Hi y'all, (no, not "yawl" - that's a sailboat :-)  )

I just got a note at DVA about some of my work being sold or given away as cell phone desktops. (or whatever they're called) Link - http://bisforum.eclub.lv/eclub_mobiles/color_logos.php?Wall%20papers&1525

The person who alerted me said she also spotted Keith's work and that she thought they were getting the images from DVA. I recently got a message form a person named Ariel who went under the nick, "enriana" asking to use my stuff for "bases" or "icons" and said no. This person has a huge number of favorites but no personal art uploaded. After work, I'm going to compare her/his faves to what's on this site and also the DD pages. Just a hunch.

Anyhow, firstly you will notice much more intrusive watermarking on my work displayed here and there. I recommend you go to the link and see if any of yours are there. My printer went open loop when he found out I displayed my art ANYWHERE on the web and said I should get it all off asap. I'm probably not going to do that but my images will have to be more conspicuously watermarked and I hope y'all will try to look past that and not hammer me for it. With the anonymity of the 'net the thief could be anybody. It's something I have to do and here's why:

 Say someone buys a limited print from you for a lot of money. (yes, fractal art DOES sell for pretty big bucks if you ask it and offer high quality materials) They paid a high price because the edition is only 50 and so they and their friends probably will never see another copy in someone else's house ever. Then they see some kids with it on their cell phones or as low rez prints being sold for $49.95 somewhere else. They will be pissed off majorly and there are cases where legal action has been taken against an artist. If you are wanting to be "serious" about selling your art then I recommend you watermark your stuff if you are going to display it here and/or at DVA or anywhere else for that matter.

The shocking - but maybe not ;-( - thing is that there is absolutely NO RIGHT CLICK prevention at either of these sites. Something I find VERY negligent on the part of the operators of these websites. Though maybe that's a big part of their draw for visitors. Not gonna go there.

Anyhow, go take a look and see if they've ripped any of you as well,

Rick