Please feel free to look about and even link back if you feel this has been useful.

I don't spend as much time on Neopets as I once have. I have started playing World of Warcraft, and my husband has been restationed so been busy moving to a new state. I can, however, can still be contacted at StolenArt. If you have any questions or comments feel free to neomail me. It may, however, be a few days before I respond.

As of right now I am working on setting up the pages with a new design. I am wanting to get all the links correctly linked. Make sure nothing goes to old pets. Give me some time to get this all up and running. Shouldn't be too much longer.

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Stolen Art (sto·len ärt) - is something [Art] that is used by someone other than the original artist and the proper credit is not given to the original artist or claiming it as their own. It can also be something [Art] that is being used without permission of the owner.

Plagiarism (pla·ger·is·um) - Is taking of someone's writings and not giving the proper credit to the original writer or claiming it as one's own. This also includes rewarding or paraphrasing.

Art (ärt) - This is a broad subject. So, I am just going to consider inside Neopets. Thing that are considered are drawings, graphics (blinkies, sparklies, alterations of Neopets' graphics, backgrounds, etc), writings (stories, poems, walk throughs, etc), layouts and HTML/CSS coding, and music.

Copyright (cop·e·rit) - 'A legal device giving the right to control (to the original creator or copyright holder) how their original work is used. Copyright protection begins automatically upon the fixing of an original work or creation to a tangible medium (per the Copyright Act of 1976 effective in 1978)' (1).

Poor Man's Copyright (pur mans cop·e·rit) - This is when you take a copy of your work (or rough drafts) put them in an envelopr, and mail it to yourself. Leave it unopened. This gives you a legit post date. However, this isn't as good in legal matters as the government copyright so I suggest doing this with your roughs and then going on a copyrighting you final piece through like the government.

Trademark (trad·mark) - 'Protects product names, service names and the associated slogans or advertising copy. It can consist of a word, phrase, logo or other graphic symbol. Titles, character names or distinctive features used with multimedia can also be trademarked' (1).

Direct Linking (di·rect link·ing) - Using a graphic, music, etc not on your own server or host (with out permission). This is right clicking on an image finding the URL and using it. This is illegal because it is bandwidth theft.

Infringement (in·fringa·ment) - 'All of the work is exactly copied or reproduced. Part of the work is copied or reproduced, Reworking (or paraphrasing), Copying the TOTAL concept, feel or essence of a work' (1).

Music Code (mus·ik kod) - Often called codes. These refer to premade HTML code that can be copy and pasted into people's lookup, petpages, shops, etc. Music is often direct linked this way. Usually from Walmart.com.

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Sometimes people are unsure what is actually considered stolen. There is tons more specific rules for legal purposes, but I just going to cover the terms considered on Neopets.

Hi, TNT. Okay, let's say someone once posted a story on the writer's board to let someone rate it. Then, in the next Neopian Times issue, someone ELSE had written the story and it was published! The true owner neomailed that person saying that they copied their story, but the stealer said if you posted a story on the boards ANYONE can take it. My question is, is this reportable as stealing? It's sort of like stealing an art picture, and I really want to know if it's safe to post a story/poem on the boards to let someone rate it. Please answer my question.^^ (and can you take my username out if this question is published? Please and thank you^^) ~anonymous

Not only is it reportable, but the person that has stolen the writing will very likely be frozen. Stealing someone else's work, whether it's art, writing, or even coding, is NOT allowed. We encourage people NOT to post their writings online before submitting it to us for this very reason, but that does not mean it's okay for someone to steal it and use it as their own once it's posted publicly.

• A piece of art that you alter and claim as your own. Altering can be anything as changing color or adding/subtracting parts of it. This does include layouts. If you change the background and graphics you still need to give credit because the layout is NOT yours.



BC image (stolen)

Original by Angela Chang




• A piece of art that you redraw and claim as your own. This is if you totally redraw it, but it is still the basic 'idea' of the original drawing. 'How the fact, concept and/or idea is expressed via tangible creation is protected' (1).



Redrawn," stolen image found by xx_equinox_xx. person was contacted and claimed the drawing was their idea.

Original," by akelatakawolf. Image has been shrunk down from origianl size for faster loading.





• A piece of art that is designed by someone else that you don't credit them. Always put there name or link back to them. If you need to move their name you MUST put it somewhere near by the piece. Best bet don't mess with the name at all :)



Stolen Adoptable," where both name a link back has been removed.

Original," by xx_equinox_xx. Will be correcting the link to the proper adoptables as soon as I get the link from xx_equinox_xx.


Usually terms and conditions are found with adoptables. These are what you must do in order to use them. Usually you are required to not alter them, remove the artist's signature, to link back to their pet page, and not to enter them in contests. Many times you do not have permission to use some adoptables even if you link back, and give credit. This is usually with customes, and then only they have permission.

Example T&C," showing that people do request you give permission. Some have more detailed rules you are required to follow.

Note: I was given permission by xx_equinox_xx to use the adoptables for this example on this page. Thank you.


• Tips/Payment for Neopets related art is against the Neopets T&C. Noted in Neopian Times Issue 250:

  Hey TNT. I just had a question about art requests. Is it okay for someone to draw art for other people? Also, is it okay if the artist asks for a tip? The artists would be in no way DEMANDING a tip; they would still be giving the art to the person. Like, if the person who was being drawn for said no, it would be perfectly, 100% FINE. This topic is a little cloudy to me, so would you mind clearing it up? Thanks. ? ~random_item_giver

Yes, anyone may draw art as a gift for another person. :) But, there are a few rules. That art may not be submitted for ANY spotlight or site competition by the person who received the art, regardless if the artist has given permission. All art submitted MUST be your own work and not someone else's. An artist may NOT request or accept a payment, tip, or "gift" in exchange for their artwork, and those seeking artwork may not offer payment, tips, or "gifts" for the service either. No profit can be made on any service like this, whether it be art trades, graphic or lookup making, avatar item lending, etc.

Another thing that is considered thief is the use of the Neopets images or idea of pets for profit. In other words you can't sell you drawing of your pet Wocky even if you did draw it all from your imagination. You are taking the Neopets 'idea'. TNT answers a similar question of this issue in the Neopian Times issue 250:

Hi TNT. I saw people selling prints of Neopets (on an art site), and I was wondering if it's allowed. Can you please answer this question, and if you will, please remove my username. ~anonymous

No, this is not allowed, as it violates our copyright. You may draw all the fan art you wish, but the copyright on the characters remains ours not matter who drew them and you may not profit off our characters.

• Rewording something someone has already written, and not giving credit to your source. This can get you kicked out of college and can get you into deep trouble in school... it's no different here.
  
  
• Music that someone has bought, ripped, and uploaded or bought and downloaded for their own use. This is stealing! You didn't buy it. Also redistributing copyrighted music in MP3, Midi, wav, or any other format is copyright infringement. You pay for your use of it not anyone else to use it.

  There are many places on Neopets that have 'music codes'. Unless it is their music they created, and is hosting on their own host they [MP3's, Midi's, Wav's] are illegal for others to use.If you turn a GreenDay song into a midi it is still not your's to distribute. Only the person who paid for the music can use them on their lookup/petpage/shop.

  Neopets has recently removed the ability to use most music coding. Many say there is a new code that can be used.

Music codes," look very similar to this. If you use these and they are not that person origianl music and hosted on their own space/server, it is illegal.



• Also direct linking, unless the artist says you can. You are stealing the bandwidth which artist might end up paying out more for going over their given bandwidth, and that is stealing. If the artist doesn't want you to direct link from them, but is allowing you to use their work, you will need to find you own hosting service like photobucket.com.



Microsoft Property Window," is where you can find a lot of information about the image. This can be useful when you got to find the link for avatars.

Mac Property Window," looks similar to Windows, but has much of the same required information.


This tells you all the information about an image. This is where you can get the URL of where an image is being hosted. When people say 'host' they mean where is the imaged saved to on the net that you link it from. You can get the image's format which is usually gif, jpg, jpeg, bmp, swf, png. It may also tell you the image file size.


Many people on Neopets also believe in name steal. Although you cannot copyright a name. 'Names, titles, slogans and short phrases are not protected by copyright law but may be protected under trademark, tradename or slogan mark laws' (1). It is on Neopets, however, found in poor taste to 'copy' very unique names by adding _ , numbers, or altering spelling slightly. Take Cheshire (the smiling cat from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.) I use this because it isn't unique, but is very popular.
• Cheshire
• CheshireCat
• CheshireKat
• Cheshire_Cat
• Cheshire_Kat
• _Cheshire_
• _Cheshire_Cat_
• _Cheshire_Kat_

Not to mention all the different spelling of Cheshire

Note: these screenshots are to show that the alteration of a name does happen on Neopets. There is no intention of any type of harassment. I am NOT claiming any of these Users are name stealers.

Alteration of Name," are very similar to the above name.

• Unique creation using coding. However, it is very limited to what is considered protected due to the facts there are only so many ways you can do things in coding.
  
  Newly note in Neopian Times Issue 227 a question about 'stealing' of user lookups was brought up.

  If someone steals your user lookup, you're able to report them because they stole your hard work. Well, people spend a lot of time to learn CSS and HTML to code their lookup and make it look nice. Then some selfish people go to their lookup, like the coding, take it, and never get punished for it. It isn't fair that someone gets their lookup coding stolen and the thief never gets in trouble for it. ~0bsidianbutterfly

  This is a tricky subject. :) Code itself cannot be claimed as your own. However, if someone blatantly steals any of your artwork or exact coding without your permission or credit, or even if they have credited you and you have contacted them making it clear they do not have your permission to use it, and it's obvious that it's your creation, you can report them. Blatant theft of this sort is not allowed on Neopets.

  Apparently people are still having issues understanding that code stealing is stealing. You can change the images, but the code is still the orginal artist's. Now one of the best ways to learn coding is to 'take apart' other's coding rewrite, change, alter, add to, take away from the original code to make a totally new coding for a lookup. TNT explains the differences between then and which is and isn't allowed in the Neopian Times issue 250:

  There seems to be a debate going on in the chat boards about whether or not Lookup code "stealing" is a warnable or freezable offence. So could you clear this up once and for all? Can you be frozen for taking someone's coding (but using your own graphics)? What if it's only basic coding? Or if someone uses someone else's coding to get the basics down and then changes it to their liking? Please clear this up so we know. Thanks. ~psychokittie25

  As most people are aware, stealing someone else's content is NOT allowed, and this is no different with code and layouts. There is a big difference between breaking apart another user's code to learn new things and then coding that yourself for your lookup and blatantly stealing that stealing that code and replacing the graphics. The former is fine. The latter is not. If you feel your code has been stolen, report it using the theft form and someone will look into the matter and determine if it really is theft. There are many different ways to code the same thing, and two people can come up with similar ideas, but it's quite obvious when one person has outright stolen from another.

• Posting someone's pet that is not up for adoption in your adoption agency is not only rude, but can lead to harrassment of the real owner making this reportable. This isn't really art thief, but is still a thief. It is inconsiderate and rude. This just recently happened to me. Someone put WhatIsStolenArt up for adoption in their agency. After some neomails I reported it to TNT and neomailed the owner of the agency that What has NEVER and will NEVER be up for adoption. What was removed from th agency by the next day... but I got screen shots.

I made it into the Neopian Times issue 244 with my question on this.

I recently received a Neomail asking if my Main pet, WhatISStolenArt, was still up for adoption. The person had found my pet in an adoption agency on someone's pet page. I have never had or ever planned on having WhatIsStolenArt up for adoption. So I checked out the page. Sure enough there was MY pet up for adoption with a link to MY neomail. I check around the agency's site and found that the guild was give 2K NPs for people who gave them abandoned or unwanted pets. Now I know paying for that is against rules, but is posting someone's pet who isn't up for adoption without the permission against rules?~ stolenart

Well, here's an interesting question. While the paying part is, as you stated, clearly against the rules, there is no specific rule for your other concern. However, if this happens, we suggest neomailing the person that is making these claims and politely asking them to stop. (You don't know their side of the story and it may just be a misunderstanding.) If - after you do this - they refuse or ignore you for more than several days, please report the person and the monitors will look into it and handle the situation.

I feel TNT is letting the people posting these pets off with a slap on the wrist. If you are going to post people's pets in your adoption agency you should Neomail them on the account that the pet is on and ask if in fact the pet is up for adoption. It should be their responcibility.

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Beauty Contest

The Beauty Contest starts on Friday around 4:15 PM NST. This contest does allow CAP entries (Copy and Paste), but are not liked by people who enter pices they spent hours working on. These are voted on by fellow players.

• Draw a picture of your Neopet looking its best. You can download one of your pet's images from the site [Neopets]and alter it or start from scratch. Please make sure its your original work and not a copy of somebody else's picture.
• All contestants must submit their own work and it must be Neopets related. You may not enter anyone elses work with or without their permission. If you do, your entry will be disqualified.
• You may not sell your artwork for Neopoints or any other form of compensation.

Art Gallery

The Art Gallery is a collection of hand drawn pictures from players. Entries have to be original and cannot be CAP drawings. These are chosen by the TNT.

• The picture must be your own creation. Copyrighted images or pictures just taken off the Neopets site will not be accepted. If you send in someone elses picture and claim it is your own, your account WILL be frozen!
• It must be 100% your own work, adapting an existing picture is not acceptable.
• Pretending someone else's picture is your own will get your account frozen.
• Your picture cannot have any copyright or trademark symbols on it. Having your username is fine, but it cannot be copyrighted.

Spotlights

There are seven Spotlights, but four that requires a mast majority of the entry to be original work to the artist and have a majority trouble with art thieves. These Spotlights are User Lookup Spotlight, Pet Spotlight, Petpet Spotlight, Site Spotlight.

• All written submissions must be 100% your own work, we do not tolerate plagiarism.
• Pretending someone else's picture is your own will get your account frozen.
• Your picture cannot have any copyright or trademark symbols. It is fine to include your username, but do not include any trademark or copyright symbols.

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<a href="www.neopets.com/~whatisstolenart"><img src=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/stolenart/button_01.gif></a>

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