It is time...

[chrsschb]

Originally Posted by Drakiyth

I'm honestly not sure what I did to you or what but having the viciousness in your post is completely uncalled for when I do these little art path pics it's to help with the fantasy and is technically a forum picture not used in any game directly. If I was to say make an RPGmaker game where the pic is used directly in that project I would include the artist name and give credit etc. A forum post however is like 4chan or other pic boards. If people feel this strongly about the pics on a forum that is literally not part of the actual Eqemu game I apologize it upset you. However even ChrisB signature Is a well known GrimReaper pic and there is no artist name anywhere in sight.

I also did search for reusable pics but google is never perfect. I am not stealing because it's solely used as a forum post. Just like a signature or forum avatar.

If you have suggestions I will read them if you're civil.

I appreciate the callout, makes me feel important. NetherRealm (Nicholas Watros) is the artist and the picture is from 2006; before you even knew what EQEmu was. It was made available as a free download. But I mean if you want to see a copyright disclaimer on an 80px image let me know and I'll do it just for you.

You need to realize, however, that I'm not against you, I was trying to help you. Which says a lot considering I don't agree with your project. Also, I understand copyright laws very well as I run two businesses, one of which deals directly with intellectual property of artists. When it comes to using art resources for forums, free projects, etc I don't make a big stink, and credit the artists when I feel it necessary.

I had a photographer send my company a cease and desist letter a few years ago for a picture I took from google, for the sole purpose of testing functionality on a website. I never made the image public, never actually posted it to a live website, but google indexed the web folder and he found it.

I laughed, explained it to him, he laughed, we went about our lives. The key there was that I was a for-profit business. Most artists don't care that you're using their art for non-profit, for-fun, or other random projects. I know I don't. Hell I've produced several songs that are all over the internet, free to download and uploaded by some shady character somewhere. I don't care.

When the usage becomes commercial, that's when things change.

[Drakiyth]

Originally Posted by chrsschb

I appreciate the callout, makes me feel important. NetherRealm (Nicholas Watros) is the artist and the picture is from 2006; before you even knew what EQEmu was. It was made available as a free download. But I mean if you want to see a copyright disclaimer on an 80px image let me know and I'll do it just for you.

You need to realize, however, that I'm not against you, I was trying to help you. Which says a lot considering I don't agree with your project. Also, I understand copyright laws very well as I run two businesses, one of which deals directly with intellectual property of artists. When it comes to using art resources for forums, free projects, etc I don't make a big stink, and credit the artists when I feel it necessary.

I had a photographer send my company a cease and desist letter a few years ago for a picture I took from google, for the sole purpose of testing functionality on a website. I never made the image public, never actually posted it to a live website, but google indexed the web folder and he found it.

I laughed, explained it to him, he laughed, we went about our lives. The key there was that I was a for-profit business. Most artists don't care that you're using their art for non-profit, for-fun, or other random projects. I know I don't. Hell I've produced several songs that are all over the internet, free to download and uploaded by some shady character somewhere. I don't care.

When the usage becomes commercial, that's when things change.

I appreciate and respect your professionalism and experience. What would you suggest that I do to get out the idea of my creations on a forum without causing a fuss? For example all my other servers only had one issue with this and that's when I accidentally used Guild Wars 2 art. They sent me a cease and desist. I decided to take all art down for paths at that time in a huge overreaction.

[chrsschb]

Originally Posted by Drakiyth

I appreciate and respect your professionalism and experience. What would you suggest that I do to get out the idea of my creations on a forum without causing a fuss? For example all my other servers only had one issue with this and that's when I accidentally used Guild Wars 2 art. They sent me a cease and desist. I decided to take all art down for paths at that time in a huge overreaction.

Stop giving a fuck, the people here are blowing this way out of proportion. If you're worried make sure to credit the artists/licensor at the least. If you receive a cease and desist then be prepared to drop the images. You could always contact the artists and ask for permission to use (a handwritten letter/email is usually more than sufficient). And at worst be ready to find a reputable artist to create some unique artwork for your server. For my company the first thing I did when I branched out on my own was to make sure I owned every resource I used. It's really not worth doing this for a free-to-play, non-profit hobby. So the risk (which is fairly small) is worth it.

Like I mentioned previously it's not worth litigation as there is no damage. A cease and desist is cheap and easy. If you were slandering the company or profiting from their work then yeah be prepared for full wrath of their lawyers.

[Drakiyth]

Originally Posted by chrsschb

Stop giving a fuck, the people here are blowing this way out of proportion. If you're worried make sure to credit the artists/licensor at the least. If you receive a cease and desist then be prepared to drop the images. You could always contact the artists and ask for permission to use (a handwritten letter/email is usually more than sufficient). And at worst be ready to find a reputable artist to create some unique artwork for your server. For my company the first thing I did when I branched out on my own was to make sure I owned every resource I used. It's really not worth doing this for a free-to-play, non-profit hobby. So the risk (which is fairly small) is worth it.

Like I mentioned previously it's not worth litigation as there is no damage. A cease and desist is cheap and easy. If you were slandering the company or profiting from their work then yeah be prepared for full wrath of their lawyers.

That's exactly how I feel and why I have done these honestly. I like your idea of crediting the artist and putting that I do not own this picture and it is being used solely for a fun non-profit project. I'll take the time to find the artists and put that up on my posts. I appreciate the feedback. Especially coming from somebody who knows what they are talking about from personal experience. The only reason I didn't credit them before is because it's a forum not a game. But I see how including their name is just the right thing to do in general.

I do alter their pictures considerably with adobe so it fits my theme as well. But I guess if I credit them it doesn't matter.


UPDATED:

This is what I will be putting down for all art I use on my forums. I appreciate people bringing this up because I want for nothing more than to make RuinSpire a fun and stress free place to play.