@Riot, What am I supposed to do about ART THEFT?

hysterhex·5/1/2015, 10:45:39 AM·3 votes·933 views

Excuse me if this post is a little emotional. I won't be naming names and I won't be posting the stolen art.

TL;DR a popular Youtuber stole my art and according to Youtube I can't do anything about it: wat do?

You've seen a cool drawing of a champion in a Youtube video, right? I know you've clicked on a random video just because it had Sona's breasts in the thumbnail. Maybe you didn't realize that someone had to have put a lot of effort into that thumbnail. And I wouldn't fault anyone for this, but a regular Joe/Jane wouldn't notice there was no link to the original art or artist in the video description.

Being an artist myself I have such a problem with that. It's art theft. But I couldn't do anything about it; it wasn't my art. Until it was! OH BOY.

I was mad, and then upset, and then I cried for a long time. And I tried to report it to Youtube (heads up: it's useless, don't bother with all the trouble)

Is there really nothing I can do about this sort of thing? I can't have a video taken down if I don't own the full copyright (art+character.) Can I do nothing? Am I just not supposed to make fanart for this BS community??

(NOTE: not in Community Creations because I'm pretty sure that's just for actual art?) (BIGGER NOTE: before anyone tries to claim such, ART THEFT =/= PUBLICITY if the artist doesn't get publicity thru credit/etc)

14 Comments

Neo Cyrus5/1/2015, 10:50:21 AM5 votes

Is this a joke? No one is going to stop and credit every picture they use. It's not theft unless they claim it as their own work.

MattZeeX5/1/2015, 10:51:24 AM3 votes

Well did you message the Youtuber and ask for him to credit you?

Dangerous Man5/1/2015, 11:43:29 AM2 votes

Can I see your art? :3

Fredart5/1/2015, 11:57:10 AM1 votes

Let it go, let it go

Eleshakai5/2/2015, 4:32:37 PM1 votes

Youtube is EXTREMELY lenient about who they let make claims for copyright issues. If they won't let you, chances are there's nothing you can do.

The only way you might get a different answer would be speaking to a lawyer who specializes in this type of law.