://tracing-is-NOT-art.deviantart.com/journal/23257209/ Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:17:43 PDT If you'd like to be added, just note or comment, and we'll get your icon up. If you believe tracing another artist's original work and claiming it as your own is WRONG, please link to/journal about/spread the word about us!

*PURPOSE*
This group is meant to:
a) inform artists (especially for deviants who have had their work stolen/traced)
b) send a message to the dA staff that the artists here on dA do NOT think that tracing is ok, and it should not be accepted here on dA

I want to start by making a few things clear:

-this is NOT - repeat, NOT - A PLACE TO FLAME TRACERS/ART THIEVES. Comments targeting a specific deviant are NOT allowed on dA, and will be deleted (feel free, however, to discuss policy and opinion).

- If you want to tell people or a specific user about a specific deviant/deviation which needs to be reported, please do so via notes (which is perfectly legal in dA's TOS), and not as a comment to this page or to a journal from this group.

-This is NOT a "vigilante" group that hunts down tracers/art thieves with fire and pitchforks.



So, what IS this group?

In essence, by joining this group (by adding it to your "watch"/"friend" list), you are sending a message to the dA staff saying that you don't agree with their new tracing policy (detailed below). Think of it as signing a petition.

A lot of people are outraged (in my opinion, rightly so) about dA's acceptance of tracing. But not a lot of people have been DOING anything about it (and no, *whining* in a single journal is NOT an exemplary means of changing a policy you dislike).

If, like those of us in this group, you feel that dA's policy is wrong, that tracing is unfair to the original artist, and that it shouldn't be tolerated here on dA, join this group. Invite your friends and watchers to join. Pimp us out in your journal. dA says "we believe that our community is our most important resource and we strive to act in ways that nurture and encourage its growth, development and ultimately its ongoing success. We err on the side of the artist." If that's true, then they should change an extremely unpopular policy. Right? Here's hoping.



dA's Official Stance on Tracing

First of all, dA's official stance says "we will always remove [a traced deviation] when requested by the artist of the original image, and you should use the appropriate reporting tools to bring it to our attention, so we can remove it." (more: [link] )
In my experience, artists have reported deviations numerous times with no success, but this knowledge is still a good weapon for you to have.

Secondly, ALL traced works MUST BE SUBMITTED IN "FANART", and must "bring its own original flair to the piece". That means that EXACT copies (dA somehow distinguishes between "tracing" and "copies") are not allowed, even if they're just in scraps. SCRAPPING A DEVIATION DOES NOT MAGICALLY MAKE IT IMPERVIOUS TO REMOVAL. As an original artist, if you find your artwork traced, report it, and are told "no action taken"/"no action deemed necessary", I URGE you to write a note to the dA Help Desk, detailing your situation and quoting either this journal or the article mentioned below.

Here's a basic break-down of what dA considers acceptable at this point (for better or for worse) :

Not Tolerated
• Reproduction is misrepresented as being something other than a copy of an existing work.
• The reproduction exactly duplicates an original work and the owner of the original work files a complaint.
• The reproduction targets a stock resource and violates one or more of the Terms and Conditions for use.
• The reproduction actually contains elements of the original (i.e. photo showing through paintover).

Usually Tolerated
• The reproduction has been posted into a Fan Art Gallery.
• The reproduction has been posted into the Scrapbook area.
• The reproduction targets an element of pop culture (i.e. Anime screenshots or official video game content).
• The reproduction properly credits the original.

Normally Tolerated
• The reproduction obviously copies an existing work but possesses noticeable and substantial differences.
• The reproduction obviously copies an existing work but is noticeably deficient in quality.
• The reproduction and the original bare only vague or broad resemblances to each other (i.e. poses, etc).



But WHY does dA let this happen to me??
dA tries to defend their stance on tracing from two main angles:

1) "fair use": the concept of fair use applies when someone takes an already establishe... ]]> ~tracing-is-NOT-art