ALTERED-ZER0 Probably give them a deadline (maybe another week or something since they're so active) and let them know if there's no response by then you'll be finishing up the design and selling it off. If you're really worried, you can adjust the colors, too, but if most of the unpaid design was your concept to begin with and they're wasting your time for no good reason, you have every right to sell it off after the deadline passes.
Hello!
8/9: New PSA added.
5/14: 2 new PSAs added.
4/8: New PSA posted and additional information on Squidribs added to relevant PSA.
It was suggested that there should perhaps be a general thread for PSAs which is a fine idea. A place that links to other PSAs and keep things organized.
You can link your threads/PSAs/etc, and I'll add them to the posts. :D
Please Note: I can only accept public PSAs. Anon PSAs are too much of a risk to accept, as they can be open to slander.
Things That Count for PSAs!
-Scams
-Illegally chargebacked (you did a commission, but person claims you never did, for instance)
-Being shifty on doing owed things (taking months on an icon for example, lack of contact or updates, etc)
-Tracing and profiting off of it...
-Etc...
Things That Don't Count!
-Someone has better art than you
-Rude behavior
-Subjective issues
-Dog ate your homework
Obviously, this is just the basic frame work. Each case is different. For instance, someone could go around harassing artists for art and customs, or for people to give up their adopts and whatnot, and that could almost certainly be considered for a PSA...
Of course, it would be great if no more PSAs occur, but in the case they do, I support people posting them because they keep the community safe and will link to them in this general thread. owo/
There'll be two posts, one for PSAs and one for resolved cases! ^^
Okay, so I got scammed, and I want to know if it would warrant a PSA.
I saw a user "pupsadopt" on deviantART, I instantly recognized them because I follow pupsadopts on Instagram. They had an elf adopt listed for $5, so I purchased it. Like usual, they gave me their email through comments (which I didn't screenshot because I usually don't) and I paid the $5. They commented saying to message them my email for the unwatermarked art. Once I did, they deactivated, apparently. I messaged pupsadopts on Instagram saying sending me the art was no rush, and they confirmed that it was not them and that I had been scammed. I'm currently trying to file a refund on PayPal.
I'm not sure if it warrants a PSA or how to even go about making one...
Ugh, so frustrating. I really badly wanted that adopt, elves are so hard to find... but obviously it's even more frustrating that it was a scam. I've never had this happen before so I'm not sure how to move forward. I don't even know what to say while issuing a refund on PayPal, lol.
Edit: Did some more research and talked to the Insta user some more. When you Google the email, it comes up with a second DA account called zolo-adopts. Then, if you Google https://www.deviantart.com/zolo-adopts (as a search, not visiting the URL), it shows that they sold some more adopts that were likely not theirs, one of which was likely $28 because they were selling an almost identical one for that price. Yikes yikes yikes.
I currently have screenshots of:
-Google Images result for the adopt that I "purchased" listed on the deactivated account, and two other Pupsadopts adopts that they put up for sale
-my PayPal transaction and their e-mail
-Google Images results for https://www.deviantart.com/zolo-adopts of them selling more art that they don't own
ALTERED-ZER0 If you end up selling the design to someone other then the original commissioner, I would make a note on the character letting people know what is going on and why it's being sold. It's best to give people a heads up about potential things that could happen later on. The person who commissioned you might be the type to take the design and try and trade or resell it as they believe they have some claim to it even without paying.
I heard from someone on dA that there is a group/ thread dedicated to helping artists with unjust chargebacks? ;u;
I did a commission for the user LocalDiety here. They issued a chargeback 2 months after the original order, and I sent PayPal screenshots of the order, the receiving of the goods and even them displaying it in their character’s gallery. PayPal still ruled in their favour using the reason “intangible goods aren’t covered”. Isn’t digital art a service? T.T
Paypal does not protect intangible goods and services, unfortunately.
e: It's absolutely horseshit, mind, but it's how it is. Digital artists are not protected.
Can someone please help me? I have no idea what to do.
This is regarding the PSA that I posted above.
I'm scared that they're going to open a claim on me and that I'm going to get my PayPal shut down...
cerviidae They're the one scamming you and since they're still trying to pretend to be someone else I'm not sure why you haven't opened a claim on them already. As you said, you have proof that that they're not pupsadopt and they're selling stolen content. Paypal isn't going to shut down your account over this, or at least I can't imagine it. Open the claim for the money back since they refuse a refund and let paypal do the rest.
January I sent them another note to notified them about the design about a week ago, they read it on the same day the note was sent but sadly, I didn't get any reply from them. (They were active when I sent the note btw)
SquidsInTheAttic I'll make sure to let the buyer know! The original sketch I sent to the original commissioner was heavily watermark so it would be hard for them to use the design but I'll keep an eye out!
Thanks both of you!
Lotor
I honestly don't know. The mods here don't do anything unless the original creator says they can't resell them. Since the creator said it was alright I don't think the mods will do anything.
Personally I would reach out to the creator and get their say in the matter as that's the only way the mods will listen or do anything.
If you wouldn't mind sending me who it is I would appreciate it.