Portrait Removal - Furcadia

Copyright Portrait Removal Procedure

As expressed in our User Agreement, Furcadia does not enforce copyrights. However, as a courtesy to improve the climate of our community and to help mediate portrait art conflicts, we clear disputed art from portrait spaces under the select conditions that follow:

The artist must directly contact the individual using their artwork.
- Be polite and professional, please.
- There's a chance that the person using the portrait was not even aware that you were the artist, there's a chance that they were scammed and are completely innocent. Asking them where they got the portrait, from whom, if it was a trade, and for what is helpful information.
- Let them know that they aren't in trouble and that while their portrait is going to be cleared it will cost them nothing.
- Do not be rude or threatening to the person using the artwork.
The artist must send a log of this interaction.
The artist must provide proof of creation.
- It would be bad if we cleared portraits without first checking that the person making contact is in fact the copyright holder. To prevent harassment of our users, we require verification of creation. What we consider as proof is listed below.

Note: We do not help in cases where an artist's artwork has been transferred or resold to another user without their permission unless they have a written agreement with commissioner clearly outlining acceptable use of the artwork. In such cases, we will need a copy of the agreement and proof that both parties agreed to it.

For Artists:

We're so sorry to hear that your copyright was violated. We'd be happy to assist you in a timely manner if you are willing to provide us with the information requested below.

Do: Politely contact the person using your artwork and talk with them about it. They may have purchased the image from someone else as a premade portrait, or they may simply have not known any better.
Do: Let the person who is violating your copyright know that they can get the portrait cleared for free.
Do: Have the person violating your copyrights send in a ticket, this is especially important if they got the portrait from a third party such as someone selling premades.
Do: Send us a copy of the log showing that you made a good faith effort to resolve the issue on your own.
Do: Send us proof that you were the person that created the image. Without proof of creation we have no way of telling that you are actually the artist of the image in question
Do Not: Be rude, threatening, or harassing to the person using your artwork.

What we accept as proofs of creation:

Yes: A copy of the original sketch (high resolution or signed/dated pieces are even better)
Yes: Work in progress images (at least 3) frames of the portrait being shaded.
Yes: Layered Photoshop files.
Sometimes: High Resolution Versions of the completed portrait.
Sometimes: DeviantART/Other archive pages that contain some form of dating.
No: The image in remappable colors. If the image was stolen there's a chance the portrait in remappable colors is floating around out there somewhere.
No: Flat shaded version of the image. Anyone can take a remappable version of the image and change all of the colors to flat colors.
No: Other images in the same "style".
No: Your friends' word.

Why we need proofs:

It is often very hard to tell who made what with pixel art. Because of this, it is extremely difficult for anyone to make a judgment call in that regard.

What if I don't have proofs?

We may examine your case and give you the benefit of the doubt in your first case, but we make no guarantees. While we would love to help you protect your copyrights, we can only help protect your work if you first take steps to protect yourself. In other words, you should start keeping proofs of your work in the future.

Where can I find an example proof?

This is an example proof made by Talzhemir. Although your proof doesn't have to be this involved, at least a couple of work in progress images would be helpful.

I found someone using someone else's artwork, what should I do?

Do: Contact the artist.
Do: Tell the artist what they need to do next (or point them to this page).
Do: Let the artist handle their own copyright issues.
Do Not: Have the person violating the artist's copyrights e-mail us directly, we work directly with the artists on the issue, without an artist contacting us we can't help them.
Do Not: Harass the person using the artwork, harassment is against our rules. This includes but is not limited to naming, shaming, and witch-hunting, all of which make the artist look unprofessional.

Someone told me I'm using someone else's art. Help?

Do: Contact the artist.
Do Not: Panic.
You do not have to: Talk to anyone about the portrait except the artist and DEP staff.
You do not have to: Give anyone permission to post logs.
You do not have to: Tolerate harassment. You may put people who are bothering on ignore and should speak to the Guardians if the harassment persists.

Send in a Support Ticket:

Send your info about portrait copyright issues as a ticket at: https://support.furcadia.com - Do not trouble the Guardians with these issues, as they are not Guardian issues.