Pixelart and copyrights
Printed From: Pixel Joint
Category: The Lounge
Forum Name: Diversions
Forum Discription: Get to know your fellow pixel freaks. Chat about anything to do with video games, comic books, anime, movies, television, books, music, sports or any other off topic bs you can think of.
URL: https://pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16258
Printed Date: 13 June 2026 at 6:21am
Topic: Pixelart and copyrights
Posted By: Bitslap
Subject: Pixelart and copyrights
Date Posted: 02 May 2013 at 9:34am
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Hello
I have a question about copying. Someone recently got inspired by my "Hero" and made derivative sprites. There are obvious reuses of shape and solutions. Original 
Copy 
How is this looked upon in the pixel art community? Do individual artists care about stuff like this or is there a common opinion around it? At first i am flattered but also worried. I created a sort of archsprite i could derive from with the sole purpose of creating several different indie games. I'm worried that i have to hurry up and finish my own games before someone else does. Turning to your experience and wisdom for guidance. 
Cheers Bitslap |
Replies:
Posted By: Hapiel
Date Posted: 03 May 2013 at 3:52am
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They seemed copied indeed, but at this resolution it is hard to make a strong case. If I were you I would ignore it, if the same artist rips off more work (such as the animations), contact him and ask him to remove it if you like. ------------- |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 03 May 2013 at 6:02am
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This is not legal advice and is only what I know and there could be lots of legal details in any case that can't be foreseen--- With pixelart being such small items it is simply too difficult to claim exclusive rights to a certain piece. There is only so much one can do within a 16x16 pixel area and retain 100% exclusive original pixel placements that would hold in a legal setting. I'm sure I don't have to do much searching to find a sprite that I could claim YOU derived your sprite from even tho you didn't. The biggest obstacle in copyright imfringement is cost, which most don't have or want to bother with. Don't worry about rushing anything for fear of theft because all computer files have a date within the image code and should it ever come to legalities the creation date is easy proven. ------------- |
Posted By: Bitslap
Date Posted: 03 May 2013 at 5:33pm
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Im not interested in suing. But as i said im more worried that i would have to hurry up, which i also have.
I also did'nt want to come off as an asshole when i dont like someone else to get credit for just changing heads. I took a chill pill. And fyi Toysoulyours's kill zone sprites was an inspiration. 
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Posted By: StoneStephenT
Date Posted: 17 May 2013 at 10:06pm
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A couple of things to note: 1.) The Berne Convention gives the creator of a given work automatic copyright once that work exists in a ‘fixed medium’. (Pixel art would certainly count.) This allows you to at least have some form of copyright claim to your work, but to have a far better claim, you’d need to register your work with the copyright office in your specific country. 2.) As jalonso said, an artist can only do so much given a 16x16 space with which to work. Duplications of ideas will inevitably happen, even if it happens unintentionally. People taking inspiration from other people’s works also happens. As an example: last night, I used Dawnbringer's new 32-color palette to pixel (I can use ‘pixel’ as a verb, right?) a treasure chest that I based on a design from Final Fantasy 6. Those works inspired my work, and my work may inspire someone else down the line. Culture grows and changes and becomes something entirely new because we look to others’ works for inspiration. My suggestion: if this other pixel artist plans to rip your pixel art off to use in a commercial project, consider all your legal options (including the dreaded DMCA takedown notice), but if they just want to dick around with the design you made, I say let ’em so long as they don’t take full credit for your work. |
Posted By: Bitslap
Date Posted: 20 May 2013 at 7:18am
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Thanks for the insight.
It's true that it is difficult to create something unique in 16x16. Difficult but not impossible. When i posted the question i was exhausted from finding my own solution in order to show off something of my own. When i get to think about it, im only happy to be an inspiration, just as countless of artists on the PJ gallery have inspired me. None of this worries me today. Cheers |