[PSA/Beware] Tracing: nemillustrationsart

Posted 4 years, 12 hours ago (Edited 3 years, 11 months ago) by nocturnalraptor

Artist: nemillustrationsart / NeMDG / nem.dg
Beware: Selling traced adoptables.
Original Journal: journal/Artist-Beware-826669309

❗️ [MAY 5TH 2020] : Posting this here as well as I know some users here have some of their adoptables and I wanted to shed light on this. I will preface I have not contacted either artist due to my own nervousness and what appears to be a language barrier. I understand there is no excuse for this. I am only writing this from my perspective on a single adopt that I paid for. I have no idea if any of their other stuff is traced or referenced. If anyone does have further proof of more tracing and/or referencing, feel free to share it here, otherwise please treat this as a single issue. Thank you.

I absolutely hate making these, but I feel this beware is warranted and worth letting others know to be wary when doing business with. I came across an artist, nemillustrationsart, about two months back, one of whom I bought an adoptable from. They undoubtedly have talent, but unfortunately by sheer luck I recently discovered another image that looked strikingly familiar to the adoptable that I bought.

I took this image and superimposed it over the adoptable I had bought. Low and behold, it looks to have been traced. There are obviously some liberties taken here and there with certain shapes and the shading, but aside from that the line work is nearly identical in some spots. The design itself is even similar. I honestly don't see a result where this wasn't traced or at the very least inspired/influenced by the original pixiv upload.

The adopt I bought was uploaded on November 7th, 2019 while the original was uploaded to Pixiv on October 7th, 2019. Normally I wouldn't really pay too much mind to this stuff, since coincidences absolutely happen, but the tracing/copy is just too blatant for me.

NEM: https://sta.sh/22cm0ib5dcr6
SOURCE: https://www.pixiv.net/artworks/77163984
SUPERIMPOSED: https://sta.sh/01h1rfse4ab6

ALL EVIDENCE: https://sta.sh/21l8af9l8db6

Please be wary when doing business with nemillustrationsart. I haven't been able to find out anything regarding the rest of their adoptables and art, only this one piece. This might have been a one time thing for all I know. For myself, I intend to re-imagine the character since it's pretty much a wash at this point. Please, please, please, do not harass, target, insult, etc nemillustrationsart. This is just a journal to bring light and warn others. It's up to you to decide what you'll do with the information I have provided.


❗️ [MAY 6TH 2020] : More research has been done and more of nemi's adoptable's seem to be traced/referenced.
Further evidence listed below, including original uploads and superimposed images:

NEM: https://sta.sh/0wb8022xioy
SOURCEhttps://sta.sh/01267cxie0gp
SUPERIMPOSED: https://sta.sh/0jkplk46gni
LINKS: https://sta.sh/2wzvuwh2liv

NEM: https://sta.sh/01i373w0it62
SOURCE: 
https://sta.sh/0v7luffkcrn
SUPERIMPOSED: 
https://sta.sh/01i8fk9hpqp4
LINKS: https://sta.sh/21la3i8pszy7

NEMhttps://sta.sh/0c3t3aof3sm
SOURCE: 
https://sta.sh/01dvqdesqixw
SUPERIMPOSED: 
https://sta.sh/01lt11wgtxkf
LINKS: https://sta.sh/2zaiq8zgmum

NEMhttps://sta.sh/0yfq5o5jqn1
SOURCE: 
https://sta.sh/0k1jzg1fbkt
SUPERIMPOSED: 
https://sta.sh/0jz4plq2crc
LINKS: https://sta.sh/2czmwpsh6e4

NEMhttps://sta.sh/010xdsl37cmq
SOURCE: 
https://sta.sh/08a4e3z0tuo
SUPERIMPOSED: 
https://sta.sh/0sqf1uut17k
LINKS: https://sta.sh/2ptfk8equpy

NEMhttps://sta.sh/01o4mpv3vtjv
SOURCE: 
https://sta.sh/01y784jban4
SUPERIMPOSED: 
https://sta.sh/0ehi3x52zxn
LINKS: https://sta.sh/21suyjivbp22

NEM https://sta.sh/0mzpxvfz8on
SOURCE: 
https://sta.sh/0s6yktvd2no
SUPERIMPOSED: 
https://sta.sh/01u5zm61my5f
LINKS: https://sta.sh/210il6l07wwm

NEMhttps://sta.sh/0umwrqkgn8x
SOURCE & SUPERIMPOSED: 
https://sta.sh/02g7rwbx06xl
LINKS: https://sta.sh/223jsoew2cuj

NEM: https://sta.sh/0286yfms6p82
SOURCE: https://sta.sh/01lm48du9mff
SUPERIMPOSED: https://sta.sh/028on9ee8ovo
LINKS: https://sta.sh/21fugh601j7x

NEM: https://sta.sh/020r8t1lkxqz
SOURCE: https://sta.sh/093jlowv07
SUPERIMPOSED: https://sta.sh/02ap56bvafq7
LINKS: https://sta.sh/2253hikhq9zo

NEM: https://sta.sh/0ggvou4fhyb
SOURCE: https://sta.sh/01xusbyt12zl
SUPERIMPOSED: https://sta.sh/01e0cbw11d18
LINKS: https://sta.sh/226fb000s1ce

NEM: https://sta.sh/01wmbl126a0i
SOURCE: https://sta.sh/0mk3tkgcsmp
SUPERIMPOSED: https://sta.sh/0i5zs84i5k1
LINKS: https://sta.sh/21k4qqbv87a3

NEM: https://sta.sh/01dvdl1c67oq
SOURCE: https://sta.sh/01r5ir58xp3e
SUPERIMPOSED: https://sta.sh/0n2gxjl5qnz
LINKS: https://sta.sh/21trj3rhrgei

NEM: https://sta.sh/0po99t5bz4t
SOURCE: https://sta.sh/0emxbzxht1f
SUPERIMPOSED: https://sta.sh/0243fh0nxztq
LINKS: https://sta.sh/2x2wyzy5fnb

NEM: https://sta.sh/01pjs5e78up1
SOURCE: https://sta.sh/02c6i142b013
SUPERIMPOSED: https://sta.sh/021yztpgfhv9
LINKS: https://sta.sh/225dzmlv3alm

NEM: https://sta.sh/0j7w469zkhi
SOURCE: https://sta.sh/0ueo4le0u1j
SUPERIMPOSED: https://sta.sh/0gk6dvigaj5
LINKS: https://sta.sh/21vg1f9vm4lz

NEM: https://sta.sh/0vs45fsc1xl
SOURCE: https://sta.sh/014tv7vfmanm
SUPERIMPOSED: https://sta.sh/0f78wjkpmf0
LINKS: https://sta.sh/21opkjyal9cx

NEM: https://sta.sh/0t9pzi9pik9
SOURCE: https://sta.sh/011xxk4w50sp
SUPERIMPOSED: https://sta.sh/01knhdfac9o9
LINKS: https://sta.sh/21wuamwh1hfc

NEM: https://sta.sh/0q46bg4do7y
SOURCE: https://sta.sh/09kp30a36y3
SUPERIMPOSED: https://sta.sh/09xvkeqffgd
LINKS: https://sta.sh/21v80mdezrt7

Additionally it seems nem also traces/copy real people as well.
Please note that these are slight NSFW with skin showing:

NEM: https://sta.sh/224eoqey61yd
SOURCE #1: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtMzEu-g-Ah/
SOURCE #2
: https://www.instagram.com/p/B29k8oViLKA/


❗️ [MAY 7TH 2020] : I had attempted to issue a chargeback, but unfortunately I was past the 180-day protection. After failing to attempt a charegback, I was going to go back to nemi's profile to find out I had been blocked.


❗️ [MAY 8TH 2020] : I have prefaced that I never contacted nemi originally and that is 100% my own fault. I accepted that my adoptable was traced and that I lost my money. I didn't really want to fight it on what I assumed was a single incident. I wrote the beware emphasizing this. I didn't want to get into anything as I have never dealt with this, and again, I fully accept the outcome I've been dealt. I'm continuing with this beware just in case I might possibly get a refund or at the very least, warn others of the abundant amount of tracing evidence.

nemi is claiming that people who are unhappy can come talk to them and that they fully acknowledged they traced and referenced art. The design may differ, but it does not deny the fact that the images are traced and referenced with no credit at all. For now, I would advise anyone with a traced adopt to try and contact nemi requesting a refund and if that falls through, chargeback if possible. I apologize to everyone for not being more upfront when I discovered my adoptable was traced. I hope that nemi can provide solutions for all of those affected.


❗️ [MAY 10TH 2020] : To reiterate, nemi is saying to contact them if you'd like a refund or new art in exchange, so I would advise contacting them first before going to PayPal. I have added more traces and referenced art to the list under the spoiler tag. I've put up all the evidence here. Nemi has also purged most of their gallery. I will say that I, myself, am still blocked. I also posted a beware on artistsbeware.info as well. AFAIK nemi hasn't actually refunded anyone yet, but it sounds like they're making steps to fix the issue. If there are any further updates, I'll post them, but for now, I'm done. Good luck everyone and thank you.

En-zu

Nem got back to me. He said he will refund me, I will let you know if he does!

Ancient

I apologize for the unwanted tag and will not tag further, I'm just trying to reach as many folks as possible before Nem deletes evidence or is banned so folks can get their money back where possible.

HauntedBlack

Shoot, that adopt I adopted looks almost the same as the image they traced (clothes and all).   

Should I write them first and ask for refund or should I attempt Paypal chargeback and inform him about it through message?

Also thank you for the ping

Jesse

Thank you for the ping. This is really unfortunate as I love the two designs I've purchased from them; I had specific purposes for them in a large story I've been working on for months now. While one of the ones I own has no source material for tracing, I know it's probably out there somewhere. 

I'm rather unsure of where to go from here because I really do not want to give up the designs I've purchased. I think I'm mostly struggling to question if it's morally okay to keep them since, while the clothing has been traced, the characters themselves are unique. One of mine is adopt #47, traced from Android 17 artwork, but is completely robotic in terms of bodily features.

I will definitely contact them and request a refund for both, because I thought I was paying for actual artwork, and not traced material, but. I still want to keep them.

beardedmen

I have contact Nem and he has said he will refund me for the adopt, though he has yet to refund me after opening my note containing my paypal email. Will let you guys know if I am refunded or not!
I've also decided to seek out someone capable of redesigning the adopt ! So if you have any recommendations please let me know
Rigby

I second the want for the redesign/adopt adjustments, if anyone's up for it! :) (I had two!) 

I think the most frustrating part about this one is that...clearly the talent and ideas are there. There's just enough originality slathered over those traces to the point where I'm just looking at them going "man, you really didn't need to do that at all, this would've been good fun if not for the whole stealing-bit." 

Rigby

tinyYELL That's almost more uncomfortable, like 'prove it' where he knows very well he's drawn over so many of them. But I'm glad to hear he's at least being...somewhat? Agreeable. 

SweetMinnies

Hello, Edit my comment as I don't explain it well. The image of Nem's Adoptable #51 is very similar to "Cybersamurai"
 
Which looks like they already found the original. Thank you!

I'm also editing it because I wish someone could check it, since I can't right now ;____;

NemAdoptable#51

Cybersamurai

I hope it's helpful, also note that this user has many ideas from this artist: Mole Wang (The humaniodes designs, the feet, etc)

Just that, if I find anything else I'll put it over here.

Sleepy-Thunder

I noticed that he has disabled comments on adopts that were proven traces (ex: One - Two )even though he specifically stated that he wasn't hiding comments and allowing people to say their peace. Side note, on the adopt I purchased, he left a comment that seems to be mocking what I said in my chargeback note to paypal lol. I pointed out in my note that I was uncomfortable owning an adopt from an artist so heavily wrapped up in tracing and linked to copyrighted (other artist's) work. And he says,

"So similar to eva 01 that it scares (?

:O"

lol

Ancient

I'm glad to see more folks are getting thru to Nem and at least being promised refunds...hopefully he actually delivers on that. I've been trying to find as many sources as possible to help with paypal chargebacks, but had to take a break yesterday cuz my eyes were about to implode lol will continue to search for those trying to file chargebacks. 

Jesse in regards to your dilemma, I don't blame you for wanting to keep the character! I think the clothes are the most distinct theft from the Android 17 artwork, and if you put the character into separate attire you'd be fine. But that's just my take.
HauntedBlack I'd definitely try contacting Nem, but I would go ahead with the chargeback regardless of any response from him, since it seems like he's communicating with folks sometimes, but has yet to actually refund anyone to my knowledge?

tinyYELL I agree that that behavior is pretty gross :/ Expecting YOU to prove to him that he's a tracer. We all know he's a tracer lol. I'd demand the full refund and if he refuses, take it to paypal. You've at least found a source for most of the ones you bought, correct? 

beardedmen Rigby as far as artists to help redesign go, I'd recommend Deer-head (DA) RookshocksShack (twitter, opening june 1), PURPLE_CUBE (da) just off the top of my head. I'm also happy to help folks with design edits for free, just toss me a dm!