sfs-animation:

We’ve spoken on this a few times before.

If someone reuploads someone else’s work, especially to Facebook, *let the creator know.* Animation takes a long time and reuploads are damaging to the viability of animation.

Even if they include a source link, still tell the creator. Many people try to justify or defend reuploads by citing the source link.

In our entire time as a studio, which is several years, we have noticed that pretty much no one clicks the source links–many don’t even notice them.

Reuploads are NOT free exposure, because the creator doesn’t get to set or agree to the terms of the exposure, and people as stated usually don’t click the source links. It’s not ‘free’ either because if the creator has the video monetized to pay for the animation process, they’re no longer making money on those reuploaded views.

Additionally a source link has nothing to do with fair use–rather it’s usually a requirement AFTER fair use has already been established.

Giving credit does NOT give you a license to reupload.

Even at this point there is no reason to reupload someone else’s work. You can link to the original video just fine–short term (which is all pages care about) links work just as well as uploads.

For those of you who are just here to watch videos, and might say “This doesn’t affect me.” It DOES affect you, especially if you’re passive. It becomes more and more difficult to make animations whenever stuff like this happens. If you want to keep seeing animations and videos by creatives, you need to take a stance and help protect them.

Don’t share stolen content, inform the creator whenever you find their work stolen, and tell people in the comments to watch the original. And don’t justify reuploads that don’t have explicit permission. Including a source is not the same as having permission.

This is important and has been haunting me for a while. Please PLEASE notify the creators if a video has been freebooted or we won’t be able to support our lifestyles and talents!