Thievery!

[Sens]

Hiya guys and gals, happy new year!

After a very busy period I was hoping on becomming a little more active again.

When I was checking out HRC's new layout, I stumbled upon a private message from "user name", who is a contributor here at HRC and has a sharp eye. He informed me that my Iron Man SE cover was stolen and has been posted at customcovers.

Now I know that covers being stolen is unfortunately part of the custom cover scene and happends more often then I can count, but there is one thing that really bothers me.
This f*cking guy stole my cover and is acting like he made it himself! This "-stewie-" character comments "scanned resized and used colour management to correct the colours also used the unsharp mask to make credits stand out hope you like." At least the pathetic basterd thinks my cover is a retail scan, thats one good thing...

[attachment=10706:31995061.jpg]

I'm not a member on customcovers, so I can't see if he left my name in the credits on the back, pretty sure that f*ck forgot to remove it though.
What is the best thing I can do about this? Maybe some of you guys knows a remedy?

[flipper]

Not much you can do about it unfortunately, customcovers is not known for having very strict uploading policies to say the least...

This Stewie character is one of the worst out there, all of his uploads are either 'his own scans resized and color corrected' or 'got this from a mate and decided to share'.... Never ever has the decency to admit he downloads them elsewhere or to credit the original artist. We already banned his a$$ from CM.

[Irrob]

Those who make covers and dislike the practice of cover proliferation will simply stop sharing covers. There are great artists who dropped the craft or completely dropped out of sight because of this.

[Demonology]

Know how you feel sens had a run in with this individual before and like your cover he did the
same to my Transporter Collection Blu ray cover & Many others aswell.
BPMford contacted bluenote there and got em removed.
But it did really annoy me that he stated he altered my work (when it was perfect in the first place).

[kylumi]

I have just done some business for you over there Sens buddy.....pm's and such sent....
I see my m8 clink has been having a go to!

[clink]

Yep. Just been told it has been removed.

[JollyRoger]

QUOTE (Irrob @ Jan 7 2010, 01:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Those who make covers and dislike the practice of cover proliferation will simply stop sharing covers. There are great artists who dropped the craft or completely dropped out of sight because of this.

Quite right and on the money Rob - or simply make their work unavailable to the general users on the sites - and only share amonst themselves. Like several artists on this site.

[Kernie]

QUOTE (JollyRoger @ Jan 7 2010, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Quite right and on the money Rob - or simply make their work unavailable to the general users on the sites - and only share amonst themselves. Like several artists on this site.

That's a good idea, JR, I've considered doing just that with my Master Designer albums, but then that makes my covers available to a very select few and I don't want to limit my stuff that much. I feel like that's cutting off my hand to spite my face...

I noticed the only permission settings for the MD albums are 1) Everybody, 2) Me Only, and 3) Only Master Designers. Maybe I should ask Fubs about this and I have no idea how much work this would take, but maybe including an option that allows MD's to choose the level of availability, like for subscribers/contributors and above? That might at least cut down on the amount of freeloaders stealing covers from here while still allowing good members who aren't MD's access to our covers?

I'd be interested in that scenario... anybody else agree?

[Fubster]

I understand the concern about thievery, and I take it very seriously. I want to spend some time working on an accurate method of identifying which members from our site downloads these covers that are shared across the net, but it will take me time to get it, and then some time to make it work.

Here is a perspective you may not have considered…this community requires two basic sets of people: artists and subscribers. The artists provide the material, and the subscribers provide the funds needed to keep the web-site up. By making your material private, you are cutting off the subscribers – the ones who provide the money needed to keep this website online. If they can’t get to your material, they will soon stop paying for a subscription, and the website will no longer be here.

Here is another perspective: we have a site rule in place that items that go through WIP must be posted in the gallery, and the same is true for Showcased items. So, if you work an item through WIP, or show it off through Showcase, then place it in a private album, it appears that you have broken that rule to 99% of our members.

I understand the frustration, but I personally don’t think private albums are the answer.

[Segunda]

I can imagine the angry feeling of all you guys, because they don't give a f**k about the rules, the scene and especially the cover work itself.
But there are still a lot of general users or other types of users, not master designers, with a good will. The majority should not suffer from the minority of 'pain in the a$$' people.

We have to look how we can banish this sort of behavior. And i personally agree with Fubster's explanation.