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Thoughts and Finals
Jun. 4th, 2002 04:08 pmWell, I finally finished that ghost story I was working on and sent it off to my fellow short-story editors for class. I'm still not entirely happy with it, but I can edit it some more after I get feedback. Now, I just have to work on some art projects and editing/making comments on my fellow students' stories...ergh. There's just too much to do, and I should be doing that instead of updating my LJ. But I need a break.
And now, some interesting thoughts.
Interesting Thought #1: Copyright.
I got semi-involved in a strange internet argument on Monday. The argument was about copyright, or, more specifically, using other people's artwork for your own purposes without permission. My contribution to the entire thing was a calm comment that, in general, it is considered good manners to ask someone's permission before using their artwork as your icon on a chatroom board, etc. The trouble is this: with the internet being so prevalent and easy to use, it is easy to access artwork. The problem in this case was that the person in question was using a picture from his icon that he got off someone's page, mistakenly thinking it was free domain. Unfortunately, it wasn't. It wasn't his fault: he got it from a friend of his. This friend was the one who probably downloaded it and posted it without copyright information, which is WRONG. You are not allowed to do this.
Folks, this is what happens when you post other people's stuff without permission or copyright information: They could lose it, permanently. It's wrong, but it happens all the time, and it's a long, costly process to regain the copyright that is rightfully the artist's. I have no problem with pictures from anime, etc. being posted on webpages with copyright information, as long as people aren't selling it. Sometimes, it's near-impossible to get contact information for a big-name anime producer or whatever, so it's really hard to get permission to use an image on your informational webpage or whatever. However, the least one can do is mention that one didn't draw this image and the characters are copyrighted to someone else. It's common courtesy, as well as being ethical and honest.
Also, most artists have contact information on their webpages. For heaven's sake, before taking something from their webpages and using it yourself, ASK! It only takes a few seconds, and they usually say yes. If they don't, they have a good reason--RESPECT IT. Gah. It drives me crazy when people steal, just because they can.
Interesting Thought #2: Fanart
Okay. This is related to Interesting Thought #1, obviously, but it was brought up in the same art argument I mentioned. Fanart is a whole different issue. Just because you don't own a character doesn't mean you can't draw fanart, and it doesn't mean that the fanart itself doesn't belong to you. When you draw a picture of another person's character, the artwork itself belongs to you: but the character itself DOES NOT. When doing fanart, be sure to mention who the character belongs to.
And here's an opinion of mine that may make me a little unpopular: I believe that selling fanart is wrong. Drawing pictures of some else's character for your own amusement is fine and dandy, and I have no problem with anyone displaying such with copyright information, but selling it? It seems to me that that takes away from the original creator, and it's wrong. The only exception that I can think of would be if the original creator gave express permission for the sale of fanart of his/her character. This may seem a little hard-nosed of me, but really! Would you like someone else selling fanart of YOUR character without talking to you? Probably not.
Copyright is a hard issue to deal with. I have many more thoughts, and I could argue about it for hours. Basic, bottom-line: If you want to use somebody else's stuff, ask. It never hurts.
This discussion also made me realize why many 'net artists who sell their stuff put HUGE copyright notices across their images that are up for display...they don't want people stealing their images and selling them.
( Now, for you artists: here are some easy tips to avoid getting your artwork stolen! )
And now, some interesting thoughts.
Interesting Thought #1: Copyright.
I got semi-involved in a strange internet argument on Monday. The argument was about copyright, or, more specifically, using other people's artwork for your own purposes without permission. My contribution to the entire thing was a calm comment that, in general, it is considered good manners to ask someone's permission before using their artwork as your icon on a chatroom board, etc. The trouble is this: with the internet being so prevalent and easy to use, it is easy to access artwork. The problem in this case was that the person in question was using a picture from his icon that he got off someone's page, mistakenly thinking it was free domain. Unfortunately, it wasn't. It wasn't his fault: he got it from a friend of his. This friend was the one who probably downloaded it and posted it without copyright information, which is WRONG. You are not allowed to do this.
Folks, this is what happens when you post other people's stuff without permission or copyright information: They could lose it, permanently. It's wrong, but it happens all the time, and it's a long, costly process to regain the copyright that is rightfully the artist's. I have no problem with pictures from anime, etc. being posted on webpages with copyright information, as long as people aren't selling it. Sometimes, it's near-impossible to get contact information for a big-name anime producer or whatever, so it's really hard to get permission to use an image on your informational webpage or whatever. However, the least one can do is mention that one didn't draw this image and the characters are copyrighted to someone else. It's common courtesy, as well as being ethical and honest.
Also, most artists have contact information on their webpages. For heaven's sake, before taking something from their webpages and using it yourself, ASK! It only takes a few seconds, and they usually say yes. If they don't, they have a good reason--RESPECT IT. Gah. It drives me crazy when people steal, just because they can.
Interesting Thought #2: Fanart
Okay. This is related to Interesting Thought #1, obviously, but it was brought up in the same art argument I mentioned. Fanart is a whole different issue. Just because you don't own a character doesn't mean you can't draw fanart, and it doesn't mean that the fanart itself doesn't belong to you. When you draw a picture of another person's character, the artwork itself belongs to you: but the character itself DOES NOT. When doing fanart, be sure to mention who the character belongs to.
And here's an opinion of mine that may make me a little unpopular: I believe that selling fanart is wrong. Drawing pictures of some else's character for your own amusement is fine and dandy, and I have no problem with anyone displaying such with copyright information, but selling it? It seems to me that that takes away from the original creator, and it's wrong. The only exception that I can think of would be if the original creator gave express permission for the sale of fanart of his/her character. This may seem a little hard-nosed of me, but really! Would you like someone else selling fanart of YOUR character without talking to you? Probably not.
Copyright is a hard issue to deal with. I have many more thoughts, and I could argue about it for hours. Basic, bottom-line: If you want to use somebody else's stuff, ask. It never hurts.
This discussion also made me realize why many 'net artists who sell their stuff put HUGE copyright notices across their images that are up for display...they don't want people stealing their images and selling them.
( Now, for you artists: here are some easy tips to avoid getting your artwork stolen! )
