I have created a program that can convert pixel art images into useful sprite sheets. Those arts are not free but i dont have possibility to pay for them. And my game wont be published to any online trade markets like steam. and will only have subscription support like for example patreon. Will I have any problems with this?
Is it ok to steal an pixel art?
- Thread starter zetsuboy
- Start date
- Jan 21, 2022
- 9,645
- 18,740
if you put them on a platform to earn money, if the copyright holders find out or someone reports you - the platform will investigate. If they find you are infringing on copyrights, they will remove your account.
Yes.
Not only can you account be removed.
Depending on how far the author of the art is willing to go.
He may press charges and take you to court for "damages & lost revenues etc"
So you may end up having to pay a hefty fine for breaking dmca etc laws + having to compensate the author.
Is it worth taking the chance ?
And then we have the moral part.
Dont try to earn money on other's work.
Use the work as a learning tool, use it as a resource for expanding your knowledge but dont use it in any public scenarios to make $..
Make your own art. or use AI to help with it or get a 2D artist involved who knows pixel art
Robin Hood disagrees
But yea i in general agree with this. there is a big difference between dl a pirated software from a big firm and stealing an artists work who just tries to getby.
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- Feb 9, 2018
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There is a huge difference between taking someone's stuff to make it part of your own or using a product without paying for it. While the latter is legally as bad as the former, it counts as a mild form compared to the former. Edit: This is how having drugs up to a certain amount is counted as 'for self-usage' while exceeding this qualifies as 'intend to distribute'.Robin Hood disagrees
But yea i in general agree with this. there is a big difference between dl a pirated software from a big firm and stealing an artists work who just tries to getby.
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- Feb 27, 2019
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With so much free pixel-art out there, and the cheap price of paid assets, I don't see any benefit in stealing. Just pay a handful of dollars and buy anything you need.
Not only that. if you take someones work and edit it. it may be considered as derived work that may not fall under fair usage, or you didn't have permission to edit the work.
However this is a bit of a gray area, as what can be called derived work vs inspired by?.
example. if you started with a blank canvas and made something that looks like the art you where "inspired" by.
Mostly everything to day is some sort of derived work in some form.
- Apr 23, 2022
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If you dont get caught is what matters. Plenty of devs who made bank stealing rpg maker tilesets (paid or from existing games) back then.
Ok i got you guys. I will try to modify assets as much as possible. Or try to buy officially but it's complicated cause i live in a most sanctioned country.
- Jul 16, 2021
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Don't just plainly steal the assets and pass it off as your own to attempt in making a profit off it.
There's a reason why IP laws exist.
Always credit the original author's work. If you attempt to make a profit off the original artist's work on a crowdfunding/monetization platform like Patreon/SS, then the original author can request you to take down their work due to copyright infringement.
Try to officially buy the assets you need to do the work that you are setting out to accomplish and/or use them as a barebones example to then base your own work from. No harm in using other's work as inspiration after all
Anywho, best of luck in your future endeavours. Godspeed.
- Oct 11, 2022
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You are on a piracy forum so it's a little nuanced here.
Legally, no you cannot steal pixel art. You don't have the copyright and the copyright holder can sue the shit out of you. This is especially true if you sell your product commercially.
Practically it's unlikely the original author will ever catch you, so you're probably fine.
Morally it's up to you.
In my opinion I think you should download Aseprite and try remaking the art that you like, using minimal references. Doing it yourself means you'll learn a little bit via practice and after doing it enough you'll be able to draw from scratch.
Legally, no you cannot steal pixel art. You don't have the copyright and the copyright holder can sue the shit out of you. This is especially true if you sell your product commercially.
Practically it's unlikely the original author will ever catch you, so you're probably fine.
Morally it's up to you.
In my opinion I think you should download Aseprite and try remaking the art that you like, using minimal references. Doing it yourself means you'll learn a little bit via practice and after doing it enough you'll be able to draw from scratch.
- Dec 21, 2020
- 1,611
- 3,862
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- Well did you use the creating spark I gave you?
And you gonna:
- Sorry boss, the IP laws got in the way.
And then He gonna:
- What?
And you:
- I really wanted to, I was about to but it would infringe this guy's copyright under 1987's "Paul Vs Sam," where the court awarded the plaintiff...
So He cuts off your rambling, thundering:
- Another fag with "dog ate my homework" bullshit. Sickening. Back to the human world of the Earth realm motherfucker, for the Nth time, until you learn your lesson you aint getting rung up a ladder. Fine, you are not yet where you can retain your memories between the reincarnations, but bitch you are given this urge to create, that's your fucking hint, the desire so strong that it never abates, and you ignored it because Paul Vs Sam 5th circuit decision where the judges, the jury and both Sam and Paul are all members of the satanic cult anyways. Ha look at your face, never gets old. Here, let's double your spark for the next round, cause I love you. [Sounds of the creator enlarging your creating spark] Attaboy. Beam this fag down Scottie, somewhere 3rd world and no internet.
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- Feb 27, 2019
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While I agree with the bulk of your view, there is the concern that he can lose the ownership of what he creates due to a copyright complaint. In my opinion, stealing should be the last resort, not the first remedy. Free assets first, buying second, learning to draw third, and stealing last.