The reposting of art is a big problem in many fandoms, but that doesn’t mean we should be complacent in ours! Here is a guide on what reposting is, why it’s bad, and how to help stop it!
Reposting is when someone takes a creation, usually a piece of art, and posts it to their own blog/profile without the original creator’s knowledge, permission, or accreditation! The most common kind in the Hetalia fandom is the reposting of art from sites like Pixiv, but there are other kinds, such as reposting people’s cosplay photos or re-uploading their MMDs/animations!
A lot of people don’t know that reposting is bad, or don’t realise that it’s not creators being pedantic! It is a form of stealing! Creators have the rights to their creations, and by reposting their creations without their consent, you are violating those rights! Reposting a creation you commissioned is bad as well, since you have only bought the creation, not the rights to it!
Is it okay if I source the creation/say it’s not mine?
No! You are still using the work without consent, and therefore still violating those rights! While it’s good you’re not claiming it as your own, that’s no excuse!
What if I found the picture through Google/it’s been reposted before?
That’s not okay either! Google takes pictures from everywhere–just because it’s there, it doesn’t mean the creator has given permission for it to be reposted! As well, if you found the picture reposted on another site, it isn’t okay for you to repost it again! Two wrongs don’t make a right! Try to find the original source through Google’s reverse image search or sites like saucenao!
What about editing creations?
There are other forms of reposting that aren’t straightforward re-uploading, like editing, but they still infringe on creators’ rights!
- Editing artwork without permission: editing art is still unfair usage of the work, and an infringement on the artist’s rights, unless they have given permission! Fortunately, Himaruya allows the editing of his own artwork, and there’s plenty of it on his blog (new blog/English version)! You can also use artwork from the anime! Just be sure to get this artwork straight from the source and remember not to Google it, since many artists can perfectly imitate Himaruya’s style or that of the anime, and you don’t want to end up using their art by accident! This goes for icon makers too–never use non-official art for icons!
- Editing photography without credit: a lot of people are more lenient with photography, but the photographer still has the rights to it like an artist with their art! Make sure to at least source and credit any photography you use to its author, and especially avoid using photography with people’s faces in them, photographs that are personal to the photographer, and cosplay photography! Try to use photographs from sites like Wikimedia Commons, where you can edit the photography under fair use, as long as you credit where it came from (this is true for most pictures, check the author’s terms of usage)! This goes for aesthetic makers, too!
If you see someone reposting or editing creations without permission, approach them politely via the messaging service or ask system, and explain to them that reposting is wrong–you can even send them a link to this post, if you like! Then, advise them on what to do next (e.g. deleting the reposted art, editing using Himaruya’s art, etc)! Even if they don’t understand or don’t think they’ve done anything wrong, try your best to keep explaining the situation to them! However, if they refuse to co-operate, feel free to tell us who they are! We’ll either contact them ourselves or, as a last resort, make a public post warning people not to reblog from them!
If you need a template to work from, here’s one a creator provided us with that they always use:
Hi! So I noticed you post some Hetalia fanart and various pictures that you have not drawn. You also do not have the original artists’ permission to post them on tumblr. This is considered reposting, and it’s not a good thing. Saying ‘Google’ or things like that are the source is also not a good thing. If you didn’t draw it, don’t upload it! It’s a common courtesy in all fandoms. Even if you really like the art, if the artist has not let you post it elsewhere - even if you found the picture through Google or similar - it isn’t nice because the artists have no idea where their work has ended up. If you could delete all of the unsourced art please, that would be really appreciated! It’s what is fair to the artists. If you really like the art, you can follow the original artists themselves! Some are here on Tumblr, but most of the work you have reposted comes from Pixiv. Consider getting a Pixiv account, then! Thank you :-)
Either write something similar, or change this so it fits the person you’re messaging!
How to repost with permission!
