Member Uploads: What’s okay to use and what isn't
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@pwhiteaurora
Wow! I am VERY flattered that you found the explanation easy to understand. YAY!You're half-right about college...
I took an elective writing course and the teacher, as a homework assignment, had us write out the instructions for making a paper airplane. When we were back in class, she didn't collect our papers. She simply told us to pass our Instructions to the person sitting behind us (and back row to the front). We were then told to follow the instructions handed to us exactly as written and see what we wind up with. Try it at your next dinner party. Only one person made a correct paper airplane. I'll give ya one guess as to whose instructions they were following. 
But that really taught me about being certain to write any kind of how-to or explanation in a clear manner. I'm naturally detail-oriented so that helps too!Now, I don't know if UrStyle would even pick up on the 'CAUTION' or 'VIRUS' wording in an upload because they save the image under a new name even though the label shows as what one named it. I'm going to try it and see what happens. I expect it to work considering Sets have been made about the Corona Virus.
If you click this link, you'll see an image that I uploaded. It's named "FJG" but.... right click on the image itself and choose the option OPEN IN NEW TAB. The address in the browser (URL) changes to numbers and when you go to save a copy of the image by right-clicking on it, it's all numbers. https://urstyle.fashion/shop/14180922
Oh, and my major.... Psychology.
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@strawberry-milk
Thank you so much for your input!I don't think you have to be more careful so much as if you're not sure (based on the item name) ask the creator. That's what I do and I've been directed to so many collections I would have otherwise missed just by contacting the artist about their graphic.
Putting "free to use" in the description is great! To assure that people see it, place that in the title are, where you name the graphic. You could even use: Free To Use by strawberry-milk! You go, Girl!!!
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@jfcheney
I hear ya, Sister! I keep items I collect or create in a Private Collection until I use them. Then, it's okay if someone uses an item I've found/uploaded.I think the idea of UrStyle having an option offered in the upload screen (provided you are uploading one item at a time, as you can upload five items at once) that indicates or marks that something is for PUBLIC or PRIVATE use, with the name of the Member who's uploading it, is a great solution to this issue -- but does UrStyle really care enough to do that? I don't think so, but it's worth suggesting!
Also, once you upload an item, it's automatically in their system which means it can be found in a search even if you've put it in a Private Collection -- It will show up in searches based on what you name the upload. That's the key.
Do a "product" search for: FunkyJunkyGypsy SET and you will get Polyvore Sets and UrStyle Sets I've uploaded. I think it's pretty evident that they are Sets and not items.
Now search Ette under products and you will see graphics made by @etteniotna, who creates brilliant images and is happy when people use her work --- but not her Sets!
I would suggest that if you really want to keep something private, give it a name that isn't commonly searched, perhaps with wording indicating that it's for Private Use. Maybe... Original Artwork - HANDS OFF ???
Anyone who decides to search for and use graphics with that title is just a jerk!What do you think?
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@artsdesireable OOOH! "AD" -- I would never search for ADs. I'm thinking the word SPAM might also be effective!
And you are most welcome, Dear-heart!
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@funkyjunkygypsy Good idea - let's hope this all can be made to work by admin.
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@auntiehelen
Yes, items are one thing and Sets are quite another! If you do not save your Sets, what will you do if UrStyle shuts down and a new (faster!) site allows you to upload them?
Sets uploaded to Pinterest can be done by anyone, because your Set is actually an image file. There is an browser extension for most browsers that accomplishes this. It's called the Pinterest PIN IT button and you can click on that button (which will be found in your browser's upper bar once you install it and may also hover over the image itself) whenever you are on a webpage where you want to save an image to Pinterest. I use Chrome and this is the button you need to install just by clicking on the install command at this page: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pinterest-save-button/gpdjojdkbbmdfjfahjcgigfpmkopogic
It works similar to the Clipper. Give it a try!
Do you also clip items from Pinterest? That's fun too!
As for the fact that people just clip Sets and do not give them a proper name, there's not much that can be done about that --- unless you want to place text under each Set you make asking anyone who PINS your Set to name it after you. Not worth it.
Many Users here place their signature as a graphic at the bottom of their Sets, sort of like an artist signing a painting. That's your best best. Created on Urstyle by @auntiehelen ?People who save other people's Sets have the ability to rename their pins, but I don't think they'd bother even if you asked them to. However, once "pinned", the Set image should link back to the original page it was pinned from (your Set) when clicked on.
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@sjlew and @pwhiteaurora and ALL.... What do you think?
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@funkyjunkygypsy Well, I suppose I must be in a minority (of one !!!??) here, but I just enjoy creating the sets.... I really don't want to keep them forever! Having said that I agree I would be pi**ed if someone took one and called it their own !
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@auntiehelen You may not be in the minority. I may simply be sentiMENTAL.
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@funkyjunkygypsy . Yeah, no one messes with the Fonz, love it!
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@FunkyJunkyGypsy and @auntiehelen -
Someone used one of my uploaded Polyvore sets in a contest and it was clearly marked"Girlyideas Polyvore Steampunk Art". Of course she added her touch to it. https://urstyle.fashion/shop/20101753 It was a mistake on her part. I was a surprised, not angry. It LOOKS exactly like what it is - a full doll set. She asked if I wanted her to remove it and I sand no. It could have been from either platform uploaded. Here is the secondary problem we ALL have of which we can't ever control. Tons of our Polyvore sets were saved on Pinterest by us, friends or pretty much anyone who liked it. They can be uploaded into URStyle by anyone. I know we get weirdly attached to our artwork but is it really ours anymore? We are using other peoples art in a cut and paste situation. This is supposed to be fun with friends, right? Not a battle and these things are not always intentional. Not EVERYONE experienced Polyvore. Britt - @girlinthebigbox had this happen early on - someone used one of her PV sets as part of a set thinking it was a "Cluster" to be used. Just know, even if your set is clearly marked, one - someone may not have experienced Polyvore or two - someone uploaded your set they found on Pinterest. xoxox Ladies and Happy Saint Patrick's Day
Tracy @Girlyideas -
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@girlyideas
Yes, I agree. MANY people will not be aware of the etiquette. And Pinterest is just all over the place, so clear names stating that the art is not for use may be helpful in reducing this, but I doubt it. There are websites that specifically offer original artist-created graphics for free, to use any way you wish. The artist often puts their name to the work, yet gives it away as free-to-use, even if it's a full doll. This furthers the confusion between what's okay to use and what is not when it comes to online images and art.When we upload a graphic to UrStyle, UrStyle seems to state that the graphic becomes their property. Not true. Actually, it's the Sets we create that they claim ownership of. In their Terms of Service, they expressly state:
"You understand that any items you import, and sets you create on the Website will be made available to the public.
"Further, you hereby grant us, our affiliates, and our partners a worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free, nonexclusive, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, create derivative works of, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, transfer, transmit, distribute, and publish the sets you have created using the Website."
"You understand that any items you import, and sets you create on the Website will be made available to the public."
What this means is that all items we upload will be made available to the public to SEE, not use.It's our SETS that UrStyle is claiming the rights to -- not the components of a Set.
"Further, you hereby grant us, our affiliates, and our partners a worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free, nonexclusive, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, create derivative works of, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, transfer, transmit, distribute, and publish the SETS you have created using the Website."They cannot claim rights to uploaded items. They cannot claim rights to a clipped picture of a Gucci bag, for instance, because Gucci produced and owns that image. (BUT if that photo is used to create a Set with their software, UrStyle can claim the Set. Doesn't mean they will, just that they can. So be mindful when uploading photos of family if you don't want them used in some way...)
Since Urstyle cannot claim rights to a clipped picture of a Gucci bag because Gucci produced and owns that image, they also cannot (and do not) claim rights to images/items we upload. Therefore, if we're uploading a Set or some special graphics we've created for our own use, labeling the images to clearly reflect that is important. It' not complete security against someone using our work, but at least it's half the battle. (The other half is people doing the right thing and respecting your creation rather than incorrectly insisting it's now common property.)
It all comes down to what I said in my post:
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One should not knowingly use a copy of someone’s Set to create their own.
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If someone happens to do this without realizing that the graphic was not intended to be used as an ‘item’ by its creator, one should either delete the Set or revise the Set by removing the art if the artist or someone else notifies you that said art was not to be used.
We could get into a whole intellectual property debate, but legalities aren't my point. Education (making others aware) and ethics among artists is what I'm hoping more Users will practice here now that the topic has been brought up. I'm sure the following symbol on Set Image uploads, and even on the Sets themselves, will make it obvious to others that the graphic is not to be used.
This doesn't mean they will respect this, however... -
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@sjlew or the Alien... https://urstyle.fashion/shop/25859719
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@funkyjunkygypsy - In a perfect world. I totally agree with you - it's called playing nice. We experienced the rash of "Copy Cats" on Polyvore. It was usually an obstinate child who opened multiple accounts to make artists and designers angry. It worked too. I haven't seen that blatant disrespect on URStyle. I also believe Polyvore had a huge following, member database - larger than URStyle. I was on it for many years and have met people here on URStyle that I never met on PV. Members are MUCH nicer here, too.
I do hope this works out for everyone. xoxox
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@girlyideas said in Member Uploads: What’s okay to use and what isn't:
Members are MUCH nicer here, too.
I do hope this works out for everyone. xoxoxI agree with everything you said! And yes, I find people much nicer here, oddly... Wonder why the Polyvore assh*les didn't come here... Just glad they didn't!
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@funkyjunkygypsy this is really good info FJG, thanks for sharing it. It would make sense that moodboard sites would claim ownership rights to the Sets since they are supplying the platform for members to participate, but it also makes it easy for other members with less integrity to use them and claim it's their work. There's nothing we can do about Terms and Conditions, but using a company name or some sort of logo that indicates it's your Set would be a way for other members to recognize if they try and claim it's theirs, the proof is directly in the Set that it's not true. This also helps when we upload our Sets to other social media sites, who do not claim ownership of Intellectual Property.
Of course, anyone can up or download anything on social media sites. There's no rules preventing this, so the reality of the risks are there. It's a personal choice on whether we're willing to take that risk. I put a recognition mark that only I can see inside my Sets in random places and I also put the name of my company that's clearly visible.
Blocking a member will also keep them from being able see your Page at all, so that's another options.
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@funkyjunkygypsy LOL, the alien, love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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@rainheartart
Glad you found the information helpful!!! That's what I was hoping for.using a company name or some sort of logo that indicates it's your Set would be a way for other members to recognize if they try and claim it's theirs, the proof is directly in the Set that it's not true. This also helps when we upload our Sets to other social media sites, who do not claim ownership of Intellectual Property.
Exactly! Of course, when using art from this website or art created by others, it can be a sticky situation, but if all you're doing is claiming that the design, presented as a graphic, is original to you, I think that would solve a lot of problems.
Of course, anyone can up or download anything on social media sites. There's no rules preventing this, so the reality of the risks are there. It's a personal choice on whether we're willing to take that risk. I put a recognition mark that only I can see inside my Sets in random places and I also put the name of my company that's clearly visible.
Very smart. I guess the one that only you can see is hidden behind something and shows up in ITEMS USED? That will only help you here on UrStyle, so it's smart to put a second mark that is clearly visible.
Blocking a member will also keep them from being able see your Page at all, so that's another options.
Very true... though they can create a second account and view them that way. And at that point, reporting them for violating Terms of Service is warranted, as I believe UrStyle identifies us by our IP -- which may not work if one is using a smartphone or tablet and changing locations or using an IP blocker. So, it comes down to marking your work as clearly as you can, keeping fingers crossed, and explaining to Violators what they may have unknowingly done and asking them to remove your Set or graphic. And when they give you a hard time, well, how you handle that is up to the individual. I personally love the 'shaming Set' method, but if someone was really an asshle about it, I would likely help myself to one of their Sets (the image) upload it giving it a sarcastic name, and post a Set using it, dedicated to the asshle -- a sort of "This is how it feels." lesson. But that's just me. 🤪
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@sjlew I knew you would!
