Member Uploads: What’s okay to use and what isn't


  • Polyfam

    This post is deleted!
  • Twisted Gypsies

    @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:

    1. One should not knowingly use a copy of someone’s Set to create their own.

    2. 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... 😕

  • Twisted Gypsies

  • Polyfam

    @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💓💓💓💓

  • Twisted Gypsies

    @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. xoxox

    I 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! 👍

  • Twisted Gypsies

    @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.

  • All Things Wedding

    @funkyjunkygypsy LOL, the alien, love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Twisted Gypsies

    @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. 🤪

  • Twisted Gypsies

    @sjlew I knew you would! 👽 💙 👽

  • Twisted Gypsies

    @funkyjunkygypsy I think the bottom line here is that we're choosing to take the risks that come with being on a moodboard site of any kind, but we have to understand those risks and it's always a plus if we can find ways to protect our Intellectual Property, which is our designs. We're the only ones that can implement those safeguards so it's really good to get feedback from each other.

  • Twisted Gypsies

    @rainheartart Agreed 100%!!! Well put! 👍 💙 👍


  • @funkyjunkygypsy Well thank you so much for your (once again 👍 😉 ) "detailed" reply! It does not surprise me AT ALL that your instructions to make the paper airplane were the most precise to result in the correct outcome!! ☺
    Over the past many months I have definitely noticed items of yours that you simply label "FJG" and I was aware that URSTYLE does rename the items (computer generated numbering, etc.)... So I guess I should have thought it through more before I made the queries I did! 😏
    Anyway, I appreciate all of your time & effort in bringing these things to our attention!! Also, very interesting that your college major was psychology! If you don't mind sharing, what major line of work did you use your degree for?

  • Beauty, Fashion and Fun (BFF)

    @girlyideas said in Member Uploads: What’s okay to use and what isn't:

    It was usually an obstinate child

    The obstinate child I can handle. Children tend to be immature and can be taught to be polite, considerate, empathic, and respectful. An adult who should already know all these things is harder for me to understand and excuse…

  • Twisted Gypsies

    @pwhiteaurora You want the long version or the short version? 😉


  • Although I read this string of posts some time ago, I reread it today b/c of ongoing issues with the items I clip being used immediately by other members. I realize that once the items are on URStyle they're no longer exclusively mine & it sounds like they can be found by searching on an item name. That said, I am now immediately moving clipped items into private collections. I don't have any issue with someone using items from my published sets, but as far as I'm concerned, they can find & clip their own items instead of raiding someone else's as soon they appear. In fact, I'd be happy to share a copious list of the websites I frequently use to anyone who asks. Thanks for allowing me to vent!

ACTIVE URSTYLERS

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