The Copy FAQ

[Chieira]

Can anyone tell me what to do if I've found art that is obviously copied? I'd like to report it, but I'm not sure how, and I've heard mods get a bit testy when you report something in the wrong place.

[Bare Naked Mizzie]

Chieira

Can anyone tell me what to do if I've found art that is obviously copied? I'd like to report it, but I'm not sure how, and I've heard mods get a bit testy when you report something in the wrong place.

Use the "report this post" button; put in the description of the complaint that it's a copied, piece, and provide a link to proof. If you do not have proof, don't bother reporting... yet. Someone else might pony up proof.

[Zenia Wulfe]

If it is in a thread, report it using the report button. If it is in the Arena, use the Art Infringment Report (another AD sticky). You can also report threads in the AIR.

[sugarfairy90]

That's pretty awsome biggrin blaugh 4laugh . You should draw more often.

[Blurred Intelligence]

Just curious, would a drawing of a sculpture be copying?

[candy_fairy~n_n]

I stink at art! crying

[Mechanical Bird]

It is a good clarification.

Of course, it means ive also 'copied' pictures submitted to gaia-hosted contests before, won prizes for such. I didnt know this was against the rules at the time, what this means as for consequence now, I don't know. Not traced, mind you. I used poses found in pictures in my art.

Personally, I dont consider using a picture to gather a pose for your art copying. However I can somewhat understand the reasoning and obviously wouldent post anything created in such a way on here anymore - so this entire little paragraph is more just ..err..informative.

Just so I can be a bit more clear though, for future of course smile If you find a picture of a model in a pose you are trying to create, then draw..say, an OC using the picture for an anatomical/proportion map so you know what limb/eyesocket goes where, and draw the character in the same relative position, this is considered copying right? Is it any different if you had a living model infront of you? And is it the taking of a picture and that picture being copywrite-protected step that makes it any different, at all? Basically, does the art submitted on gaia have to be in some way created soley in the artist's mind with no other visual referance?

Its hard for me to see using poses of bodies as copywrites. Even harder if it was a face. A picture of a face, using it as a referance to make a face of an OC...

Well, it was fairly clear, maybe im just in denial. It seems a bit different with other peoples art rather then actual photos to me, because people cant really be stylized and are simply presented as people. Personally I look for models that look something like what character im trying to draw, call me uncreative if you want razz

Take care everyone, thank you for taking the time to explain this and thanks to anyone who bothers to reply to this in advance. Err, goodbye if my little above confession gets me banned razz

[Kilarra]

Mechanical Bird

Personally, I dont consider using a picture to gather a pose for your art copying. However I can somewhat understand the reasoning and obviously wouldent post anything created in such a way on here anymore - so this entire little paragraph is more just ..err..informative.

A pose is quite different from copying an image's representation of a pose, is what the whole article tries to clarify.

Quote:

Just so I can be a bit more clear though, for future of course smile If you find a picture of a model in a pose you are trying to create, then draw..say, an OC using the picture for an anatomical/proportion map so you know what limb/eyesocket goes where, and draw the character in the same relative position, this is considered copying right? Is it any different if you had a living model infront of you?

Very different. A living model is not a copyrighted image, because real life can't be copyrighted. A dozen artists sitting in front of the same model will not produce the same image, because it's a fresh interpretation - but if a dozen artists sit in front of an image, which is itself an artist's (be it photographer, sculptor or painter) interpretation of a pose, and directly copy the image itself, THEN it's copying. THEN they will all look identical, because they'll be reproducing lines, not copying 'a pose'.

Quote:

And is it the taking of a picture and that picture being copywrite-protected step that makes it any different, at all? Basically, does the art submitted on gaia have to be in some way created soley in the artist's mind with no other visual referance?

Visual reference is fine. Referencing is MUCH much different from copying a part of or the whole of a picture. Referencing generally involves lots of images, which the artist then uses to understand their subject matter before interpreting it into their own image. For example, taking a dozen pictures of upraised arms to understand how arm and torso muscles bunch and expand when an arm is stretched, and then drawing the arm with your new understanding. You might make a dozen reference sketches from these sources, but none of them will be directly within the final image.

Quote:

Its hard for me to see using poses of bodies as copywrites. Even harder if it was a face. A picture of a face, using it as a referance to make a face of an OC...

Well, it was fairly clear, maybe im just in denial. It seems a bit different with other peoples art rather then actual photos to me, because people cant really be stylized and are simply presented as people. Personally I look for models that look something like what character im trying to draw, call me uncreative if you want razz

A photographer uses a medium like any artist - the camera. The camera will capture a representation of the subject matter that is copyrighted like any drawn image, and copying it is still copyright infringement. As with the poses, well - as above, really. When you're copying an image, as in the lines that make an artist's representation and interpretation of a pose, that's crossing the line. Interpreting your own subject matter is a highly important part of being an artist and copying skips that essential step, because the subject matter has already been interpreted into line for you. Your art WILL benefit if you do your own interpreting ^^ Trust me on that one.

[Sajhiri]

You cannot copyright a pose, even in a photograph. The only thing a photographer's copyright protects them from is reprinting and distribution of their photo without their express written permission. Trust me on this as my father is a retired photographer.

Artist's reinterpretting photographs is commonly accepted in the industry, just ask Olivia de Berardinis, who did dozens of Bettie Page images based on photos taken before the artist was 10 years old. Gaia can change it's rules if it wants to, to insist that gaia users, of whom the majority are teenagers, somehow scrape together money to pay live models to "legitimize" their art, but in no way, shape, or form is this a reflection on copyright or any sort of artistic law. Personally every piece of my art uses a photo reference for poses. If you have issues with it, feel free to remove my gallery and shut down my shops. But I am not going to stop until someone does so.

[Ishimaru_The_Protector]

I wonder how this interacts with "how to draw" book because to teach you they put in a ton of poses to show you how to draw people in these positions and how to draw situations. What about when they give instructions on how to draw a picture step by step, is that copying?

[Bare Naked Mizzie]

Sajhiri

You cannot copyright a pose, even in a photograph. The only thing a photographer's copyright protects them from is reprinting and distribution of their photo without their express written permission. Trust me on this as my father is a retired photographer.

Artist's reinterpretting photographs is commonly accepted in the industry, just ask Olivia de Berardinis, who did dozens of Bettie Page images based on photos taken before the artist was 10 years old. Gaia can change it's rules if it wants to, to insist that gaia users, of whom the majority are teenagers, somehow scrape together money to pay live models to "legitimize" their art, but in no way, shape, or form is this a reflection on copyright or any sort of artistic law. Personally every piece of my art uses a photo reference for poses. If you have issues with it, feel free to remove my gallery and shut down my shops. But I am not going to stop until someone does so.

Madonna was sued for creating a music video based on a series of photographs--She was being sued for copying the poses, outfits, and the atmosphere of the pieces.

What I don't think you understand is there is a difference between copying and referencing. You should read through an entire thread before you bother to comment, because this has been explained a million times in a million different ways:
If you copy a photograph, so you drawing looks exactly like a photograph.. you just copied. End of story.

If you used that photograph to understand how long hair is blown by a medium breeze, or how light from the upper left casts shadows on a figure, or how the muscles of the leg look while sitting--this is referencing. This is okay.

Honestly, do you think that every bit of the first post is refering to photographs? You're wrong, if you think so, because the bit about copying poses is pretty directly related to the copying of a drawn/painted picture, and not a photograph. It's meant to detract people from posting exact body-copies of pictures they've found.

Rule of thumb: If no one can immedietly recognize the picture, you're in the clear.

Ishimaru_The_Protector

I wonder how this interacts with "how to draw" book because to teach you they put in a ton of poses to show you how to draw people in these positions and how to draw situations. What about when they give instructions on how to draw a picture step by step, is that copying?

Yes. The steps in the "How to Draw" books are meant to be practice, to show you HOW to draw, not make you a completed piece.

You're supposed to draw your OWN characters using the methods they show. And by the way-- That means they shouldn't look ANYTHING like the step-by-step you were given.

Cheers.

[xVeNoMx]

Hi, i have a problem and need some advice. Theres a picture i drew, and didnt trace or copy or any of that, and they keep rejecting it and saying that im gonna get banned because i didnt draw that. But i did draw the picture, and i dont understand why they wont belive me. What should i do?

[Zenia Wulfe]

PM an art mod (Noraboo, Leloi, Demon Seishi and Clarion are a few) and show them the picture and have a conversation with them.

What is the picture?

[xVeNoMx]

Heres the picture

[Zenia Wulfe]

Yeah... see, that is a copy of a DragonballZ picture. Or so close to the original style that it counts as copying (I opt for the actual copying). That is why it is rejected. You are only allowed to post pictures that you have drawn ALL ON YOUR OWN.