Art/Design Theft - Where is the line?

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Deviation Actions

Solaris07's avatar
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I recently came a across a deviation that looked very similar to a deviation of a designer I highly respect. I decided I would report the deviation in good faith powers that be at Deviant Art would see that the piece in question was removed. In my mind, it was not an identical rip, yet way to heavily inspired. There was no credit to the original designer at the time either. So instead of bitching the guy out, I submitted a report. I got on today to recieve this note.



Your Art theft (General) Violation Report on Portfolio WebDesign 2009 was reviewed by a member of the staff and action was taken, marking the report as Invalid.

Additionally, the following comment was provided:

A member of staff found no need for action upon review of this deviation.

Please click here for more information.

This message was generated automatically.

-- deviantART Staff



I went to go look at the piece in question again and saw the user had added an inspired by: in his comment for the piece. Even with this belated credit, there is something in my mind that tells me that this should not be.

Where is the line between inspiration, and ripping.

This is one of the main reasons I don't wish to submit work anymore. It's too easy for people to completely copy you, and if they put a simple, inspired by "so and so" it is apparently cool with deviant art.

Deviant Art should have a higher level of integrity. I'm writing this journal to encourage other designers to protect each other against rips/"inspired pieces."

Dont get me wrong though, I have been inspired a lot by other designers and artists. Yet when you look at my work, I hope you don't instantly think of another designer who has created a piece which mine looks exactly like.


The pieces in question:

Original: barbroute.deviantart.com/art/B…

Inspired: araloken.deviantart.com/art/Po…
© 2009 - 2024 Solaris07
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desbest's avatar
inspiration? that's a rip. you're so right. it's like a carbon copy so much that i cannot tell which design is better.