New "free art" website

[shirikdraguinea.livejournal.com]

IMPORTANT EDIT
Just had this comment via FA from one of my watchers:
Major alert - shortly after following that link, my google account has been hijacked and has been mass spammng. I have d/c'ed from the internet (using phone atm), and am virus scanning. Be VERY careful, or avoid altogether.
If anyone thinks they got something nasty I'm really sorry - try running HouseCall ( http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ ) - its an online based virus scanner so it can't be affected by anything on your system. I had no negative consequences from visiting this website but some others have - if you have been affected I am incredibly sorry :(


A friend of mine recently alerted me to yet another art theft rich art site - Never To Much Yiff. You can see it advertised at the owners FurAffinity page and he states:

"You can download and archive of 11,745 sorted by artist. I am not selling it is free to download so enjoy and please donate 2$ every 5$ goes to animal shelter of my choice"
(I took some liberty with this quote... the typos on the picture made me cry).

So in a nutshell, this person Techie9098 is putting up work by other artists without permission, and charging "donation" for them. I haven't checked the artists affected by this though as it requires downloading a torrent with all of these files.

Just a heads up for people.

EDIT:

His main page has been replaced by a Caramelldansen video but the download link remains and the torrent is still on pirate bay.

Comments

[animehoneybee.livejournal.com]

I may only know you from words you've written through this community, but you don't strike me as the type to do something like that. I don't think it would help either, since you'd just be becoming the thing you're arguing against, no?

Now, up there I stated that I don't think people SHOULD go around doing this, in fact, I think they probably should not, and should find other ways to make money, but honestly, if I make a list of the pros and cons for the situation of YOU selling MY work, it doesn't come out as bad as all that. I'm not currently selling my work, so I'm literally not loosing money. I may not like that you did it without permission, but your lack of permission may very well result in either no detriment to me, or an increase in traffic, attention, comments, etc. It may even show me that people are willing to buy my stuff (I doubt it lol) and inspire me to start selling it myself. Why am I so wrong for just thinking about the issue in this way, instead of being cliche and getting up in arms and thinking that the law is the best protector of IP?

[animehoneybee.livejournal.com]

Where did I say that? I think the opposite is true.

My apologies if I made one spelling error in all the responses I've given tonight after a long day at work. I also don't know where you're getting that I ever said I was an expert. I am no expert. None at all. I just happen to read and study the subject both formally and informally and like to keep up with current events regarding IP.

The fact is, I know my views are complex, but I really am not saying it's okay, people shouldn't do it, but if they do, maybe we should consider each case individually and use different factors to determine what exactly makes it wrong, before we jump on the bandwagon. It's the bandwagon-ing and the use of law to enforce IP rights that worries me. Am I wrong to be worried?

[animehoneybee.livejournal.com]

"You are acting as though your opinions are fact, so I am going to assume that you fancy yourself an expert."

...by assuming such...don't you just make your opinions out to be fact, which you in the same breath accuse me of doing?

I agree with your last point. I think in this particular case, this person probably has wronged at least some of the artists who's work was posted. I just dislike it when people blindly say 'it's wrong' without really understanding why they think that. I also worry about the future of copyright and that things we enjoy today (like LJ icons) might be prohibited in the near future.

I am sorry this has gotten so out of hand. I'm not trying to make enemies. I rather like and respect the vast majority of people on this board. I am sorry if I've caused you or anyone else upset. I just don't think it's bad to have a different opinion. After all, if we have come this far and you've considered my words and I've still failed to convince you, then that just means that your own opinions have been further strengthened :)