[quote=@Valor]
What's the general view about this? It's overwhelmingly common for people to include an image as a character description or as a supplement to one, yet I've seen a fair chunk of people that refuse to roleplay with people who do use an image, even if it's only a supplement.

Some people even go so far to call this art theft, and would report people who did to the admins in the hopes of getting them banned. I think this is honestly a bit excessive, but I'd like to hear other views.

Here's my take on it: It's fine to use an image so long as you do not edit it in any way, shape, or form and leave all signatures, watermarks, and other notes on the artwork where they are. Credit the artist if you can (So long as linking to that artists profile/gallery doesn't trigger the adsense, anyway.) and don't claim that you made or own the artwork. Stealing the entire character is a No-No. Write your own character for the image.

A lot of artists (and people) say to ask them/ask the artist first. That's fine and dandy, but what if the artist doesn't respond for months? Do you just use it anyway? What if, if/when they finally respond, they say no?

I know this is going to be a hot topic, so please be civil. I will monitor and report anyone trying to start fights.
[/quote]

Damn, wish I saw this topic earlier as it is an interesting thing to talk about. I used to work on a graphics forum and this topic alone would span on for many, many pages as to what can be classed as yours and what can be classed as theft.

So I will ask a few things, and some may have been answered but sorry, I'm not prepared to spend my time reading ALL the posts in detail and critiquing each comment.

[b]Are people claiming ownership for their picture that they post?[/b]
If yes, then it is theft, but 99% of people will use Google to search for a 'reference' image. That's what's important, it's a reference image. You are creating a character based on a particular person and using an image as a source to relate to. Even if you recreate Ash Ketchum in a Pokemon RP it'll be classed as a personal interpretation and the image used shouldn't be taken seriously as it is also a personal interpretation of the original character.

[b]Are images on the internet free to use?[/b]
Sometimes... Some images are personal creations. These are generally a NO when it comes to use, but what is a personal creation because I can take a photo of a butterfly and claim that as my own, but do I own the image itself, the butterfly, of the way it was photographed with the filters, lighting and colours? It's a very grey area and believe me, it's not a discussion that can actually end.

[b]Is it wrong to use an image and edit it?[/b]
Yes, but the next question I have to as is "Are you making money off that edit?".
So let's say I take that image of the butterfly and crop it onto the hair of a photo of a girl. I then create a character that loves butterflies and she participates in an RP. Is that wrong as it's only used as a reference image, a personal interpretation that could be no different to be cutting a picture out of a magazine and gluing it onto a photo?
This is where I do believe people get a little too protective about things that they create online. Unless they are generating an income from that image, what grounds do they have if someone decides to use their image for another creation? Musicians do it all the time with samples.
Take a look at this: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvYZRskNV3w]This is Sparta[/url]
Technically this uses voice and imagery from the movie 300, but it's not generating income and yet it's still up... but then we compare that to [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz09W2Z6OOU]Angry Joe's Nintendo Video[/url] and you will see that he got a copyright strike for just showing his gameplay of Mario Party.


So in essence I have gone off topic, sorry lol, but in reality you are talking about Copyright and it has got to be one of the hardest things to police. That's why they have million dollar law suits over small things... examples below:

[url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/GTA-5-Developer-Sued-By-Mob-Wives-Star-62498.html]GTA5 Mob Wives Lawsuit[/url]
[url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/lindsay-lohan-fires-back-in-gta-5-lawsuit/1100-6422867/]GTA5 Lohan Lawsuit[/url]
[url=http://www.insidegamingdaily.com/2013/10/11/lawsuit-filed-against-gta-v-over-music/]GTA5 Music Lawsuit[/url]
(All have been dismissed on different grounds from what I am aware of as they generally came gown to licensing and parody)