A Warning to Artists on Tumblr (your comics are being monetized)

tl;dr Summary: Kyotosomo is making money from your comics on Youtube. 

Here’s a list of his comic dubs and their corresponding Tumblr accounts in alphabetical order: https://goo.gl/EqFK56

Quick update: I’ve been called out by Kyotosomo. Yay. I’ll link a follow-up response post here and in the comments after I publish it: <Where’s the link?!?> Here you go!  (https://pscoldfire.tumblr.com/post/172471041889/kyotosomo-calls-out-pscoldfire-for-being-a-lousy) Update: I’ve been asked a few times why I did it. I will explain my actions in another follow-up post, and I’ll put the link here once I’m done (Yes, I can hear you groaning across the monitor. Fine I get it, but I’m writing it anyway!).

The Long Version:

I’m sorry this is a VERY long post, but if you have a few minutes, please stay for now. I feel you all should know this.

Most of you gave permission to Kyotosomo (Pierce Riola) to dub your comics. What he did not tell you is that he is monetizing them. And from what I understand after talking with some of you, none of you gave any permission to make money on your art, and he has not shared any of that profit with you or anyone else.

How do you know it is monetized?

If you watch without AdBlock, here’s how you know:

1. Yellow line in video player (usually on the left)

2. Advertisement plays before/during video

(Note – most monetized Youtube channels make ~$1 per 1000 views. The actual amount can be more, depending on a variety of factors)

If I don’t want my comics monetized, what can we do?

If you have 10 minutes to spare, you can do at least one of these right now:

1. Make a Youtube account. Report his Youtube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/user/kyotosomo/about

2. Report copyright infringement on each of his videos containing your artwork. If you need help finding your comic, here’s the list again: https://goo.gl/EqFK56

(This comic from @ameri-lie was uploaded without permission. More on that later)

After you do this, he might ask you to remove the copyright strike and let him keep the videos up or remove it on his own (he won’t). 

He will probably make excuses like:

Then why is he making money from it? Quite a lot too, if these posts are anything to go by:

Or he might say:

Except he lied about this in the past. For example:

(sorry about the image quality)

EDIT: I was wrong here. Two days after the last email, AMF did receive a donation (https://imgur.com/rh0aPzn)

Or he’ll say:

Personally, I’ve had no trouble with you all so far. Here’s how to contact people on Tumblr: (image courtesy of skitschell)

3.  Just send him a message, and he’ll probably remove the monetization. Just know that this will not stop him from monetizing other people’s content, or re-monetizing your comics once you’ve stopped paying attention.

4. (optional) Let your friends know. You are welcome to share, re-post or re-blog this post if you’d like.

If you’ve read the whole post, thank you very much! If it helps at least one person, then the writing of this post was well worth it.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, etc., feel free to leave a reply. 

p.s. – How silly of me to post this on April Fool’s Day! Unfortunately, I can assure you this is not a joke.

p.p.s. – Here is a copy of a message he sent to @ameri-lie, who reported the above video featuring her comic (he did not ask for permission before uploading).

She dropped the strike in December 2017 after he promised to remove the video (as I’m writing this, the video is still up, and of course, still monetized). EDIT: Not anymore

Coincidentally, @skitschell​ received the exact same message after reporting her video last week.

Edit: Sorry, skitschell just gave me a correction. This message is from December 2017, the first time she reported her video. Like ameri-lie, she dropped the strike after Kyotosomo promised to remove the video.

As you can see, she’s reported the video again after finding it was still up.

p.p.p.s. – Technically your work is automatically copyrighted the moment you create it. However, if you truly need to legally protect your work (and be eligible for statutory damages or attorneys fees), you can pre-register your work here: 

https://copyright.gov/registration/

p.p.p.s. – UPDATE: A few hours before I wrote this post, Kyotosomo heard about what I was doing and sent me a threat. For privacy concerns, I won’t share the exact contents (until I find it necessary). Just letting you all know who you’re dealing with. EDIT: Never mind, he shared it on his twitter:  https://twitter.com/Kyotosomo/status/978794804795486208

p.p.p.p.s – UPDATE: https://twitter.com/Kyotosomo/status/979983004226306048?s=19 I think he’s talking about me on Twitter. Thank you @michietkh!

List of Artists (by account name)

@29sjamjam @8k0

A

@a-cat-and-a-world @aclearts @aehruh @aeruos  @airbeanies @akih0307 @akimbod  @alazic02  @allisucks @ameri-lie @anadapta @anadia-chan @anarah @ann13doodles @annabubs @a-parade  @arashi-chan12 @ariadusts @arietrash @ask-defender-of-elly @askkury @ask-saeran-and-saeyoung @asktheinkdemon

B

@badtimepal @bastionwithcrayons @beenicornworld @bishiegiraffe @bitchjointherfa @blimpcat-art @blinkpen @blossyay @blueplusiron @breakfastbooty @brynnthebookworm @bunelody

C

@cakeyquake @candyaddict19 @captainclovey @catch-the-ghosts-art @charamells @cheritzteam @chikappi @chromelxd @cidar-sugar @cinnae @citree @complexwish @cordmonochrome @cosmic-artsu @creepyknees @crispylewis @critai @cynnicynni @cynphonium

D

@dahianartist @danidery @daodavi @darcheat-blog @darkgreyclouds @daysein @deardiv @deizu-chan @devillefort-master @diadoescomics @digitalscratch-arting @doodleroos @doublealbarn @dragonpigeons @drawverylittle @dreemurr-reborn

E

@eirlysie @eiycaptain @elithequeenbee @elleellenic @ellynoise @emeraldknight47 @emsartwork @eren-neko @ezkai

F

@fishupie @flik98 @flitzie-chan @flumpcesca @forlackofabettercomic @frosty-bean @fullertoons

G

@galacticgoldfishart @galaxyopalite @gauntdusk @gebdraws @genobeva-k

H

@h0llyw0lly @hachiimi @hakamiiart @hanatsu04 @hatsumidori @heart-select @heeeky @hey–its–jess @hiissae @hiniparlousblog @holloweentwinkie @humerussans @hyolks

I

@idolaelyartistfan @imo-rlc @innerglittercherryblossom @inqua @iskisaggie

J

@jelly-june @jentuu @jintii @joker-ace @jove-bluh @juuddeart

K

@kandismon @kan-toku @karawek @kcv-art @keii @kerolunaticat @kerorine @kimsch @kkumri @kpfightmaster @ksmile1313 @kyuzukipoi @kziir

L

@lavibaka @leecheedoodles @leiram-art @leohzy @lha-san @limechii @littlebong2309 @littleivor @live4love136 @lonelypotatoart @loverofpiggies @lucenoche @lunarreverb

M

@madamelenny @madamsugarskull @mamanele @marbletart @marsy3 @michiko-ouji @mi-estreano @mika7616 @mikoriin @milkypasta @minafi @mirth3moo @monstroustea @mooneie @msleilei @myetie @msivoney

N

@naaami @nami7333 @natural0g @nia-cube @nialeigh-arts @nicoleartist @nikkst3rz @niklisson @ningyosan @nisaeiam @njikeartist2 @noeybodys @nqdel

O

@obsessivealice

P

@pandums @pastecola @patronpepper @pierrotsdrawer @pig-demon @pinkalala-art @pinqo @pixelameart @pocketsizedproductions @poisoned-marshmallows @polkadotpuzzles @ponyo-loves-sosuke @poorly-drawn-mysme @pozolegirl @priscilatp @psonoradelic @purincipia

R

@raysdrawlings @rc-04 @redberryart @reipx @reiyacchi @relatable-messenger @renrink @roseyblogstuff @rummycoffee @runa-storm

S

@saeranlover @sakura-rose12 @sander-sonia @s-enja @senkiiri @sharktunarts @shiawasejanaiyo @shizzome @shmu-h @shortnime @shouty-y @sketchyy-pencil @skitschell @sl4ughtermelon @smoochesforseven @snozzbearart @sourires-sourires @spd64 @star-powder @stellalights @sugakei @sugarberryart

T

@taochansan @teaicaria @tendertofu @teo-chanart-blog @the-chois-is-yours @thecoffeelovingcat @thedailymushroom @the-everlasting-ash @theinsanefruitloop-chan @thepinknekos @therandomninjakitty @thesmoking-devil @titonkaart @toasterstrude1 @triscuit-cafe @tryingforchances @tsuki-matsu

V

@velocesmells

W

@waffle-chi @waraable @wendinella @whitefire321 @whosjck @wicked-jewels @windaura

X

@xero-j @xiao-jing @xjayju

Y

@yinx-ii @yoosungseven @yue-tsubaki @yukina-chi @yuusart

Z

@zarla-s @zeibeebee @zenosu @zhepf-xiv @zoecam37 @zombie-frisk

How hard did this person dig into Tumblr to find my comics?! I can’t believe he is earning money from other peoples work :( according to Social blade its actually a good amount of money... He never asked me for permission but he claims he always asked the artists before using their work. 

Anyway im not about to argue with him I reported it to Youtube and will let them decide on it :(

Preorders are open!

Zine only // Special edition (4 mini prints and 4 stickers)

40+ pages of art by:

Agnė // a-parade // arcadechan // azi // Black // Claire Vitus // corviday // coshkunz // Danika Kersten // Ester // Felix // Garance // Gigafawn // gin // goopzoo// Hailey Rose Kosinski // Hilu // Jon Westwood // Joyelle Gilbert // Kiana Mcmillian // Kou // kurapixel // Lachlan // Lin // Loreleï Simon // mabel // Madi DeVine // Malus // Marv // Mric // Ned Rea // Nhuuy // Nina Yoshida // patty wakos // Petitecreme // pharikhurra // Quinn // Redundantz // sarahcatseye // Taylor Davis // tezu // toucanburger // V. A. Vazquez // Victoria Smith 

Cover by: Shaikara David

Organized by: emzie

Preorders close January 20!

Preorders are finally open *u* This looks so amazing already <3

After a small wait, here is the artist list! (and a little title reveal) 

Agnė // a-parade // azi // Black // chandler // Claire Vitus // corviday // coshkunz // creepysette // Danika // Ester // Felix // Garance // gin // goopzoo // Hailey Rose Kosinski // Hilu // Jon Westwood // Joyelle Gilbert // Kevin Snipes // Kiana Mcmillian // Kou // kurapixel // Lachlan Herrick // Lin // Lina //  Loreleï Simon // mabel // Madi DeVine // Maia A. // Malus // Marvinne // Mric // Ned Rea // Nhuuy // Nina Yoshida // ono-mono // patty wakos // Petitecreme // pharikhurra // Quinn // Redundantz // sarahcatseye // Shaikara David // Sky // Stephanie Prudek // Taylor Davis // tezu // V. A. Vazquez // Victoria Smith

I got in T.T <3 I love Mushishi so much! I can't wait to see how this wonderful project turns out

Super thrilled to announce the list of participating artists!! The response was so much greater than I could have hoped (so much so that I bumped the number of contributors from 20 to 30+) and I’m very grateful to everyone who applied.

To the selected participants, I’m very excited to work with you!

Expect to see continued updates over the next few months both here, and on our twitter!!

I got in 😭❤ I'm so excited to see what all the wonderful participants will make 😍

Yuri On Ice!!! Artswap Zine Official Release!

As of today, the Yuri on Ice!!! Artswap zine is officially released. You can get your copy here for $6! If you want to support the artists a little more, you can always donate a bit extra when buying the zine, but that is in no way obligatory.

You can grab your copy here!

 Thank you to all the artists who participated, and all the staff who helped me from the beginning to make this project possible. All artists will have received an email by now with their free copy of the zine and payment details.

Please help signal boost this post so that everyone can see it! Please help this zine succeed one final time!

I took part in this Zine :D

it was SO much fun and it turned out amazing! Get your copy at Gumroad if you would like :>