Thank you very much. I always wanted to put something together with the facts.

I guess for people who always make up their own characters, worlds, etc it isn't seen as being as "creative". I actually have professors who agree on that aspect; fan art shows lack of originality and creativity. I try to remain neutral because I do have friends who are fan artists, and try to respect that they enjoy it even when I personally dislike it, it inspires them. Professionally I will say that I can agree with what my professors speak and Osman about "Fan artists not being creative people"; because the characters you yourself do not own, therefore what right do you have to even put them in ANY given situation? It violates copyright since the characters belong to a 3rd party, so not only are you disrespecting the law (my school is big into legality), but also the companies which you may some day work for and jeopardizing you future work showcasing you do not have the originality to create your own. Nobody wants somebody like that. Professionally speaking.

That is how my industry looks at it. I know for many it seems extreme, but the way I look at it- I can see why they want us to not work with it. Companies who see somebody draw fan art look at it as a liability; they wouldn't want that person working for them because they cannot be "trusted". Every interview I went on, I was asked who the characters were, and thankfully I am able to say my own. If I would have said fan art, I would have been rejected from the job immediately. I knew some talented fan artists who unfortunately never got a chance because of the fact they were seen as being uncreative, unoriginal, etc. However the law does change if you have the permission; actual written permission.

Which is why I feel hobby art and professional art has a HUGE gap. For people who draw for fun and pleasure, they don't need to research or feel they need to look at the law because they simply do what they enjoy, I have a lot of friends like this. However in the professional world, you have one picture showcasing a character you do not own, all hell breaks lose. Seriously. I had one company I worked for, just to draw their character for a trial design before hiring I had to sign a ton of paperwork. I cannot include this item online at all because of the terms. Some companies are VERY strict that way with their reputation and characters.

I used to draw tons of Pokemon; since I started college I had to go through and delete EVERYTHING. Every piece depicting a character I do not own. I can't have a single piece of fan art in my gallery. That is how serious it is in my profession. We are taught to be self-reliable, to create and invent ourselves, while we can draw inspiration from what is around us, we never create what is... there. Some of my friends feel it is a bit ridiculous to have to go through and delete good art that people enjoy even if it i fan art, I look at it as I need to do this- because it could jeopardize my work in the future.

Which is why I don't work with it or support it much anymore. I can understand both sides. I can understand it can really inspire people, help them feel creative and maybe eventually draw their own characters. Yet at the same time, as a professional, it is a huge negative and can cause major issues. Heck even some specified art styles are deemed unworthy and looked down at in my industry. It's really crazy and complex.

From a personal experience, since I could remember I always created my own characters. Granted Pokemon helped me when I felt down or in a rut, but from as long as I could remember I felt more inspiration from new, original ideas than what already existed. I'm still that way to this day. I have spoke with people from all over, in different trades, majors and professions and there are so many different views and perspectives of fan art, it is crazy. I spoke with one fan artist who felt their realism and talent wasn't noticed, just the fandom which made them start to draw original characters and portraits of real people. I met a painter who did incredible watercolors, only to feel she was left out and to fit in, she would draw fanart and anime even if she didn't enjoy it. I met someone else who felt fan art inspired them to create their own style, characters, world, etc. I have met others who have no tolerance at all for it. It is a complicated issue.

Which is why I wanted to put something together. I am required to take business and law classes as a part of my major, and have taken up a particular interest in copyright law. These classes are so useful and have provided me with such value, and hopefully helpful insight I can tell others. After high school, seeing good friends get rejected from a future education simply from fan art and anime, I never realized why it was such a "bad" thing to do. I know many high school students looking to go into design or become a creative professional, and felt these problems could be avoided perhaps if they had this knowledge. I know, I lived through it. I have seen it happen, and it's truly a sad thing, but also preventable.

So when I view something, it is from my education and foundations; more so from a professional and business perspective. Not everybody is like that or needs to take everything so strict. Like I said before, I try to respect everybody draws inspiration and creativity from different things. Which is why I added at the end an area for different people to speak up if they agree, disagree, etc.

Exactly.

It's sad, because the community will most likely be shut down because of it. Like Megaupload was. The staff KNOW it is going on and do nothing, heck they promote it. You go on other art sites, they specifically state NO FANART even for fun because of the legality issues and they could get sued. DA doesn't care. At least hire somebody who KNOWS this stuff and can make a change. Artists and people will suffer at the hand of theft because of the lack of care.