oh damn. this has gotten out of hand

4chan's been doing this FOREVER

but have they actually been selling it?

But 4chan doesn't require a $30/mo subscription fee.

4chan has never charged $30 a month for you to view stolen artwork.

No, it hasn't...

someone dosnt know about the 4chan gold accounts...

Bitches dont know about my platinum account!

You could tell them that you know that this art isn't theirs and if they don't remove it, you will file a class action. You'll scare the shit out of them

No, no, no. Class action is bullshit. No.

Just no.

If you don't know what you're talking about don't give out legal advice.

For something like this you take them to small claims court, and file losses. If Adult Empire does not send somebody to represent themselves they will lose by default, and you're more likely to win. Class actions take month, are expensive as fuck and offer NOTHING to those stolen from. Small claims can be filed by anybody against pretty much anyone.

I never, Never said to file a class action. I said to say that, to scare them. They obviously know this work isn't theirs. They know they can't win in court. However, what you're suggesting sounds better.

Because a class action isn't going to scare them. The threat of a class action is meh, because there has to be proven financial losses across the board. However, small claims offers losses of up to $5,000 and are *easily* winnable. Onta, for example, if stolen from... since they're part of a pay site... could threaten to sue via small claims for the maximum amount of damages and win easily.

Further, so could anybody. Small claims is where the true threat lies.

I mean, a fucking class action has to go to the *supreme court* where a civil small claims suit... ahh, just about anywhere. :)

although, I would be rather amused to read about the suit in the papers.

Of course, imagine the kind of press you'd get, taking a lawsuit over gay furry porn to supreme court :s

Actually, it's not just gay furry porn xD A lot of it that they've taken is actually -straight- or even solo porn xD

I only looked to see if myself (I doubted, but still) or my friends (more likely xD) had been taken from. o.o

it still wouldn't help the fandom's image o.o

of course not, not at all. I don't think any of this stuff would...

hell, any media these days is bad media (because bad media sells more than good, therefore everything will have a bad twist to it, if the media got a hold of it)

I was just saying that it wouldn't just be a 'gay porn' thing. Hell, there was a LOT of work up there that wasn't porn at all (even pics with no nudity whatsoever), so it'd be more of an 'art theft' case than a 'porn theft' case, and more of a 'porn theft' case than a 'gay porn theft' case...

I'm talking in circles, aren't I?

I'm sorry. xD

I'm sure you know more than I do. I was just suggesting something.

Shame I'm to lazy to check and see if any of my character is up there.

I AM LAWING

Bwahahahaa


this is -awesome-

We'll help you Onta! We're all get to the bottom of this! Then we'll kill em

Whatever I can do to help... you let me know. I've provided some information for it, and I'm approaching this directly with my company.

I'm not sure how much my website can handle these giant images and the traffic hosting all this mess. We will see. So far i would just like multiple sources.

I'll put them on FA if I have to.

multiple sources coming out and asking to be removed.

the link you posted does not work. Your thumbnail link

Remove the </b> from it

Thank you

Jack shit. D:

http://www.adult-empire.com/dmca.htm

The sheer fact Adult Empire has a motherfucking DMCA button on its main page is proof they know they're doing bad shit, and providing an instant out.

thanks for th elink

I pretty much said in a ticket I opened with them "Hi! I represent almost the entire furry fandom, I have 11K personal watchers and will contact every single artist who you've stolen from to DMCA your host provider.".

And the thing is? I can do that.

|8< Do it.

Though watching all the craziness is slightly amusing, since I was one of the many going "OMGZ Did they steal from (insert friend here)?! *looks*"

Not to sound egotistical or anything, but... trying to prove my point to them...

Hey man whatever needs to be done. Im going at this grassroots and made it as easy as possible for those interested. Look at some images and click a link.

Wow. they must be desperate. They even stole one of mine.

http://www.hardblush.com/wakaba/src.....9295755288.jpg

second from the left, fifth from the bottom. You can even read my name.

they stole like 2 of your comics

which thumbnails are those? I must have missed them.

NVM, found em'
http://www.hardblush.com/wakaba/src.....9295471292.jpg
http://www.hardblush.com/wakaba/src.....9295468460.jpg
http://www.hardblush.com/wakaba/src.....9295463040.jpg

I'll sic furplanet on em' for those.

Ok. Furplanet's been notified. I also sent the following in under the abuse link you provided. Let's see if it does any good:

---

It has come to my attention that your site has published my work, in violation of copyright.

To whit: Issues 1, 2 & 3 of COBALT, and at least one or more pieces of my artwork under the signature of Chris Sutor.

You are hereby notified under the DMCA, that these items are to be removed immedately. All issues of COBALT, and all artwork with the unique Chris Sutor signature are protected works and are NOT to be placed upon your site now, or ever.

Screenshots:
http://www.hardblush.com/wakaba/src.....9295471292.jpg
http://www.hardblush.com/wakaba/src.....9295468460.jpg
http://www.hardblush.com/wakaba/src.....9295463040.jpg

http://www.hardblush.com/wakaba/src.....9295755288.jpg
(item second from left, fifth from the bottom - any artwork with identical signature to also be considered served upon and to be removed)

---

(I realize that's not a proper DMCA, but I'm tired and it's late)

Question is. Will they DMCA me for the thumbnails lol!

wow. instant one-line response:

"Please let me know link to the site with your pictures."

since all I have are these screenshots you provided, I don't have the actual links.

You need to link where it is in print. You can link to your own website. To fa to the company you work for.

Ok, Sent this in response:
___________________________________________________________________________
> On Nov 27, 2009, at 12:03 AM, AE support team wrote:
> Please let me know link to the site with your pictures.


Issues 1,2 & 3 of cobalt, from my publisher's website:
http://furplanet.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=63
http://furplanet.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=82
http://furplanet.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=172


The same, as they appear on your website:
http://www.furnation.com/cobalt/dmc.....9295463040.jpg
http://www.furnation.com/cobalt/dmc.....9295468460.jpg
http://www.furnation.com/cobalt/dmc.....9295471292.jpg

You have them listed as Furry XXX 042, Furry XXX 041, and Furry XXX 040.

One of my images also appears under the heading of Furry XXX021:
http://www.furnation.com/cobalt/dmc.....9295755288.jpg
(item second from left, fifth from bottom - you can even read my name on the thumbnail)

-c*

I think they want YOUR links :)

my links?

oh shit der i read them now..the furplanet ones :)

ah, ok.

Well, I haven't gotten another instant response, so let's see if anything even comes of it.

The DMCA req

Hmm what do you think we should do if there is a picture that the artist is no longer hosting on a web site or domain run by them?

The DMCA requires that you supply them with the link on THEIR site to the offending image. Just specifying that your work is posted there does not satisfy that requirement. You can supply links to your own site to prove the image is yours...but without that link to their site, they can claim they can't find the image you're talking about.

Second factor, this site is in the Netherlands. I'm not sure how successful a DMCA notice will be there, considering it's mostly a U.S. law. Other countries do have similar statutes, but you'd have to meet their requirements.

So...more or less, they're going to try and indirectly require that you open a paid account so you can see the art on their site and give them their own link? There are only maybe a couple double-handfulls of artists in the fandom that can say that the $30/mo subscription fee is lower than the losses they are incurring from this already, and bluntly, fuck that noise.

HEY ONTA, would it be possible to put links with the thumbnails at all?

Or, one person obtain the link and get the addresses for all the affected individuals. If you spread that $30 between 10 artists, then it's only $3 each. Would have to be someone who could recognize all of the artists' work.

That's sorta what Onta's done with the collected thumbnails; he's got an account and is systematically dumping the site contents for artist review, more or less pro bono as I understand. If the URLs were to accompany those thumbnails, it'd be the perfect storm of anti-fraud charity.

Doesnt it make you sick?

This is really dumb. I just looked through this and I know about 4 of my friends on here.

This is bullshit x.x

i'd better not find my fursona in there >:C


Seriously WHAT THE HELL MAN, someone must want to make a quick buck out of finding every piece of porn and having it on one site, IT WONT WORK T.T

LOL sorry for the second post, but there are pictures from oblivion on there?! That's so amazingly fucking stupid..

I find this very upsetting. I can't decide which is worse: the fur-bashing trolls, or the art thieves.

For me it would probably be the trolls (simply because my art isn't worth stealing).

I find this very upsetting. I can't decide which is worse: the fur-bashing trolls, or the art thieves.

For me it would probably be the trolls (simply because my art isn't worth stealing).

CRAP!

Sorry about the double post.

Well that one's all straight art... so none of mine is there...  Denoyelle found a similar site stealing all the gay FA art.. it's on her latest journal, check it out!

This is utterly noble and alturistic of you. I'm kind of ashamed because I had a certain (personal) opinion of you and you've proven me totally wrong; I'm sorry and... yeah, I don't think I have words to properly express my admiration for what you're doing with your own resources for the entire fandom.

My hat is off to you sir, and I thank you for this service. The fandom needs more folks like you (and maybe a few less like me :P).

well thanks!

I haven't found a single thing of mine I feel kinda invincible!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It's been taken down!!!!!!!!!! Congratz everyone =3

"Hello!
Sorry for the inconvenience.
The site ( http://sites1.adult-empire.com/6518/ - Gay Furry) was removed from our servers.
Thanks for your help.
Regards, AE Support Team!"

im not good enough to steal from

Ha HAAA. There's really so little chance that i'm on the radar for this sort of thing. Nor do I necessarily care, since I don't really make any sort of a living off of what I do.

People like this depend on apathy like that to get their ill-gotten money.
Your work may not be on their site, but, doubtless you would be angry to know they were profiting off your work for having the 4 braincells it takes to Right Click, Save As, and Upload. :3

Oh, I certainly don't approve, and any one that is actually impacted by it should do something. If I waass there.. I'd feel a little stronger maybe? But.. eh

I know for a fact that I don’t have any art work, because I’m more of a writer. But this kind of thing still gets me riled up. No ones work should ever get cheated and lied to like this!

I thought it was suppodes to be GAY furry porn. That all looks like females. (mostly at least) Is this from the same site?

wow!! ive never seen so much art stolen from soo many different artists at once!

~facepalms~

They even posted "Thanks for (insert number) Views" art.

Now that's amazingly stupid.

at this point i think they just spidered a bunch of chan boards

Which makes them stupid and lazy.

The lengths people go to for a quick buck.

Spidered really? damn and there nothing we can do?

What's really sad is that some poor dicks are probably getting subscriptions there without a thought as to the existence of the same porn for free elsewhere.

Someone needs to hack the site and post a link to e621.net on their main page.

Wow... they didn't even purge the watermarks from other websites declaring DNPs... This is insane.

<sigh> Every major name in the furry world is there, and tons of minor players. As horrible as this is, is it wrong that a part of me is sad that my art wasn't considered 'good enough' to steal?

it may have been. I'll do another scour tomorow. I takes alot of time to find all this.

Heheh, *petpets* I kinda felt the same way, but just for a second before worrying about my friends' artwork. :P

Good thing I'm not internet-popular.

Took the words straight from my mouth

augh, Im not sure, I need to take a look and see,
I don't think im smutty enough to steal from tho. :U

This is a really awful thing i recognize. But i think that your method will help, even if it´s a little.

Ypu just a bit of effort from everyone may change this a bit.

thoses people will steal anything as long as it brings in money -.-

What's sad about crap like is this that many of those artist can't speak English and therefore cannot really file a report on those things. :\

Oh wow, one of mine got stolen:

http://www.hardblush.com/wakaba/src.....9295484333.jpg

saw quite a few of nekogamis in that one

its hard enough for a furry artist to make a living off there work, then you have others illegally profiting from it. personally i don't know how someone can subscribe and pay 30 bucks for stolen art work (morally), from what i remember membership to most of the furry artists I know that have sites charge allot less (financially) OwO

For this, I admire you.

If they steal from me, they will have to pay other people to buy the art!!!

I'm almost offended that they didn't steam my art, it looks like they took everyone else's

Maybe list the peoples art spotted?

like I see;
inuki
zaush
jijix
naylor
furry_wolf
looqdrake
softpaw
shuik
moodyferret
cuteyiff
flying_fox
etc

twokinds
zen
twotails egad ME! I've been ripped off too XD old stuff though
8horns
arcc
ediskrad
kitsune_youkai
palcomix
gunmouth
paige
ishoka ( i think)
karavan
Battleangel
buttercupsayian

and like 60 others I don't know.

I would laugh if they have anything by me, but I guess it's not impossible if they don't pick and choose. Sad that they do it to begin with, though.

Good luck...I've got mixed feelings about image boards, but stealing someone else's artwork and SELLING it?! Complete and utter bullshit. They didn't do the work, they shouldn't benefit from it.

I saw one of mine on there also, but even better is I saw some of Bernal's work from Sexy Fur, I don't know him personaly but if the stories are true, the man is like a rabid pit pull when people steal from him. I'm sure some one has already dropped him line, we just need to sit back and watch the fire works.

Oh yeah I will enjoyyyy that.

Your even more awesome for doing this, letting everyone know and being active in stopping these guys from profiting off your hard work. Ill be doing all i can to help as well.

I've looked through half of it but I'm with my family at the moment... So far it seems like it's mostly straight stuff, and I don't really draw real porn anyway.

Hopefully there won't be anything of mine.

Well, I don't post the porn I draw.

<_<

Why don’t furry artists insert tiny text, in an unobtrusive part of the background, something like: “This art stolen from free website http://furaffinity.net/user/onta. If you paid for this, please tell the artist.”

...

a lot of 'em still seem to have watermarks and sigs on them
and onta's art isn't all free, they run a pay site where i'm sure their art says something about "Do Not Post" and/or "Hardblush" on it with a URL, anyway.


Plus, there seems to be some from SexyFur, another pay site.

there's shit from SexyFur?

just tell Bernal and he'll get this whole mess sorted himself, lmao

wow i recognize alot of that art too -__-

Oh come on, the only images of mine they stole were disgusting and ancient =[

I'm rather on the fence about complaining, since it was old shitty artwork, I don't really care about it, but on the other hand complaining would contribute to the flood of other artists doing it, thus removing a big chunk of their content.

WHAT TO DO.

Dear god, Somebody has to nail these bastards! Has anyone notified Eric Schwartz?

I see some Xpray and Gideon on there, someone ought to let them know if they don't already.

http://www.hardblush.com/wakaba/src.....9294634637.jpg

if you needs the link to find em.

This is ridiculous! What gives people the idea that they can profit off of other peoples work? I just....I don't know. -_-

Because they can, even if they remove all the work that artists request to be removed, even if the whole site is shut down, they've still made money off of it.

But if it's shut down. It means they can't make anymore =P

On a quick glance over I don't see anything of mine, but I do recognize quite a bit of other artists.

I'm kinda confused as to the type of people who'd pay for it? I mean, since MOST of the art posted is free. And if they did want to pay they could just pay for the paysites where the content originated. (Hardblush is cheaper.) If you're involved in furry to any extent that'd make you want to pay for it I'm sure you'd know and recognize at least some of the top artists on there as well as know of free sites like e621.

there are thousands of people who are fring furry art lovers who dont know the community exists at all.

Oh, I see~ I guess I really never considered this possibility.

Wow, I saw this actually a while back. I just didn't have the resources or smarts to really do anything about it.

Well, at least you guys are working on it now.

i have serious doubts but i wonder if any of my crappy stuff ended up there?
--Rick

I guess my work is too crappy to be fraudulently posted

Haha what?

My char's in there and I'm only a commissioner.

I can probably be certain nothing of mine is on that site. Though wouldn't it be funny. "Hey we stole the crappy stuff too. Have a look!" LOL

psst:

OrgAbuseHandle: WZCOM1-ARIN
OrgAbuseName: WZCOMM Abuse
OrgAbusePhone: +1-408-404-3912
OrgAbuseEmail: abuse[at]webazilla.com


Try sending emails to this address, too. And call them. The host will generally push for a speedier resolution than a likely honeypot-style bullshit DMCA form on the site itself.

There are Sexyfur images on there, someone tell Bernal and let lose the dogs of war.

I got a note that some of mine artwork was also used, but I don't see any of it on the frontpage. So if I am to find out WHICH ones, I have to pay them to get in so I can show which is mine for the response. That's pretty fucked

http://www.hardblush.com/wakaba/wakaba.html go here.... ive screen shotted

you are very noble sir. i give you major respect points. oh! and a cookie! i hear those are valuable.

Can someone just trace there address, so we can take care of this the quick and easy. And EMP and an Old fashion beat down?

They mostly post clean line-art or full colored pictures... none of the thumbnails contain my art.
If they EVER post my fursona there I will be so PISSED!

Oh, thanks a bunch! :)

That's extremely stupid. They should know they're going to be caught.

Good to know you're using what you can to help those exploited, Onta. I'm sure many people thank you. :3

Oh, including me of course, if that wasn't specific enough. x3

Wowzers that's crazy x.x I know for a fact none of mine got stolen because that's all mostly straight(from what I looked at) and mine isn't berry good. But das still crazy o.o Let's burn their building down

yeah i just noticed that, most of art is straight...and/or herm

Jeez. They really went for broke. Here's what I've got:

Dr. Comet (Seems like they have either all of his shit or they just reposted a crapload)
Momiji Yu-Ga
Karabiner
Softpaw Magazine
Finding Avalon Magazine
Inuki
Shiuk
ARCC
Zaush
Edis Krad
SexyFur.com
Dark Neko Gami
Zen
Taurin Fox
Miupix
Fennec
Wolfblade
Ayame
Lando
Coonkun

And this is just the stuff I recognize. I was going to laugh if some of my stuff ended up there. You seem to be pretty untouchable, Onta.

Forgot to mention:
beAY

Oh, man. They've stolen some of Bernal's stuff from SexyFur. They must have a deathwish.

To be hoenst I wasn't concerned until I loekd at one of the screenshots and seeing how low their quality standards are (no offense to anyone) now I feel like damn near everyone should be looking....fuck.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It's been taken down!!!!!!!!!! Congratz everyone =3

"Hello!
Sorry for the inconvenience.
The site ( http://sites1.adult-empire.com/6518/ - Gay Furry) was removed from our servers.
Thanks for your help.
Regards, AE Support Team!"

thanks for the good news.

To me its more of an issue of 'if they're making money off my work without my permission, I want my share." than GRR DESTROY THEM

Wow, I recognize people JUST IN THE TITLE GRAPHIC.

ok. woke up this morning (nay, afternoon) to this in my inbox:

>Hello!
>Sorry for the inconvenience.
>The site ( http://sites1.adult-empire.com/6518/ - Gay Furry) was removed from our servers.
>Thanks for your help.
>Regards, AE Support Team!

Wowzers

Well, I scoured through ALL of it and looked about for my stuff. And I think I saw some of Jeremy Bernal's.

JEREMY. BERNAL. Please tell me this motherfucker knows about this site oh please oh PLEASE! >w< He will raise HELL and highwater in a flash.

I'm really sorry all this is happening to you guys. D:
I hope you guys can get it ironed out soon. :c

I'm stunned, one of my works made it in there. o.o

I've been reading the comments, Is everything taken care of now?

tss.

I also saw red-dog/TAMEN
Ayelet
Nimrais
Sidian Silverhawk
K'sharra
Chris Sawyer

nothing from me so far.

Doug Winger
Dark_Aldebaraan
Ferris
Loupgarou
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/esteban/
http://www.hardblush.com/wakaba/src.....9294554028.jpg upper left, also a renowned furry artist... can't remember the name right now, but I have a collection on my HD of his works.
Heather Bruton
Jeremy Mullins
S.D.C. (Steve Corbett if I remember right)
Brian O'Conell
OldeWolfe (Ted Vollmer) (my goodness, that image is 15 years old!)
and, lastly, one of the pink mouse... what whas the artists' name again? I think he has a page here, too.

their html spider had pretty long legs. there are wips among the finished, portfolio and book covers, and sometimes doublettes and triplettes and more... and some of the things I doubt anybody would ever pay for to see it. :P

but still I got spared. time to go green of jealousy now?

So it off AE now, right? But the sight still exists? But yeah! Good job everyone! Especially you, Onta. Now we nee to abolish the sight completely, and get all that money back to those that deserve it rightly. Legally, of course. But…that’s where a lot of problems come to an end. Law in other countries tend to…just…mess every thing up.

Smart move, dude. Keep it rollin'.

Here's one..get Disney and Warner Brothers involved.


THey see copywritten characters form their companies and they're gonna be wondering where their cut is. ~THAT~ would be enough to put EA out of business, wouldn't it? I mean, they ~are~ selling copywritten material that was drawn without permission, right?

Man...
Vkyre
ews
Max Blackrabbit
Juanomorfo
Furrball
Palcomix
more Dr. Comet then you can shake a stick at
Gabe
Tramane.. aka hedgefox
Nanimoose
Skunkworks
I see Caramel Kitteh's character in a pic
Cassy the rock vixen
Ollie canal
Paige
Lonefox
Dingbat
Kamicheetah
Ken Sample
Fisk
Toyjo
and a lot more who's names i don't remember..
This is Buuuuuuuulll.
I did not see any of my comissions but i don't doubt its there

just to add.. just check this link...
http://www.adult-empire.com/search.htm?q=furry
Its not done yet..

just to add.. just check this link...
http://www.adult-empire.com/search.htm?q=furry
Its not done yet..

blasted double post...

blasted double post...

YOU. ARE. FUCKING. AMAZING. Period. Thank you so much for posting this catalog, and letting so many artist know if their stuff has been stolen by these asshats. *goes to see if any of her pieces are up there, though she doubts it*

I'm all for non-commercial redistributing of artwork, but can't stand sites that make money off someone elses work >.> I seen several journals about such things and hope something can be done about these sites once and for all. Glad to hear things turned out better here.

I must not be good enough to steal from.