For most of you, you've probably realized that I have been adding watermarks to all of my artwork, as of late. Its unfortunate, but my work has ended up in the oddest places without a link back to my website or to DA.
Some people have taken it upon themselves to just click and copy anything they see without regard for giving the artist credit after they re-post it in a blog, a favorite arts page, or when manipulated and used for their own personal items (i.e.- banners, avatars, gifs, backgrounds, flyers,...etc.)
Mind you, I have known about other artists who had these issues happening for quite some time, but I never thought that 'my' work would be considered so highly sought as to even worry about it. Well, I guess things have changed because some people have wanted to start ripping my work. Does that mean that I have reached some level of artistic success once people start ripping me? LOL
Either way, I have done some of the infiltrating by doing a Google search of my name, alias, trade name, etc. and then clicking on IMAGES. Low and behold, there pops up little thumbs of my work and links to the sites they are on. I check to see if they have the correct link back to my website or DA page...but, no. So, I am subjected to fill out notices and forms with the admin of the servers and request the images be removed or the user add a link and be warned not to do it again without permission.
Does this stop them? No! Does it make them apologize and hope to not have their website shut down? No! So, what does it take to make them stop doing this?
Watermarks. I know that they really start to look gaudy and unnecessary at times, but hey, its all for the purpose of insuring my work, to a degree. I don't like doing it and I know that I hate seeing others work stamped with them all over it, but that's what happens once you've been ripped.
Peace.