Size doesn't matter...

4 min read

Deviation Actions

RavenMoonDesigns's avatar
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A little re-visit to the copyright issue. It appears there are some people out there who think that if an image is uploaded at a larger size and/or higher resolution and it is illegally downloaded and used in someone else's images, that the thief shouldn't be reprimanded...because hey, you shouldn't upload your images that big! Um, no.

The ONLY time it is EVER ok to download someone else's work is if you were given permission by the artist of that work or they state on the image/website that the image is free for public use. THAT'S IT. There is no way around that...copyright law states it. Even if the image is available for download via the download button and there is no copyright information stated, the only way that image can be used in any other works or for anything commercial and/or public is if the artist says it can be.

One should not assume that because it's available for download that one can use it however they want. It could be available for reference purposes. Or maybe for personal use as a desktop wallpaper. Or maybe it was just left available by accident. No matter the reason, one cannot assume that an available download, no copyright information, and/or a large file size means it's ok to use. IT'S NOT. Works are copyrighted to the artist the moment they are created. And if you assume that, and take the work without permission, it is YOU who are the thief, YOU who will be reported, and YOU who can be sued.

There is no such thing as an "innocent" art thief. If you take what isn't yours without permission, you are a thief. It seems this thinking that the artist is responsible for some of the thievery is contributing to the reason there is so much theft. The artist is not responsible for what YOU download, YOU are responsible. So if you don't have the artist's permission and/or the image does not state that it is open source material, then you cannot download it and use it for anything commercial or public.

It's really not that hard a concept to understand. For more in-depth copyright info, please see my other journal - ravenmoondesigns.deviantart.co…

© 2014 - 2024 RavenMoonDesigns
Comments19
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RockBarnes's avatar
> The ONLY time it is EVER ok to download someone else's work is if you were given permission by the artist of that work

Download? That would make dA pretty much illegal because it's not even possible to browse the site without downloading artwork - the browser does it, otherwise it could not display the images, of course. With the exception of dA's organization itself, by uploading artwork you give them explicit permission to use it for their purposes, whatever that may be. Most likely using it for dA-commercials...

Do you mean "re-upload"?

> or they state on the image/website that the image is free for public use.

Or do you even mean use for anything?

I have put most of my deviations under a CC license. If someone want to use them for whatever, it's fine by my as long as the result is available for free.