Is downloading fanart stealing?

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zeldamagic

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I like to download and store nice fanart for books, shows, and video games. Is that technically stealing since I don’t ask the permission of the artist? I don’t claim the pictures are mine or sell them. I just like to look at them and show them to people I know. I was reading some articles about this but I couldn’t really find a clear answer. If it is stealing, would it be mortal or venial?
 
zeldamagic said:
I like to download and store nice fanart for books, shows, and video games. Is that technically stealing since I don’t ask the permission of the artist? I don’t claim the pictures are mine or sell them. I just like to look at them and show them to people I know. I was reading some articles about this but I couldn’t really find a clear answer. If it is stealing, would it be mortal or venial?
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I sure hope not! I’ve got a collection of on-line art from when Ocarina of Time came out, and I’d prefer not to part with it. 🤷
 
People who upload fanart to the internet want people to see it and download it.

(Heck, just having the picture show up on your computer screen is already downloading it.)

As for the copyright holder, it is generally acknowledged that creating and sharing fanart is fair use under US law. Other countries’ laws may differ, but they are usually all okay with fanart. It’s free advertising for the companies, too.
 
Mintaka said:
People who upload fanart to the internet want people to see it and download it.

(Heck, just having the picture show up on your computer screen is already downloading it.)

As for the copyright holder, it is generally acknowledged that creating and sharing fanart is fair use under US law. Other countries’ laws may differ, but they are usually all okay with fanart. It’s free advertising for the companies, too.
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Free advertising? Not if it’s bad fan art. Real advertising means a company like mine would hire professional artists and we would own the copyright to everything they did. Just because a picture shows up on your screen doesn’t mean you suddenly own it or can distribute it.

Ed
 
edwest2 said:
Free advertising? Not if it’s bad fan art. Real advertising means a company like mine would hire professional artists and we would own the copyright to everything they did. Just because a picture shows up on your screen doesn’t mean you suddenly own it or can distribute it.

Ed
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Is it okay to just save it to look at though? I have some Game of Thrones fanart I like to look at and share with my friend but is that okay? If it isn’t, is it okay to watch videos or read websites that have fanart (since those are everywhere)? If it’s stealing, would that be mortal? I read that there is possibly a certain amount stolen that is always mortal. newadvent.org/cathen/14564b.htm Or does it not really matter? This is driving me crazy!
 
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