More ripped off artist's---->[link]

[link] and [link]

Also, there is another thread on several artist's who have been ripped off!!!  Please check it out!  [link]

05-22-07--------------------------------------------------------------------------It takes a lot to make me mad, but today, I received a note from another deviant telling me of the sale of one of "MY" works on eBay!!!!!! I should be flattered that someone thought my work was good enough to "STEAL IT" and make a "PROFIT" from it, but I am not..... Here is what the note said!

STRIKE 2
I'm sorry to say that I came across a person on eBay who is using your beautiful fractal dragon artwork and selling it as an image on a cigarette container here: [link]

There is a thread in the ripping forum on deviant art here discussing this particular seller if you are looking for more information: [link] I didn't know for sure whether you gave this seller permission to sell your artwork or not, so I thought I should let you know just in case.


UPDATE--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The problem may be more widespread than we thought.  Here is a disturbing note I received today from my friend (Please note that neither of us gave our permission for our images to be placed here)

I found one of my images on this site (link below) and your "Fire Breathing Dragon".....don't know if you know. It appears to be a blog site and they give us credit and a link back to DA, but I did NOT give the person permission to post my fractal for downlaod and it torks me! I realize that when we post Wallpapers......we do so....so people can use them.....but ONLY on their own computers....nothing else!

It doesn't look like there has been a post to this site since the end of Dec. so I don't know how active it is, but wanted to let you know. Here's the link. [link]

Guess if I post any more Wallpapers, I will post a note in bold that says they are not to be posted on other sites for download! Sheesh!

is also going to use this notice when she uploads--she says if you want to use it that is fine with her, credit back to her is nice, but not necessary-----------------

"PLAIN ENGLISH COPYRIGHT NOTICE

This wallpaper is for your personal use on your home or office computer ONLY. It is NOT to be posted on any other internet site for download without my written permission. You may NOT claim this image as your own art and you may not change the title. You may NOT burn this image onto a CD and give or sell it to anyone. You MAY NOT earn money using my images in any way. This image is not to be changed, added to, cropped, used as a background for your art, or altered in any way unless you make a written request to me and I give you written permission.

My images are created only by me and DO NOT belong to the public domain.
My gallery and images in it are Copyrighted by me. ©2005-2007 1ArcticFox. All rights reserved."


IMPORTANT UPDATE---------------------------------------------------------------
Our thief has struck again...this time he stole the art of ---link to thief...[link]


By the way....he is selling his cigarrette cases on another website if we want to get him there as well.........[link]
I am speechless and disgusted that this is continuing!!!!!

If anyone out there has a billiant idea or suggestion....please let me know otherwise I am considering deleting my entire gallery so that my work is not longer stolen.  To think that someone is making a profit off of my work!  F***ers!!!!!!!  I will be sending a note to the "OFFENDERS" and will publish it here for all to see....including a response if I receive one.

Don't worry...everyone here is like my family.  I am not going to leave, but I will seriously have to think about whether or not I post work in the future.  



STRIKE 1
About 2 months ago, another deviant claimed to have seen my artwork advertised on the side of a building in Las Vegas.  They were positive it was my work because of my signature.  Here is an exerpt from that note.......

"My mother went to Vegas recently and said she saw some of your fractal work in a light display, writhing and entertwining and whatnot.
I told her she may have seen something similar to or resembling your stuff, but she was very certain, so.. I asked if it said "Deborah's Designs" underneath, like most of your fractals do, and she replied that it did.
So.. I am now saddened that I missed that, but I wanted to mention it to you."
I asked her if she can tell me where she saw it, but she said she could only remember it was on a large screen on one of the nice buildings.

I have submitted a news article about this--->[link]


UPDATE-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

HERE IS THE NOTE I SENT TO EBAY>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

To whom it may concern:

My name is Deborah Walker.  I am currently listed as a member of deviantART.com.  The reason for this email is to alert you that you have an art thief selling goods without the proper copyright consent or permissions.  You may ask how I know this...well, one of the art images that is being used belongs to me.  It is my work that is being sold without permission.  I have downloaded your forms and will be faxing them today.

Theft is a crime, and it should be understood that I am currently seeking legal remedies as well as possible suit against you, and against the person claiming my work as their own...your account holder.  It is wrong to  profit from the hard work of someone else without their knowledge.  If you will note, I am including a link to the original artwork, and if you will also note, underneath it is a copyright.[link]

I demand that this image be removed immediately as theft is a crime.  I also demand that this person be suspended from EBay post haste!  A response to this email is expected!

Sincerely,

Deborah Walker



My dear friends , , and have made journals or linked to mine about this incident.  Thank you so much friends for your support and assistance!  It is greatly appreciated!!!  sss

I tried to fax eBay the forms they needed filled out....the number does not work...IT FIGURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you all for your support!  I have carefully considered my options and your very helpful suggestions.  It is much appreciated.  ssss  What you can do if you choose is put a link to this journal in your journals to make everyone aware of the art theft!  Only if we stand together can we right a wrong being done to all of us!!!!!
  I have made a letter to send to DA should anyone wish to.  It may not solve the problem, but it may help it.  Please copy and paste it into an email to them so that we can begin addressing this issue and avoid others being ripped off!!!! Let me know if I have missed anything and I will fix it or add it.


TO:  ALL DA ADMINISTRATORS

There is an issue spreading throughout DA that we would like to discuss.  “Art Theft.”  There have been several instances where members of our community have been preyed upon and their works stolen.  Stealing is a crime.  What concerns us is that there seems to be little done by DA to help protect its members from this occurring.  In some cases others have profited from this, and no matter how you portray it, IT IS WRONG!

There are several ways in which DA could try to protect content! They could put an invisible object over the image, that has no real image to it and when someone tries to right click the image and hits "Copy Picture as" It actually copies the blank invisible image!  Possibly changing the site so that a certain type of image like .png for example could be uploaded.  We are aware that this technology exists as we have all been to websites where you were not able to download.

Please enable the watermark for ALL images that are uploaded to the site.  Make an area for members only to go download those images without the watermark should they choose to do so.  Or, add special scripting to your website that makes it possible for members/subscribers only to be able to download other artist’s work.  It may not solve the problem, but it would make it so that our work is protected by this site who solicits members to be a part of the community.  

When our art is stolen, it is a crime.  Some people profit from our inventiveness eventhough the copyright appears underneath our work.  As responsible members of this community, we feel we want to bring your attention to this major issue.  It is important to all of us that we are respected and receive the proper recognition and gratuity for our work.    

Thank you in advance for assisting us to solve this important problem