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Jan 2019

This isn't a problem I've seen in the comics section, but in the novels section of Tapas and also on novel sites like Royal Road. I've witnessed numerous times people using art for their covers that aren't theirs.

On Royal Road some people are so open about this that they write in the novel description "If this art is yours, message me and I will take it down", or so and so.

On Tapas, I've seen professional-level drawings that look like they were taken off Pixiv and cropped to fit a novel cover. Sometimes there isn't a title on the cover, and other times the text looks horrendous compared to the quality of the art. Other times I've seen each episode feature a different picture that wildly varies in art style from the others.

So here's what I want to ask: how should we respond to the use or suspected use of art ripped off the internet on an online novel? How should platforms like Tapas and Royal Road respond? Especially Tapas, which lets people make ad revenue off of their novels?

(Or does Tapas have a way of responding to suspected art theft already? Because I would be very glad to know.)

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    Jan '19
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    Jan '19
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You can search for the original artist by using google image search. Once you find their page, send them a private message or an email if they list an address. The artist needs to decide whether or not it's an offending use of their work, and can send a DMCA (legal takedown request.) And just for emphasis because some people try to file on the artist's befalf: ONLY the original artist may send a DCMA by law. If they're on pixiv I send one message in English using as simple words and sentences as possible, and include a google translated version which states it's poorly translated. Some Pixiv artists speak some level of English, so that version might be a better means of communication.

But yes anything used without explicit permission of the artist is in violation unless it was released under a creative commons license. Alerting the original artist is really as far as you need to take it. If the artist contacts the offending author and the author refuses to take the artwork down, it won't be hard for the artist to escalate it with Tapas by emailing them.

As per section 6. of "Your content and conduct"
" [...] Tapas Media does not permit copyright infringing activities and infringement of intellectual property rights on the Service, and Tapas Media will remove all Content if properly notified that such Content infringes on another's intellectual property rights. Tapas Media reserves the right to remove Content without prior notice."

I can't help but laugh at the hypocrisy of stealing other artist's works to promote your own in these cases. Speaking of though it did remind me, in the past I made a couple background artworks people are welcome to use under creative commons. It's non-commercial (cannot be used in paid work) and stipulation is that I need to be clearly credited for it.




Thanks for the info! I've hit a wall before with the language barrier on Pixiv but Google Translate it is :smiley:

I suppose another thing to do as well is include direct links to any forms/ emails they would need to go through in order to contact Tapas to make it as easy as possible for them. (Including the link to the offending use of their work.) Further down on that page is the following:

"If you are a copyright owner or an agent thereof and believe that any Content infringes upon your copyrights, you may submit a notification pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") by providing the following information by mail to 1479 Folsom Street San Francisco, CA 94103 or by email with the subject line "Copyright" to hello@tapas.io in writing (see 17 U.S.C 512(c)(3) for further detail):

A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed;

Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at that site;
Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled and information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to locate the material;undefined>Information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to contact you, such as an address, telephone number, and, if available, an electronic mail;

A statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and

A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that you are authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed. You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with all of the requirements of this Section your DMCA notice may not be valid."

They might need to either use google translate from there and/or enlist the help of an English speaking friend unfortunately. A lot of artwork is ripped from there because the offender knows that the language barrier makes it difficult to get it taken down.

Is important to note that some writers ask for a commision to artists, like asking them to make a cover for their novel and pay the artist. So recognizing the art style of other artist in a novel cover can ocasionally happen.

But if you suspect something is off, you can follow @spudfuzz`s advice of notifying the artist.