Reported

Thank you so very much sweetie, it means the world to me!

I've been trying to use the form all evening I get a stupid error saying it can't be submitted at this time. Etc. Etc. As for the art itself, it's a weird limbo thing, I can't actually file copyright claims on any of the art of me because I'm not the actual artist of it. It's a weird grey area. It's frustrating. Thank you so much for the reporting tho!

actually ithat character is intellectual property, whether you made the art or not, she is yours. She is YOU. They cannot ignore you. That is a civil rights and Federal Law Violation, allowing someone to commit Identity theft could escalate this is two ways. You should go ahead and use this link: https://www.bbb.org/ to get them to intervene. be polite and read everything thoroughly. I got help from them and you can too. places that don't meet the bar, get slapped with reports of bad business practices and so much more.they are not helping you like they should have and might have to be sent a message by THE MAN

Unfortunately not, unless Mihari trademarked her fursona, she has no legal intellectual property rights. All she can do is file a complaint about being impersonated.

i'm not here to argue with some know-it-all about things on a journal that is not theirs.

I'm just telling you how the law works and what those kinds of sites expect with an infringement claim. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

That escalated quickly, lol...

These sorts of issues are a huge pain in the ass if you actually pay attention to them. I've had it happen to me a couple times now, and the only thing I've been able to do is wait for them to lose interest, as that always happens.

RIGHT, that was so unnecessary lmao.

But yeah, it's a huge pain in the ass because you have to prove you're the original and genuine article and it can be frustrating to deal with.

I tried on twitter once, the thief said some dumb shit to me (don't really remember details) and twitter themselves wanted a huge list of proofs that I was the owner of the artworks.

yeeeeeeeaaaaaaah I don't trust the BBB. And here's why

https://gyazo.com/9d4914d8cf60449bff18a284934b3e8c

and its people like you lot that make me not want to try helping others. thanks. now i'm going to log off and berate myself again and hope i drown in my complicated grief. I hope you're happy!

Reporting "furry issues" on a non-furry site like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. can be very infuriating since they don't understand what fursonas/characters are.

Oh, I'm well aware.

What's worse about all of this, is just how obvious it is that it's a fake from the boasting and bragging in combination with needing to exclaim how they are official, anyone who has actually followed you on FA for long enough, or the katbox, or anywhere else, would know better.

i feel stupid asking you this, but have you tried reporting both an Impersonation AND an Intellectual Property theft, linking back to Instagram a copy of your legal ID, your FA account, AND your email address?

Those three things they can investigate, by tracing the accused's email and finding this person is a fraud, if met with further hostitily, contact the Better Business Bureau website, they can mediate and demand a response from the owners of instagram, and if they don't respond in a certain amount of time, they will get slapped with more than a fine, according to U.S. Federal Laws stated on the BBB Website.

I spent most of the evening hitting my head against the stupid forms trying to get them to submit and constantly getting an error. I'll try the form tomorrow and see if I can get anywhere. Never dealt with the BBB before, seems like so much work over something that really should be easy. T_T

they deal with businesses, but if they don't work you might check where instagram's head offices are and report them to law enforcement as this does classify as identity theft in a way, as well as copyright infringement.

I have reported her. All art except the profile picture has been taken down.

Wait never mind

Reported.

Thank you.

That's not going to do any good. Instagram only allows you or people you personally authorize to report accounts. Asking a bunch of random people to report someone could end up getting you reported for harassment. ViverViperi's suggestions above are the best way to deal with the issue.

You make a valid point, I have been trying to fill the impersonation form for a greater part of the evening, and every time I try to submit I get an error, I'll try again tomorrow.

I have posted on Instagrams Twitter page about the account, also https://help.instagram.com/53550307.....72161259539444 use that link with this link https://help.instagram.com/446663175382270 as the first one is Intellectual Property and the second one is Impersonation Accounts. you will be able to contact Instagram with those and explain clearly and calmly what the problem is and they should be able to deal with it. Also include artwork of your character along with the date it was finished as the person that has posted those images can be done in for stealing other peoples artwork and calming it as their own as they are going to have try and draw the same character to prove that they did the artwork themselves and if they can't draw the character in question they lose everything.

I hope my findings are of help to you in this

Thank you for the info, I'll try the form again tomorrow, as I did try to submit the impersonation one quite a few times with no luck at all.

*nods* ok and your most welcome

The fact that they have more followers than your actual Instagram account and have the audacity to act like they're the real you ON TOP OF getting you banned honestly sickens me...
I tried to follow the steps to contact IG but they said the person being impersonated has to contact them directly... this is so stupid, and as I read in your replies above it seems like you've been having no luck with it at all.

I'll see if I can try again later, but I hope they get their comeuppance in the end.

Thanks hun, I do appreciate it!

Anytime, hon~ *Hugs*

This type of shit really gets me mad, so I hope it does work out in your favor!

reported them and linked them back to this journal

as well as the fact that this journal does state a personal authorization to report the account

Thanks sweetie!

dont need to thank me, I would want others to help me if someone stole one of my characters all the same.

I don't... I mean... wait... wha- why?
I... I really just don't get some people.

I'll never understand it either, why can't people just come up with their own thing, there is so many creative elements out there to quickly and easily help someone new create a character all their own.

Oh gosh it's some of the most fun I've ever had, coming up with a character. I worry they took such a terrible idea of "I can't draw to get my idea out so I'll just do this instead" Guh.....

Some people are jealous. They want attention, but they don't have skills to draw art or anything.
Despair pushes them for actions like that. But it doesn't gives them right to do this and it won't change anything with their art skill.
I don't think we should hate them as far as we can understand the reason, it feels more like a pity. Let's take a look from another side - I see every good person or artist almost always gets problem like that. That means you're really good one.

Yah, I always approach each person kindly and calmly and asking they please stop. It rarely works, and I usually get blocked, but tho that do surprise and listen I often try to help find resources or inspire to get something for themselves. This person tho, they'd delete messages to cover up those against them, block them as well, publicly proclaimed I was the fake one, at that point, I was like.... NOPE!

erf... I don't have an Instagram. Would report if I did though. Anything for the bestest cute cheetah.

On another note, I really hate people who copycat or try to be someone they're not. One day there may come a time where if you were ever impersonating someone on the internet, it'll come back and bite them in the ass; and not in the fun way.

I reported, explaining the situation... if the staff finds the same explanation many times, they might understand there's something wrong in that account. Let's hope for good!

Stay strong, we'll win! ;)

I reported, explaining the situation... if the staff finds the same explanation many times, they might understand there's something wrong in that account. Let's hope for good!

Stay strong, we'll win! ;)

Well, I made an instagram and reported... although I don't know how much help it will be, because they have it set up very stupidly... Only the person being impersonated can contact them about it, but you've been banned from doing so (I think... no clue how instagram works really ><; )...

Either way, I hope this gets resolved for you. I've had someone (indirectly) impersonate me before... They were jealous of my and my friends sonas, and took it upon himself to steal a bunch of my work and say t was for him. Not only that, but he also said that I didn't have an account, and he was letting me use his, and speaking for me through it... While at the same time trying to be my friend on another account. Needless to say, I eventually found out and scared the crap out of him (with getting him banned) so it doesn't happen again. Now he's actually becoming a pretty good artist himself, and hasn't stolen anything since.

Someone else did once steal my fursona and claim that, since they drew it, it was theirs. I called them out on it and reported them (they did draw my char. themselves, but also stole artwork)... Then afterward, they continued using my sona... So I even offered to help her make her own character, and she blocked me. But then she got called out by everyone for stealing artwork from various people aaaand is no longer on deviantart.

So... that being said, there is a good chance that everything will be resolved for you; and I really hope it does...
It always sucks to go through all this mess when people pull crap like this. <X/

JUST REPORTED THEM SO HARD oOo!!!!

I've had people use my art on F-list before which bothered me a lot. But I will honestly never understand the people who steal art AND use the name of the person their stealing from. If you really like someone's art and steal it maybe I can understand that even if I don't approve. But taking the name and art is straight up pretending to be that person. :c

Can you not copyright your character? I swear to god that some have done it.

The only company to have ever gotten a copyright for characters was Disney, and they're about to lose that due to the time limit running out. The usual method is trademarking, but that requires paying and filing at a trademark office and also proving the character represents a business or entity, which is much more difficult.

Best course of action is to contact all artists who drew work featured, since they have legal copyright over it. I filed a copyright infringement case for the one pic by me and that popped up on there.

No, but she could trademark the name Mihari. The problem there is that it costs money and you then pretty much have to legally engage anyone who tries to use it. The easiest thing to do would be to gather together the documents that establish the chain of ownership for each image the offending account is using and demand a takedown for each. There are ways to make that easier, legally speaking, but I'm not really in a position to give specific advice on that. She could also see if any of the original artists have any of these images on their own instagram accounts and ask them to file a report.

No cheetah stands alone! Reported.

Don't worry, assholes like this will get what's coming to them. I don't understand people who do this

linked me to this journal and the account, I filed a copyright infringement case for the work me and Ajna did that popped up on there. I didn't see any other ones by me that I could report (but I also really don't know how to work Instagram).

I also advise contacting other artists to get it pulled. Even if you can't get the impersonator removed for whatever reason, if you remove their ability to repost the work of your character, that should neuter them sufficiently.

Thank you Bourbon, I appreciate it, and I plan too, it was just late last night when I finally had enough. X3

I hope you can get it taken care of, it's really not cool that someone's impersonating you and managed to get an "official account" tag.

Just letting you know I got a response already and our collab was pulled! So other artists should have an easy time getting the rest taken down.

I would if I had an account. :(
Sorry you gotta put up with that :/

Characters can be stolen as easily as the art, music, or writing associated with it. Unless proper legal protection has been made, you have little recourse other than to complain to the admin. But in the mention of Trademark, since Mihari's likeness IS used for Katbox, a legitimate business, you should have more than grounds to register a proper trademark and that would settle everything. *^^*

Account reported!
Sorry this had to happen to you *hugs*

I went ahead and reported it too since I'm on Instagram.

Sadly, this probably won't do that much good as this is probably the 5th account that has in fact done this on Instagram. You'd actually be surprised with the rise of impostor accounts on Instagram, especially that of several well known artists like Mastergodai, ABD, Scorp, Jay, and so many more. Every time I report them though, another two pop up to take its place.

Lol official acount XD

Consider yourself helped. I don't like ones attacked for no reason, especially for a crime. You have been wronged apparently and you did the right thing. I have found in my years of business, as long as you stick to the truth, and do a CYA (cover your ass) things will work out. You let those pile shit on you, all your going to get is even more shit piled on you.

Don't be a McFly, be a Cheetah, honey.

While I'm not sure if this is a valid alternative, you might want to consider filing a complaint with the FBI here at https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx as a last resort.

Also reported too.

I've never had a reason to get an instagram but this will probably be the best reason I'll ever get so I'm gonna go and try to not make too much noise over there...

not to be a debbie downer but having others report them really isn't going to do much because it is a case of identity/art theft. if there is active bullying/harassment then others reporting might work (i didnt read into the posts past the first couple so i dont know if there is bullying), but for the most part in cases like this you need to put in copyright claims that the art/character is yours, and fill out this form here (https://help.instagram.com/contact/.....ef=faq_content) for the impersonation aspect of it.

instagram is notoriously bad when it comes to giving a shit about content creators that arent gigantic on their platform. so unfortunately having other people report the person isnt going to do much because they are not legally obligated to do anything unless the person being impersonated or whos are was stolen files the reports.
just make sure to report every instance of stolen art and impersonation; if they ask for the posts containing the theft/impersonation include the link to every post they have made.

We all know the individual won't get away with it.
Of the people of Instagram are smart they will do something about this and ban the real faker..
All the art of your Character is dated and timed on here. How can they explain the faker explain that?
I agree this is an easy issue to fix, just the Instagram people are not doing anything that is frustrating the most..

You did the right thing.

I'm glad I'm leaving the fandom because of shit like this and worse. All the friends I've made and joy I was once able to feel, just is worthless now. Everyone's a piece of shit so what's the point of continued interaction when more and more popularity as I commission art, or God forbid start to draw and write, the fact it's going to become more and more of a haphazard burden just to keep going, means it's better to just leave now than wait down the road for some drama to make my followers feel pain too, so just alienate everyone now, cut them off now to spare them future pain.

May the rest of your time in the fandom be brighter than shit like this. You can handle it. I can't.

I tried reporting them but it wouldn't let me complete the report form as I'm not you, or authorized to represent you :(

I tried but they won't let a third party report unless they jump through impossible hoops and even then maybe not if they don't have one hell of a lot of info on you and are willing to give Instagram rights to their first born. I think it's going to have to be you only doing the reporting. Sorry.

I would but I don't use Instagram and apparently I would have to sign up for it before I can report them...

Hopefully they get banned though. *huggles* sorry for that happening to you. identity theft is the lowest of low.

I find that writing a PM full of lawyer sentences like "You shall cease and desist" and such usually scares people enough to stop, I've had to deal with 4 separate occasions of my partner's character getting stolen.

Plagiarism is not to be tolerated on all levels.

Instagram is not very helpful. It just tells me that only the person who is being impersonated can make a report, and that the only thing I can do is tell you that you're being impersonated!

Reported. And that really sucks, I hope justice kicks them in the ass.

Also what's sad is that the account is calling you fake. After fellow heros called them out. They said: "Guys she's fake, no one believe her that she's real and she's official". How low and stupid can a person get? Apparently an account that appeared in January 4 2018, calls a 2010 account fake... yup that's idiot logic for ya.

Went to report the account and it says account not found

Yep. I dont blame you Mihari. I do social media and inbound marketing work so I know that this is a livelihood. I'm currently working on a project that will hopefully take off in the next year or so Not furry related so Imma leave it off FA.

...Well, at least they have good taste, albeit a total lack of moral decency.

"use the people you're connected to"? Do you really make friends just to manipulate them for you're own gain and they're just utility to you?

Did you seriously necro over a 2 year old thread just point out something that was easily answered in the very next sentence of the journal? Networking is what it is, doesn't mean I only make friends for it. I even said I hate doing it. Geez...

I stumbled on discussions that leads me to think you're the kind of person who befriends people and artists for free art so I looked around to get a better idea of you for cautionary measures so here I am.