QUOTE (JanxAngel @ Jan 25 2008, 02:28 PM) 
Technically, we're all horrible lawbreakers... We should be getting permission for each and every image we use. No one is ever really going to enforce that as long as we're not using it for profit or commiting libel/slander. So, as the lawless free for all of image posting goes: If you post it, it's fair game. Now in the way of the Great Internet Social Contract, the unofficial, unwritten rules that try to keep this a sane and mostly civil place, it's considered quite in bad form for people to take credit for other people's work. They can post it where ever they'd like, and as long as they're at the very least not claiming it's their own work, but not giving credit, no one will give them much in the way of frowny faces.
If you DO find someone claiming yours or someone else's work as their own, heads up the creator (if it's not you) and the poster, telling them you suspect it belongs to someone else and asking for any kind of proof of creation. That kind of thing WILL get around to people. Especially if they can't prove it's their work and you and your friends tell the world. State facts and not personal attacks to maintain your own credibility.
If it's a totally original work, then that's a whole nother hill of beans. I've seen a couple pieces on DeviantArt that have been ripped off by unscrupulous companies looking for ad illustrations, but not wanting to pay. That kind of thing there's actually at least a little bit of legal recourse for.
If you DO find someone claiming yours or someone else's work as their own, heads up the creator (if it's not you) and the poster, telling them you suspect it belongs to someone else and asking for any kind of proof of creation. That kind of thing WILL get around to people. Especially if they can't prove it's their work and you and your friends tell the world. State facts and not personal attacks to maintain your own credibility.
If it's a totally original work, then that's a whole nother hill of beans. I've seen a couple pieces on DeviantArt that have been ripped off by unscrupulous companies looking for ad illustrations, but not wanting to pay. That kind of thing there's actually at least a little bit of legal recourse for.
As always, Janx - you are always there with an answer for me. I'll let Lozzie know her work is famous but I was quite surprised to see Pirate Goren and Eames on msn. arrrrrrrrr - I even scrolled back to make sure I'd actually seen it and wasn't hallucinating.
