What's up?

[Turtlemonk]

Hey. I'm the fresh meat here, but I'm more of a high quality Spam-sandwich than a T-bone steak.

Bad joke aside, I'd like someone to help me with something.
For a guy that 2 parts thinker, 1 part artist and 1 part turtle; would getting a copyright for my characters be the best thing to do, or would it be most likely that no one would give a damn?

I'm no Kandlin or Purity, but if someone does like my stuff I wouldn't want them to rip me out.

[Captain Oz]

Howdy there, Turtle, welcome to Fur Affinity :D

fresh meat here
hrm.... now I'm really hungry...

Spam-sandwich
Hunger (mostly) gone now.

copyright for my characters

Oh no! Not the character copyright discussion!
*bunkers down for the long run*

I'm not much of an artist myself, but I would personally be honored if someone where to copy one of my drawings. Means they liked it enough to take the time to draw it themselves.

However if you do feel someone has "stolen" your art, you could give them a good hard poke in the side and say something like "I'm glad you liked my drawing!" A comment like that would start the discussion off on a happier note, and the copycat would be more likely to reply honestly about the nature of the piece in question with a comment like that than if you said something more like "I know you stole that you f*?king bastard!"

[Mr Cullen]

Or if you're a bit of a troll (like myself) you just jump right in and cause trouble. LIEK OMG SO AND SO STOLE THIS, THAT AND MY WALLET!

But I digress, I don't like thievery of others work at all, it's the kind of things like so called "Pose theft" that I find funny. WHAT IS POSTURE THEFT?

I thought that anything someone draws that is their own creation is automatically copyrighted? Or is that only in some countries?

[Dragoneer]

I thought that anything someone draws that is their own creation is automatically copyrighted? Or is that only in some countries?
Yes and no.

Once an artist draws it, it's not really protected until that artist signs the piece, and adds their (c) Artist's Name to it. Then, and only then, does the automatic copyright take more effect, because the artist has stated their intent with the image by adding the copyright symbol.

The preferred formatting is: (c) Name, Date.

If the image is missing that information than the artist loses out on a lot of the securities which come with copyright. If you want to keep it: stamp it, claim it, be consistant. Without posting the (c) Name, Date it doesn't hold the same level of protection. The artist should also use their REAL NAME. Saying (C) Fuzzybuttwiggler doesn't do much in a court of law since the courts cannot easily proove the artist's identity.

[ArrowTibbs]

Actually I thought automatic copyright was always in effect and signing just made it easier to prove who made it. At least, that's what I got from the websites I researched from...

Technically you cannot copyright a character, but you can trademark them (mostly applicable to companies which use them for marketing such as Disney's Mickey Mouse). Artwork of the character (that you made yourself) is yours.

Someone mentioned that writing a short story also helps copyright because the characters are then made into derivatives of the story, which is copyright to the author.

It's confusing. :P

[Grave]

Well if you really care about your work and want to establish yourself in the fandom in some form or another, then you MUST ALWAYS sign your "pen name" on the pic.

This automatically copyrights the artwork as yours. And i do beleive it copyrights the character as well, as long as he/she/hir/it is YOUR own creation!

So if someone decides to draw your characters and claim then as their own, then they have comitted copyright theft. Also, be sure to date every pic you make as well, just to be a little extra cautious. (sp?)

However, you CANT copyright a pose. Someone can take a pose you may have created and use it for one of their characters and you couldnt do jack shit about it.

As long as the image they drew is 70% different from yours, theres nothing you can do. But i mean, who would care about a stupid pose at the end of the day? There is only so many ways that you can draw something after all. But if ya wanna be anal about it you can bitch about it but technically, as long as the image is 70% different, theres nothing you can do.

Personally, if someone used any of my crappy poses for referance i'd be flattered! I WOULD be a little pissed off if someone took one of my characters and posted it someplace and claimed it as their own however.

Ive had people steal my art before, they even took out my signature from the pic! But the image was posted anonymousley (god my spelling sucks) so i couldnt find out who stole it. But my art sucks so much i didnt care anyway but in any case, its still wise to always sign your pics.

[Dragoneer]

http://www.artistresource.org/copyrite.htm

It explains automatic copyright for the artist. In the legal classes I took during my stay at art school explained it that while automatic copyright does take place, enforcement of it becomes the main issue, which is why signing and dating it becomes imperitive.

So, the (c) artist, name becomes imperitive as a sort of "seal of authority", and mainly applies to only pen and paper copies. Digital art is still lacking in the same legistation as traditional art.

[Midnightdragon22]

On the level my art is on, I don't think it really matters. :shock: My friends on the forums I'm on know and recognize me and if someone copies it, then I feel flattered too. But in the case of someone selling pics online and someone else swiping them...yeah, that would probably make a difference because it's taking money out of someone's pockets.

[Turtlemonk]

You guys been a big help. Thanks you all.

[uncia2000]

http://www.artistresource.org/copyrite.htm

It explains automatic copyright for the artist. In the legal classes I took during my stay at art school explained it that while automatic copyright does take place, enforcement of it becomes the main issue, which is why signing and dating it becomes imperitive.
As ArrowTibbs had noted, yes. Certainly helps to do so.

So, the (c) artist, name becomes imperitive as a sort of "seal of authority", and mainly applies to only pen and paper copies. Digital art is still lacking in the same legistation as traditional art.
In what way is that?