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BEAR.
February 23rd, 2018, 01:58 AM
Good evening everyone!

The staff has recently received an email from our host stating that they were made aware of content theft on WCO, specifically images being used without artist / photographer permission. As per our host's policy on content, anything posted on WCO or accessible through WCO must not be in violation of the content rights of another individual, which means all artwork/photography must be credited, you must have written permission to use it, or it must be available through the public domain.

We were notified of this issue after our webhost reviewed the site's files and found several instances of uncredited images on our site that members didn't have permission to use. We were given these options: remove the content, or lose WCO.

IMPORTANT: If WCO does go down, you will see a 403 error. If you go to WCO and get that error, be assured we are trying to get the site running as soon as possible.

Given how many threads and character bios there are, it'd be impossible for the staff alone to take down the content. Although we will remove it if we see it, we're asking users to credit or remove any artwork as well as photography they may be using on forum posts, biographies, and character sites*.
*Why character sites, since it isn't technically on WCO? Our host stated content theft could not be accessible through WCO, so that means character sites with uncredited images will have their links removed on site.

Users have until March 1st @ 10:59 PM Eastern Time to remove or credit any offending images. After this date, the staff will begin to remove or take down linked sites or posted images.

How do you know what you should remove or credit? It's simple:


Did you create the piece of art or photo (modifying it DOES NOT count)? If so, you don't need to provide credit.


Was the photo or artwork made for you or gifted to you by the original creator? If so, you should provide credit to the creator.


Did you find it on DeviantArt, Google Images, or another image site, and decide to use it? There's a good chance any DeviantArt images were commissioned pieces or the artist asked for it to not be reposted or used without permission, so please look into that. If you can't find the creator for some reason, ask me and I'll try to help. Photography taken from Google Images needs to be credited, but you are not expected to find the original source.

How do I credit art / photography?

In most cases, you can right click an image and Search Google for image. You will get one of two results: the image you searched with No other sizes of this image found. to the right of it or you will get the image with Find other sizes of this image:
All sizes - Small - Medium - Large.

If you can't find any image results, you should remove the image. Some images won't appear on Google Images due to the source site's settings blocking the search engine.

If you can find image results, an easy way of crediting them is taking the results link (hit 'All sizes' and use the new URL) and make a link on your page with all the appearances of the images.

DO NOT USE DEVIANTART IMAGES IF IT DOES NOT SAY IT IS EXPLICITLY FREE TO USE.

All DeviantArt links include the user near the end of the URL. There are no excuses for not being able to check the preferences set by the artist.

If nothing is indicated on the post, send a note to the DeviantArt user and wait for a response before doing anything with the image.

IF IT IS A COMMISSION OR GIFT FOR SOMEONE AND NOT MADE FOR YOU, DON'T USE IT.

If you are found to be using commissioned or gifted artwork and it doesn't belong to you, action will be taken against your account.

How can I find images that are for sure free to use?

Google Images offers a filter for usage rights.

First, look up the type of image you want to search for (e.g. "cats").

Under the Search Bar, you should see Settings and Tools to the right. Select Tools.

The toolbar should appear below. Select Usage Rights and pick Labeled for reuse.

This will filter out any images not labeled for reuse and you will not be required to seek permission for these images. However, you should still credit the site you found them on.

Momotaro
February 23rd, 2018, 02:37 AM
I went back to edit some images out, but the threads were locked,so I can not edit the post!

What should I do?

Mad King

BEAR.
February 23rd, 2018, 02:53 AM
I went back to edit some images out, but the threads were locked,so I can not edit the post!

What should I do?

Mad King

Can you message me the links to the threads you're having issues with so I can check out what's going on?

fresh
February 23rd, 2018, 07:01 AM
wait.
do i have to credit every single picture that i've ever posted?
that would take a lit of searching and time.
Mad King

Momotaro
February 23rd, 2018, 07:08 AM
I have edited everysingle post with images I could find, however I can not edit this

http://www.warriorcatsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=321708#post321708

Mad King

Akari
February 23rd, 2018, 07:18 AM
Oh wait, we have to credit photos of actual cats also?

Momotaro
February 23rd, 2018, 07:19 AM
Oh wait, we have to credit photos of actual cats also?
yeah,

SuspiciousMindz
February 23rd, 2018, 07:44 AM
wait.
do i have to credit every single picture that i've ever posted?
that would take a lit of searching and time.
Mad King
Yes. If your thread isn't in archived or been deleted, you should be able to.
If you go to "statistics" on your profile, you can find every thread you've created and start there!

Fuzzy
February 23rd, 2018, 11:11 AM
I have a slight question. All my pitchers I've gotten on Silk browser, my version of Google, and when I click the link or search for them it just brings be to the pitcher, how do I credit that?
Using this, http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JXKAdFXEPbY/VUd5nRJVcmI/AAAAAAAAP1Q/uGbjwW32-7M/s1600/VegaFFNorwegianForestCatDam.jpg code, at the moment.

Midgefur
February 23rd, 2018, 11:23 AM
I use only my own art, but does wco’s provider have any trouble with imgur and usage rights? That was a problem with the last rp site I was on.

mvoxhu
February 23rd, 2018, 12:13 PM
i'm pretty sure imgur isn't a hosting site anymore, but postimg is equally as easy to use!! Midgefur

Thistledawn
February 23rd, 2018, 12:43 PM
Are profile pictures an issue as well? Do we need to credit those or are they not a problem?

BEAR.
February 23rd, 2018, 01:24 PM
I have a slight question. All my pitchers I've gotten on Silk browser, my version of Google, and when I click the link or search for them it just brings be to the pitcher, how do I credit that?
Using this, http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JXKAdFXEPbY/VUd5nRJVcmI/AAAAAAAAP1Q/uGbjwW32-7M/s1600/VegaFFNorwegianForestCatDam.jpg code, at the moment.

Is it possible for you to use https://goo.gl/shxBtP? It's a shorten Google link to all sources of the image found on Google Images.
I use only my own art, but does wco’s provider have any trouble with imgur and usage rights? That was a problem with the last rp site I was on.

It should be fine as long as it's your own art!
Are profile pictures an issue as well? Do we need to credit those or are they not a problem?

You'll need to credit your avatar if you didn't make it. You can either use signature credit or put the credit on your About Me tab.

Mango
February 23rd, 2018, 02:31 PM
Wait so this? Using the earth symble with the paperclip isn't okay?...and also if I had to add a link to my album is that not okay without posting a link too...

BEAR.
February 23rd, 2018, 02:40 PM
Wait so this? Using the earth symble with the paperclip isn't okay?...and also if I had to add a link to my album is that not okay without posting a link too...

The link icon is fine since it's a part of vBulletin. I don't know what the second part means.

Viper
February 23rd, 2018, 02:49 PM
So like what about reference links we use for characters? Do those count as well?

Tundra
February 23rd, 2018, 02:49 PM
Mad King
What if someone drew a pic for you during the secret Santa event, and you put it on a thread but you still don’t know who drew it?

BEAR.
February 23rd, 2018, 02:53 PM
Mad King
What if someone drew a pic for you during the secret Santa event, and you put it on a thread but you still don’t know who drew it?

You'd say something along the lines of 'credit to my Secret Santa'.

You could also try to do an image search in case they uploaded it elsewhere once the event concluded.

So like what about reference links we use for characters? Do those count as well?

Are you referring to just linking the appearance in a post? If so, no, you shouldn't need to credit as it's not hosting the image. If you're using a DeviantArt image as a reference however, you should still make sure it's okay to use it as there's a good chance it's someone elses' character or commission.

Viper
February 23rd, 2018, 03:02 PM
Are you referring to just linking the appearance in a post? If so, no, you shouldn't need to credit as it's not hosting the image. If you're using a DeviantArt image as a reference however, you should still make sure it's okay to use it as there's a good chance it's someone elses' character or commission.

Thanks. I meant like linking it to a post.

Tundra
February 23rd, 2018, 03:12 PM
Oh, because I put By unknown

So lemme go fix that real quick!

vellichor
February 23rd, 2018, 03:26 PM
So, on char sites, I have to credit every image? And could I just credit it “Google Images”? Mad King

Fuzzy
February 23rd, 2018, 03:30 PM
Is it possible for you to use https://goo.gl/shxBtP? It's a shorten Google link to all sources of the image found on Google Images.

Yeah I could.
Okay I was reading other questions and answers on here. You said Reference photos are okay? Or did I read that wrong.

Fawn
February 23rd, 2018, 03:30 PM
So, on char sites, I have to credit every image? And could I just credit it “Google Images”? Mad King
Every image that you're using needs to be credited if it wasn't gifted to you or made for you.

Crediting it "Google Images" isn't sufficient, sorry. Reverse image search each one (Right Click > Search Google for this image) and find the source using that tool.

If there are MANY sources, you can use the link provided by this search as your credit.

If there is only one instance of the image, credit it to that link. If the artist/photographer has stated anywhere that they don't want the work reused/reposted, you need to remove the image from your site-- crediting won't be enough in that case.

Yeah I could.
Okay I was reading other questions and answers on here. You said Reference photos are okay? Or did I read that wrong.

Reference LINKS to photos, not the image itself. You don't need to credit a link, just if you're posting the image.

The exception is if you're linking DeviantArt work. Most artists don't want their work reposted as references.

Fuzzy
February 23rd, 2018, 03:42 PM
Reference LINKS to photos, not the image itself. You don't need to credit a link, just if you're posting the image.

The exception is if you're linking DeviantArt work. Most artists don't want their work reposted as references.

Okay so in my Bios I like stuff like http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3373/3422034774_eaaaf7d34a_z.jpg the exact same way. Does that cont as a link or pitcher?
Sorry for so many questions I want to make sure I do this right.

fresh
February 23rd, 2018, 04:01 PM
Yes. If your thread isn't in archived or been deleted, you should be able to.
If you go to "statistics" on your profile, you can find every thread you've created and start there!
so i've been reading others' questions, and apparently you can use reference photos without crediting?
if so i've got a clean slate; i don't even know how to post just the image xD

Liekki
February 23rd, 2018, 04:07 PM
I don't know if I'll be able to finish taking the pics off my character site this weekend, so should I take down the site until it's been edited?

wren
February 23rd, 2018, 04:16 PM
Mad King
Can you pull this out of archives so I can delete the image?http://warriorcatsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10924

rubinaito
February 23rd, 2018, 05:21 PM
I've been combing through all my posts and it's taking forEVER

Leaf_tail
February 23rd, 2018, 05:40 PM
If anyone needs help sourcing photos, send me a PM with the link to the thread! I've been doing photo-editing odd jobs for almost a year now, so I'm very experienced when it comes to photo sourcing. :)

Static
February 23rd, 2018, 05:59 PM
Would we be able to draw the cats instead of using the images now that we have to credit them and stuff?

Also,can u just put credit to Google images?

AbsurdJinx
February 23rd, 2018, 06:46 PM
What about photos like [this (https://justanotheroneofthesesites.weebly.com/uploads/7/4/8/4/74848219/6_13_orig.jpg)] where there's a watermark and the strip at the bottom?

pomegranate
February 23rd, 2018, 06:57 PM
So, I went through and deleted a ton of links to pictures, without realizing that if it was a link it was okay. So, before I delete a ton of good links, this is true, so that if I post a link like this:http://goo.gl/images/Tmp4gT
I should be generally okay?

Ariii
February 25th, 2018, 08:43 AM
Do I have to credit images on a Roleplay? (I.e beginning images showing the landscape that aren't links)

.:Virgo:.
February 25th, 2018, 11:47 AM
I drew all of my artwork that i use so do i have to credit that?
Mad King

BEAR.
February 25th, 2018, 01:07 PM
Do I have to credit images on a Roleplay? (I.e beginning images showing the landscape that aren't links)
yes
I drew all of my artwork that i use so do i have to credit that?
Mad King
If you made it, no

.:Virgo:.
February 25th, 2018, 01:09 PM
yes

If you made it, no
Ok thanks for clearing that up for me

Blueberry
February 26th, 2018, 05:58 AM
So if I drew the images that I use or took the photo than I should be good?

BEAR.
February 26th, 2018, 09:19 AM
So if I drew the images that I use or took the photo than I should be good?
yes

Blueberry
February 26th, 2018, 10:50 AM
yes
Yay!

No One's Beeswax
February 28th, 2018, 05:50 PM
It took me a while, but I've went through and deleted all images in all posts ( I think ;-; )
Time to edit my profile and unlink my siggie.

GingaFan2249
February 28th, 2018, 07:58 PM
What I did was that I provided the link in my signature, is that alright?

Phoenix Flames
March 1st, 2018, 05:08 AM
Mad King Rose Queen


What about all the inactive accounts that haven't been used for over a month? What if those accounts have images that weren't credited? What are you two going to do with those?

BEAR.
March 1st, 2018, 12:34 PM
Mad King Rose Queen


What about all the inactive accounts that haven't been used for over a month? What if those accounts have images that weren't credited? What are you two going to do with those?

our policy is if we see it, we remove it.

What I did was that I provided the link in my signature, is that alright?

i'd suggest removing the (Link) at the end since it breaks the URL, but otherwise yeah!

Ava Paige
March 1st, 2018, 12:39 PM
Does this include pictures in your album and profile picture?

BEAR.
March 1st, 2018, 12:41 PM
Does this include pictures in your album and profile picture?

Yep.

Ava Paige
March 1st, 2018, 12:42 PM
Then can you let me delete my profile pic and albums please

Phoenix Flames
March 1st, 2018, 01:42 PM
our policy is if we see it, we remove it.
Alrighty.