Reminder to new patrons
Added 2017-11-16 04:47:07 +0000 UTCHi everyone~
Today another artist let me know that an account that recently subscribed to me was associated with a site that accumulates and resells Patreon content from multiple creators; the site's justification for this is that someone did subscribe and pay the creator, so it's within their rights to do as they please with it.
If any of you are here to do this, please don't. You might have some reasoning to justify that it's fair and doesn't harm the artists, but it really does. A site like this not only makes more money off of the work than the artist (by design, otherwise how would they stay in business if 100% profit went to the artists), they also tend to mark the work as theirs in order to legitimize themselves as a business, which has the added effect of claiming the work as theirs and removing the original artist from the work. Nothing about the situation is right or helpful for the original artists.
Personally, I release most of my works for free eventually, so taking them to post on other sites is just kind of silly. The main harm of it is that I watermark my public images more heavily, and the only reason I don't have to watermark the works on here as heavily as public ones is because I trust all of you to only save them for yourselves and to not allow them to leak to the broader internet. I've considered myself very extremely lucky to have such an amazing group of people subscribing to my work, who appreciate what I do enough to help me protect my work and my livelihood. It was a real shock to discover someone had found and pledged to me who didn't feel that way.
I also have an agreement that This Vacant Body will not be posted anywhere other than Patreon, so it would be incredibly hurtful to me if someone were posting it somewhere else. People can make a reasonable argument about the rights that creators hold over fanworks, but two out of three of my current longer works are original, and so there is nothing that will justify their reposting to me.
I know I must sound like a broken record, most of you have heard some of this before, and most of you probably think it's common sense, but just in case there is even one of you who might be considering selling my work, or have even just considered posting my Patreon pics on other sites just to share, I wanted to write this.
If you do disagree with me or my reasoning, I think it's fine for you to disagree. Just please show this by choosing not to support me, and not viewing my work.
Comments
WHAT! That's such complete bullshit, supporting an artist on Patreon =/= rights to distribute and sell their work for profit?? It destroys the whole concept of supporting an artist! I'm so sorry this is happening to you and other artists!
HamletMachine
2017-11-18 17:55:25 +0000 UTCI'm nervous to share it right now in case the situation escalates, since currently it could be a lot worse. I will definitely share it in the future if it does become a more serious problem though.
Reapersun
2017-11-16 20:04:57 +0000 UTCThank you so much :))
Reapersun
2017-11-16 19:16:54 +0000 UTCI know it's not confortale for you but please, tell us the name of this site as I don't want to unknowingly support that company who profits stealing your (and others) work. I love your work and want you to keep going!
Leonace
2017-11-16 15:52:25 +0000 UTCWhat the ever loving fuck? I'm so sorry this happened to you. People are atrocious sometime.
Holly
2017-11-16 12:28:32 +0000 UTCThat is a truly ArseHatty thing to do. I’m sorry that you’ve got to deal with people like them. * Hugs*
Christine Tweddle
2017-11-16 10:02:09 +0000 UTCUrgh it seems like every day you find more reason to believe humanity sucks. I'm sorry this has happened, and it can really mean your system is ruined for everyone, as like you said, This Vacant Body can only be posted here, so if its distributed everywhere it may mean you won't be able to continue posting it here for everyone... it just sucks people feel they're entitled to behave this way. They have no morals.
Evelyn Maire
2017-11-16 09:14:46 +0000 UTCThat's horrendous, I'm so sorry
Ratticuss
2017-11-16 08:16:36 +0000 UTCFirst forgive me for my English is bad. I'm from Barcelona and for many years I've been following your art for tumblr. For many months I have had a stable job and finally decided to enter Patreon and pay to see your art. I will not lie to you if I spend two days watching all your patreon and enjoying as if I were a 15 year old teenager (I have 29 X-x). With this I mean that in my case and I see that the many here value and take care of your art and that we support you in what you do. In my case I will continue with your patreon and I hope some day to buy some of your art. Ty
2017-11-16 07:49:57 +0000 UTCThanks~ I did get a name and I've blocked them, but hopefully they don't have more accounts they can use. It sucks because it's a non-US site, which means it likely won't be going away easily, so all many artists can do is keep their heads down and try to block the people that are doing it. Hopefully that person will eventually recognize that they are hurting the artists, but it's more likely they just saw an opportunity to make money...
Reapersun
2017-11-16 05:35:18 +0000 UTCThank you :)
Reapersun
2017-11-16 05:29:25 +0000 UTCYeah, the backflips in logic they're doing to justify it are crazy; I can kind of understand how someone could genuinely misunderstand the ethics of reposting patreon works to other sites, but reselling it? Hopefully it just won't be worth it to them to keep coming back and taking my stuff, since most of it's pretty niche.
Reapersun
2017-11-16 05:26:53 +0000 UTCI blocked that particular person, although they could come back on a new account with a new payment method, I think. Unfortunately Patreon is a bit flawed in that respect :(
Reapersun
2017-11-16 05:23:43 +0000 UTCI’m so sorry someone is doing this, I think it’s very obvious to the average decent person how disrespectful and wrong this is. I can’t believe the entitlement some have especially over others content/art. Hopefully they’ll do the right thing (for once) and quit being a patron or at the very least you’ll be able to find out who it is and block them. :(
2017-11-16 05:13:59 +0000 UTCAs an artist, who has had work stolen, I understand how you feel. It's appalling and wrong that people do not respect artists and that some go so far as to profit off of others' work. I hope that this situation works out without heartache on your part. It's the worst feeling and a violation. I'm sorry that you, or any artist, has to deal with this kind of situation. *hugs* If you ever need to vent, please feel free to message me.
Kelly Huffine
2017-11-16 05:09:04 +0000 UTCThat's so damn rude and selfish on multiple levels and ways. Are you able to ban them outright from your content at least?
Trythisoutchiki
2017-11-16 05:07:22 +0000 UTCThere is an awful lot of this kind of poaching going on. It infuriates me that these parasites make money while artists struggle.
Deb Walsh
2017-11-16 05:02:08 +0000 UTCI can’t understand how someone can go by that reasoning. The whole “I pledged so I can do what I want with your work regardless of the artists’ feelings” is some bullshit. I love your work and it sucks to hear that things like this are happening.
2017-11-16 04:54:01 +0000 UTCI don't understand how someone can think it is ok to take money for work that isn't theirs. I mean it's not like they purchased a book then sold it in a garage sale. It's more like they purchased a book then copied it and started selling the copies. I am sorry this has happened to you it's fucked up and I hope it doesn't happen again.
Eddie Fly
2017-11-16 04:52:19 +0000 UTCwtf is wrong with people... the entitlement of some folks *shakes head*
Laura Stewart
2017-11-16 04:51:43 +0000 UTCThose asshats. Sorry this is happening and I hope those who do it get an really bad itch in the bottom of their foot while they’re driving.
2017-11-16 04:50:31 +0000 UTCYooooo that's super messed up D: I'm sorry that you're going through this.
Ru Kaye
2017-11-16 04:48:54 +0000 UTC
