This is why I don't draw copy written characters as a rule. Period. Even if they were drawn in a context that was not adult or not porn.. the studios could go "Hey, he's drawing our characters without permission.. slap him with a lawsuit!" Now that would apply to commissions I guess and not doing them for free (which is what I do) but I really don't want to take that chance.

However, the thing that pisses me off about this whole situation is that he finds out about this and basically acts like a two year old. He FAILS to realize that if there is something that I like.. for example.. lets say a computer game. And I download this game and play it for awhile (a full copy) and I go , hey... I like this! You know what I do?

I BUY THE GAME!

THAT is only one of the ways that piracy works to give back to people. He could have had hundreds if not THOUSANDS of fans if this art pack was "illegally released" and each of those fans could have bought or commissioned stuff from him which would have lead to more profits!

But no, he decides to go the route of "It's my ball and I am going home because I don't like the way this is being played and I am going to be selfish with my talents". Okay, look. What are you? Two? No. You're an adult. Act like it. Have I pulled temper tantrums before? Of course! Have I ever said I was going to quit art? Sure. Have I ever taken down my entire gallery? NO. Because that only feeds into the idiot and proves them right.

But like I said, he's gone? Fine. Go. You'll be replaced by 10 people in a week and not missed at all. In fact if he come back (which he will because THIS is where his money is) he'll be like i'm sorry and blah blah blah.

And then it's too late.

Johnny

Well I'm not an artist, myself. Though basic people like me know copywrite infringment laws. Which is taking something that someone actually paid the money to get that physical copywrite paperwork and making money off of that thing, be it music, art, whatever that said other person made and copywritten. They can get sued, but the have to produce said copywritten paperwork or it's an open market on said thing that someone can statch away from the person that made it. What FR is doing is being a hyprocrit as I've agreed with people in the journal, cause I would have said he was being one myself, but usually I don't deal with drama like this, so I agreed with someone who first said he was being a hyprocrit and I put in my 2 cents. So basically he could get sued if Disney and all the other major companies of the characters that he drew if they found out and go after him went for copywrite infingement, since he sold that pack to make his own profit. Disney and those other companies don't give a shit if your poor and selling said art to make money to pay your bills. They'll just turn around and tell you to get a job. Also artist that do draw Rule 34 stuff. I don't think they'll get in trouble and sued if they draw it for free, not making a profit. Since if you could get sued for drawing a copywritten character, period. A lot of 6 year olds and that, that draw fan art of their fav chartoon char or movie char, would get sued and I don't see that happen, cause the major companies that own these characters don't give a shit about people drawing said characters, until someone is making money of off thier works. Then it get personal to them.

When it comes to Rule 34, it happens everywhere. Though I honestly don't think the major companies are going to complain, unless someone is doing Rule 34 for profit.

As for FR, he's going to be back. He's left the fandom before several times and has always come back, that and there are very rare cases when someone does a huge hissyfit of a leave and actually does not come back.

Also, FR is certainly showing he's very immature and screwing himself over by removing all his art. That never punishes the ones that pirated, all it does is punish all those that liked his art and cared about him...and just as I expected, looking at the journal...there's a good amount of people that now lost repsect for him.

I remember a couple journals back that Wookiee warned FR not to pack up and bail, epecially since he can still get a profit. With Wookiee, his art CD's have been pirated...and he's had people come up and say they saw the pirated version, and they liked it so much they bought the real thing.

When it comes down to it, pirating is also publicity. So when your art is spread about, people will see it and many will want to see the scource of it. However when you pull everything away, you have no more publicty...except very negative publicity which leads to no profit or respect at all.

basic concept

make somethign thats been made + sell = stealing

doing somethign done and for free + no profit = you can do it