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 Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:30 pm
These rules will be updated as necessary. All rules are retroactive and apply to all existing shops. If you find that your shop no longer complies with the rules, it is your responsibility to make any necessary changes in a timely fashion.
Spirit of Mini Shops
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You should not try to make a profit on Gaia by exploiting the hard work of other artists, whether they are Gaia users or people off site. Therefore, all images must be properly credited and with courtesy links back to your benefactors. They were kind enough to grant you permission, so return the favor! biggrin
The Mini Shops Rules and Guidelines exist alongside other independent sets of rules, such as Copyright laws and Artists' Terms of Use. Always go with the most conservative rule, and you can hardly go wrong. You should understand the spirit of these guidelines, as a protective measure for artists. The rights of an artist will always be honored over the right of a Gaian to pursue gold. If you try to exploit loopholes in the wording, break the rules in spirit and/or blatantly disrespect the rights of artists for Gaia Gold, you are breaking the rules.
If you wish to open a Mini Shop, you must read and understand these rules in their entirety. It is your responsibility to make sure your shop is legal.
Artist's Rights
==========================
If someone in Minishops samples your image without permission, is in violation of your stated terms, uses a whole image without permission, or is in violation of another agreement, you have the right to request the removal or editing of that whole image regardless of any work done by the other party. If necessary, a moderator will remove it.
Anyone claiming to be the creator should contact a moderator or the person in question. They should be prepared to prove ownership, if it is disputed. This could involve emailing the moderator from the address listed on the site the image came from, or placing a note on the site, etc. Proof doesn't have to be given to the general public in order to protect the privacy of the artist. It will be enough for the moderator to say 'I have been shown sufficient proof to believe this is the creator'.
Maliciously impersonating a creator will result in action against your account.
If you should find someone who is stealing art from you, please report them. Posting accusations, "GTFO" or "Reported" can be seen as harassment or spam.
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:32 pm
Privately owned images
==========================
This section deals with the use of graphics from artists' personal sites. This includes but is not limited to the sites of icon makers, pixel artists, CG artists, and other independent creators.
You may NOT:
Use any and all images that you do not own in your graphics without the written permission of the original artist. You must be able to provide proof when asked. A general note on the artist's site, or a 'Terms of Use' constitutes as written permission. Even with this permission, credit must be clearly, fully given. *
Sample, edit, or use art or items that are under copyright protection. If the artist places © symbols on the picture or page containing it, has right-click protection, posts a terms of use on their own site that says so, or otherwise makes it clear on the site that the images may not be used, then the images may not be used.
* - Please read the Proper Credit section of this sticky for more detailed information on permission and proper credit.
Commercial images
==========================
This section deals with graphics, such as Anime/movie/TV screenshots, Videogame screenshots/sprites, artbook scans and any other commercial work.
You may NOT:
Use or offer to use images eg. anime, movie, game characters without permission from the copyright holder or the artist who drew them. Just stating "Images owned by Fox" or similar is not good enough.
- this includes scans, screenshots or other similar images, even if you took the screenshot yourself or bought the book/magazine etc that you scanned the image from, you STILL need permission.
- this also includes sites such as animewallpaper.com or animerender.com. You need the permission of the artist/company that owns it. Just because it's free to download does not mean you can make a profit off of them.
Use stock images without permission from the person who took them.
Use any photobucket, google or other similar images without permission of the artist/company that owns them. Asking the person who uploaded it does not count as they do not have the authority to give you permission, unless they made the image themselves.
Use traced, copied or eyeballed images.
You MAY:
Use drawings including fanart you made yourself.
Use drawings including fanart that others have drawn if you have their permission.
Use drawings, stocks etc for your own personal use or for others for free. You must not charge them anything in this case. Such shops would then belong in the Art Freebies sub-forum.
Use brushes available in software programs such as Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro. If you download extra brushes, it is preferred that you credit and link back to where you got them from.
Use fonts available in software programs such as Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro. If you download extra fonts, it is preferred that you credit and link back to where you got them from.
Gaia Online images
==========================
This section deals with the use of commercial artwork of Gaiaonline.com. The official artwork is defined as the avatars, avatar clothes, borders, Rock Puppy, etc. It does NOT include any user-created art found on Gaiaonline.com, such as users' signatures or entries in the Art Arena.
You may NOT:
Edit, modify or display official Gaiaonline.com images in any way which my misrepresent Gaia's policies and theme. This includes, but is not limited to avatar edits which are completely nude, sexual, or nude and poorly censored, showing the shape, outline or colouring of genitals, nipples or pubic hair.
Sell, save, edit or otherwise use any images found in signatures, sig-pages, forum posts, personal posts, Art Arena posts, Mini Shops or Breedable Pets stores of other users outside of the agreements between you and the owner/creator.
You MAY:
Use and modify official Gaiaonline.com artwork, including avatars and layout flourishes within the forums only. In other words, Avatar Edits are allowed in Mini Shops, as long as they are used only within Gaiaonline.com (this does not include the Art Arena!), and credit is not taken for the original image outside of forums of Gaia.
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:34 pm
Dolls and Templates~
==========================
If an artist has made templates/bases/other images available for use that are meant to be edited (such as dollz), please abide by the agreement that the artist provides. You do not need to ask for permission if the artist says that you don't have to in the agreement; it is only if no agreement is provided, or you wish to do something that is not allowed by the agreement, that you must get provable, written permission.
Most doll artists ask that you not redistribute the base. This means, do not post the unedited base on Gaia even for illustration purposes. This is because someone may see it on Gaia, without seeing the artist's terms, and use it without abiding by the terms. This rule is usually broken without ill intent, but please abide by it.
You may NOT:
Use dolls and items from online doll makers.
Use dolls you made in a doll maker if you edit the image/color over the items.
Use dolls made using a doll maker if you just plan to use them for banners and wishlists. *
Break the base maker's rules even if they aren't in the Gaia or Mini Shops rules.
Use dolls or images even if the base maker doesn't mention displaying or distributing doll images.
Use parts of other peoples' dolls to create your own.
Use bases if the base maker's rules are in a language you can not understand.
Remove the base maker's signature from the base you want to use.
Display unedited/naked doll bases in your shop thread. **
* - Exceptions can be made in some cases, depending on the doll maker's rules and how much work you've put into the banner image. In such a situation, please contact an online moderator to see if you will be allowed to sell them.
** - The only exception is if the base maker specifically gives you permission to do so. If you must display base images, then you need to watermark the images.
You MUST:
Provide bases with undergarments or provide a link to a nude base rather than posting them directly in the forums. Posting naked doll bases is not allowed as it infringes on the doll maker's rules.
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