An interesting art theft situation

[arshes.livejournal.com]

Normally, I don't really bother with these kinds of situations because people cry about pose theft. However, this case struck me as a bit saddening, not just because this is an actual trace, but the lying afterwards.

Apparently some users discovered som startling similarities to two works and posted them on an image board. Since the artist of the second piece was rather known, to preserve the discovery a flash was made of this.

You can see it as it contains nudity: http://www.gpknow.com/nobuyuki/copypasta4.swf

I actually have a copy of the two images and did a bit of research using photoshop. The lines match up rather perfectly, so this isn't a case of copying, but actual tracing.

We were trying to discover the original artist of the Blue Scaley and this apparently belongs to Neolucky: http://neolucky.deviantart.com

The first image was done in the year 2004 as you can see in the following galleries (her sig was removed from the piece):

http://neomonsterisland.com/kgglry/heisei/crystal/crystalgallery.html
http://neomonsterisland.com/kgglry/heisei/crystal/crystal2004.jpg

Now what I find most depressing about this situation is that the person who traced this image was actually asked about the situation. He gave the following excuses.

1. The blue scaley was actually his and he copied over the older piece to create a girl version of his character
2. The original artist actually copied him, and created a false copyright date on top of it.

I just thought I'd bring it to people's attention because I found that the lie was rather damaging to the original artist, so I hope people can determine for themselves the truth of the situation.

Thanks for everyone's time.

Comments

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

art_theft would be a better community. This is sort of for business stuff. But thanks for the heads up.

[drake-anaya.livejournal.com]

"This community also accepts reports of art theft."

thx@u userinfo

Gee must have misread the profile information of this community?

[arshes.livejournal.com]

This community also accepts reports of art theft. If you find art theft, it will be GREATLY encouraged to post the link and the artists' stolen works.


But thanks for the heads up, I'll try to read better next time. ;)

Re: Gee must have misread the profile information of this community?

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

No its ok. I suppose I should have read the info better.
I was just pointing you to a community that seems more of these type posts. Good luck to you all the same.

[drake-anaya.livejournal.com]

Also this post addresses that the theft in question is threatening Neolucky's image, and that's more or less relevant to this community.

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

I wasn't saying it wasn't good for the community, I was simply pointing her to a community that deals with this sort of stuff more often, and where her message might have an ever greater impact.

[filthy-animal.livejournal.com]

Dark Nek0gami drew that forever ago. I have it saved along with LOTS of his work, which definately carries it's own weight in skill. I highly doubt DN traced this person's picture.

[arshes.livejournal.com]

Do an overlay in photoshop of both images.

Also copyright date says 2005 on the later work.

[filthy-animal.livejournal.com]

*points to the below comment*

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Forever ago meaning 2005 when it was marked and copyrighted I would assume. It's *incredibly* close to the original image, which was drawn early 2004. I'm sure he has his own skill, but when confronted, he claimed and lied, that he owned the original. Which I can assure you, he does not.

[filthy-animal.livejournal.com]

Wait, you guys are saying Dark Nek0gami traced Neolucky's picture?

I was given the impression this person traced Dark Nek0gami's image by what you were providing us. Neolucky's image looks a bit sloppy to me, honestly.

[nullenigma.livejournal.com]

Read the original post carefully.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

Well thank you =p.

It is sloppy, it's a sketch, not a cleaned up lineart. It's also what the Comission-client *wanted*.

I was new with a tablet in 2004, the tablet itself was only 4x5, not only that but I had Painter 7 at the time. The image was colored in Adobe Photodelux 2.0, an old, OLD program mind you. If you take a browse through my art site you will see the rest of my style, and how I've improved. it's been 2 and a half years SINCE that original image, remember that.

[filthy-animal.livejournal.com]

EEP! My apologies, I didn't realise while commenting that I was RESPONDING to the artist in question. :x I didn't mean to offend. I should have used "sketchy" instead of "sloppy", as I was comparing the lines outlining the characters (the sketchiness to complete lineart), not the quality of the complete work.

When reading the above post I thought it was in his defense since your name was mentioned many times while his wasn't brought up once. I should have read a little closer.

Again, I apologise for my big mouth.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

It's okay! very understandable. This stuff gets confusing to me as well. And you can say your mind, thats the beauty of these things, everyone has an opinion, and it's something I respect above all else. I didn't wanna sound defensive at all by the way! I'm totaly open to answer any questions or skeptecism people may have over the issue at hand.

I'm assuming his name wasn't brought up since the flash displays it pretty clearly.

[filthy-animal.livejournal.com]

Hey that's cool, I have way more respect for artists that behave calmly to opinions than the ones that lose their mind at any lack of praise. XD It is good though, don't get me wrong. I shouldn't of judged based on mediums/techniques used and opened my mouth like that while comparing, though :x

And yeah, I'm guessing the same. Usually the "theft"'s name is posted in the threads at least once XD

[gamzee.livejournal.com]

I'm familiar with both your work and Nek0gami's, and it really doesn't look like the other stuff he's drawn, while it shows great resemblance to what I've seen in your deviantART gallery.

It's really sad to see that they're trying to damage your name with such a thing \: I love your work and this saddens me.

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

Hey another cool sangluna icon :)

Wow Turkey. That's very interesting.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

I see these icons all the time. :P They're so awesome.

[marirosa.livejournal.com]

04 to 05. I see. No surprise there, it's like blatently obvious! Even the face is almost the same. LOL THE MUSIC!!! XD

[arshes.livejournal.com]

http://www.anime.net/~arshesnei/oops/neopwnsnek0.jpg