[livejournal.com profile] magic_art goes Members Only!

Oct. 23rd, 2008 09:59 am
[identity profile] erised-dream.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] magic_art
We would be very grateful if you could take the time and read this entry, as a few things have changed here at [livejournal.com profile] magic_art and we would like our members to be aware of them. Thank you! :)



Sad, but true: last week-end we had the first hotlinking incident in the history of [livejournal.com profile] magic_art! Because of that, we had the unpleasant task of switching to a new hosting account, re-installing our layout and replacing broken links. These troubles left aside, we cannot stress enough how bad hotlinking is. It's stealing, and while we cannot possibly know who is responsible for it, we intend to take measures to prevent such a thing from happening again.

After a lot of thinking and long discussions, we have decided to make the community Members Only. That means that you will have to join in order to see the posts. This way we hope to achieve a more cohesive membership, as well as a more personal relationship to all of you. :)

Another change is that membership will be moderated, meaning that all new members will be asked to wait until either me or [livejournal.com profile] nerhegeb approve their request to join. Basically, we want to check if members to be give proper credit for their icons. Don't worry, it won't take ages until you're approved: [livejournal.com profile] nerhegeb and I are both online on a daily basis, and we check our e-mails frequently (perhaps more often than it's healthy, heh!), so if you do credit your icons, you'll become a member in no time at all. However, please be aware of the fact that we're on CET (Central European Time), so you'll have to be a bit patient if you request membership at a time when it's the middle of the night here. *g* ;)

Speaking of credit, we would like to emphasize again its importance to us. Every single time we post graphics, we ask that you please credit [livejournal.com profile] magic_art. This is not optional, it's a rule. If you don't feel inclined to abide by it, it's alright and no hard feelings, but then please refrain from using our icons. There are plenty of communities and icon makers out there who don't require credit, so you might want to check them out. ;)

We, however, require credit, because we put a lot of time, effort and passion into our graphics. We research the themes that we are doing, try to find original, thought-provoking pictures to illustrate our ideas, and then spend hours on end working on them until they're made into icons and ready to be shared with you all. We do not ever post anything we are not happy with, or that we ourselves wouldn't use. We strive for quality, not quantity, and try to bring you icons you wouldn't find elsewhere. We do all of this gladly, because we truly enjoy making graphics and sharing them with you. All that we ask in return is that you credit our work. It's easy, only takes a few moments, and we are always here, ready to help you in case you don't know how to do it. There is a great difference between someone who doesn't know how to credit and asks for instructions, and somebody who isn't willing to credit in the first place, and simply chooses to ignore our wishes.

That being said, we also intend to go through our members list and see if everybody is giving proper credit in case they're using our icons. This is nothing personal, and we are not, Gods forbid, controlling your journals or anything of the sort! We really have better things to do with our time, believe us. ;) We just wish to make sure that all members are aware of this crediting rule, and abide by it. If we find out that you haven't given credit, we shall contact you and ask you to do so. Refusal, or a lack of reply from your part, will result in your removal from the community.

As already mentioned, this was not a decision we have made lightly. From the very beginning, [livejournal.com profile] magic_art had been an open community, and we had intended to keep it that way. We are also aware of the fact that the vast majority of our members are wonderful people who have always respected our wish to be credited, and we are grateful for that and their continued support. :) As it's often the case though, it only takes one person, or a small group of people to ruin it for all the others. *sigh*

To end on a happier note, watch out for the Kitties of the Season ~ The Samhain Edition coming up later today! ;)
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(deleted comment)

Date: 2008-10-23 09:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sageharper.livejournal.com
Don't feel bad about it. If people can't follow two simple rules because they're lazy or whatever reason that's their problem. It's just such a shame it's caused you grief.

Cool, really looking forward to the icons. Can never have enough kitties and samhain. :)

Date: 2008-10-23 10:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] erynn999.livejournal.com
Do what you need to do. I'm sure that 99% of the members here are following the rules already.

Date: 2008-10-23 12:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] myownmuggle.livejournal.com
It's so very simple to do what you've asked. I suppose I should say I'm surprised that people would do something like this, but alas, that is not the case.

Thanks for everything you guys do!

And kitties! YAY!

Edit with a question: I am a member here under my personal journal. I am creating a community to use as the base of my planning and tinkering for my NaNoWriMo project. Is it possible to use icons I've saved under my personal journal over at the community as long as proper credit is still given?

Edited Date: 2008-10-23 12:02 pm (UTC)

Date: 2008-10-23 12:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oenone-borealis.livejournal.com
It's just common courtesy to abide by icon community requests. Amazing that people are so lazy. You and [livejournal.com profile] nerhegeb are not likely to lose any members over this. *hugs* You do what you have to do.

Date: 2008-10-23 12:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] siriuslysmitten.livejournal.com
>.< for hotlinking. Bad people.

Date: 2008-10-23 01:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 22luna22.livejournal.com
Ok,do what you need to do.Thank you for all...

Date: 2008-10-23 03:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kseenaa.livejournal.com
As you can see in my icon-list (http://www.livejournal.com/allpics.bml?user=kseenaa) and user-info (http://kseenaa.livejournal.com/profile), that I take crediting quite seroiusly. Also, I made it easier for you to find my stuff. ;-) Since I change icons almost constantly I don't think I use any of yours at the moment, but that can change at any time. :-) When I do, though I will credit. As I always do. :-)

And you wrote a wonderful post about your reasons to. It is fine. And nothing strange at all. I fully understand and support you. *nods*

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From: [identity profile] kseenaa.livejournal.com - Date: 2008-10-24 05:11 pm (UTC) - Expand

Date: 2008-10-23 04:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] airmidm.livejournal.com
I don't blame you at all. Hotlinking is becoming even more of a problem lately- from what I've seen anyway. I totally support your decision and hope that it means less headaches for you and [livejournal.com profile] nerhegeb.

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From: [identity profile] airmidm.livejournal.com - Date: 2008-10-24 11:51 am (UTC) - Expand

Date: 2008-10-23 04:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bluanne.livejournal.com
I think you are doing the right thing. Since I have a large number of icons saved, I generally put them in the folders named after the community. Less crediting errors that way.

*huggles* to you both.

Date: 2008-10-23 06:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blue-eye1.livejournal.com
I don't want you to feel bad about it.
If someone isn't capable of fallowing simple rules than there is no reason to feel bad.
Like you've sad, you both put a lot of time and work to to this community.
You deserve credit.
And you've got my full support ^_^

*hugs* both of you ^_^

Date: 2008-10-23 07:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kimberbaby.livejournal.com
I think it is a wise decision.

No need to feel guilty for wanting to keep your hard work your own.

Looking forward to the new kitties.

Date: 2008-10-23 07:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] silivren-tinu.livejournal.com
I can really understand your decision. Hotlinking is more than an annoyance, and you definitely deserve recognition for your icons!

Date: 2008-10-23 07:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mrsdrjackson.livejournal.com
What foolish people hotlinkers are. *sigh* I'm sorry you are both sad about this, but we all support your decision. Keep up the super-fantastic work!

Date: 2008-10-23 08:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] angelkitten13.livejournal.com
I'm sorry to hear about the hotlinking incident. It's unfortunate and really....rude. I've always, always, always credited the makers of the icons I use (unless the maker is unknown) because I deeply appreciate their work.

I enjoy your icons. :) I hope to be able to continue to do so.

Date: 2008-10-23 08:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] willo.livejournal.com
Aww man, that's awful! I can't believe it when people don't respect all the work that goes into good art. I completely understand your decision here and think it's a good one.

I often take old (1800's) b&w photos and apply colour to them for a website I used to run. I remember finding my work on other websites (with my copyright for the colouring job still on the pic!) that hotlinked back to my website. Arg, to say the least.

I, too, save icons that I like in my LJ folder in My Documents, automatically putting the maker's LJ name as a part of the detailed name. You (and others) have made that really easy with adding your comm's name in the icon name to begin with. I really appreciate that!

I do have some icons where I don't know where they came from.. but I'm honest about that in my comments, too!

You are doing what's right, good for you both. I'm sorry it had to come about this way, but now you'll know who is truly interested and playing by the rules.

Namaste'
Willo

Date: 2008-10-23 10:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] celticelff.livejournal.com
I'm glad that I'd already membered myself on this community, and I agree with "BrothersKeeper1"'s sentiments.

Keep up the good work!

Date: 2008-10-23 11:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] morriganfae11.livejournal.com
Already very fine words have been used in support and I feel like I can only echo that your doing the right thing.

Blessings

Date: 2008-10-24 07:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sukhavati.livejournal.com
I can't say I blame you, as I've had people steal original icons I made for myself (!). I've always credited your work and that will never change. I love what you two do!

Date: 2008-10-24 08:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] moth2fic.livejournal.com
A very sensible move! Anyone who 'minds' doesn't deserve to use your icons.

I make quite a lot of icons myself and know how much hard work goes into them.

I have seven icons that I can't trace and I've said so instead of crediting - if any of them turn out to be yours or if you know who made them I'll be really glad to know.

Date: 2008-10-24 08:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] moth2fic.livejournal.com
P.S. I have two other journals, [livejournal.com profile] harlequin21 and [livejournal.com profile] yarrow25. These are role-play/writing journals and I tend to move icons between those and my personal journal fairly randomly. Do I need to join your comm with those too? I'm quite happy to, but just let me know. I wouldn't like you to think you had three members when really it's just me! *g*

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From: [identity profile] moth2fic.livejournal.com - Date: 2008-10-24 09:10 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] moth2fic.livejournal.com - Date: 2008-10-24 09:26 am (UTC) - Expand

Date: 2008-10-25 02:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] a-blue-moon-cat.livejournal.com
Too many good icon makers have been hit by these hotlinkers and stealers of icons. I always credit any icons that I use, as I save them in folders with the icon maker's user name and community name (if applicable).


Thank you for letting me join the comm! :)

Be sure and check out my profile page, as I link to two public posts by [livejournal.com profile] eyesthatslay about why hotlinking is wrong and crediting is important.

Date: 2008-10-25 02:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] a-blue-moon-cat.livejournal.com
Btw, you might want to make this a sticky post at the top, so it could be found easier. It might help. Good luck!

Date: 2008-10-31 02:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] simbel-myne.livejournal.com
how horrible!
I deeply hope all my icons are properly credited, I lost some info at some point. Please tell me if you see any of yours uncredited-it would be purely unintentional.

Date: 2008-11-02 04:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] insanepixie.livejournal.com
Do whatever you can to stop people from disobeying the rules!

And thank you for taking the time to explain why we are becoming members only instead of just doing it and everyone becoming confused :)

You guys are so awesome and keep up the good work!
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