Exclusive Stock l
Prize Packs l
My Artwork l
How to Donate l
Note MeSTOCK REVOLUTION
Perhaps the title is a tad dramatic, but i want you to have a read of this article:
[link]And responses are welcome

First of all, I want to make this perfectly clear: There is no finger pointing in this discussion. I would like to see a range of opinions discussed as an open, mature, sharing of ideas...
STOCK RULES: where do they come from? Why are they so confusing?
As an artist who works in both traditional & digital mediums I truly appreciate the stockers here on DA. They provide a bountiful collection of inspiration and I know (as a stocker myself) that there are many challenges and alot of work that goes into creating good stock images.
When it comes to stock rules, there is a problem. And I think for the most part it is a misunderstanding of where we stand as visual artists and as stock providers when it comes to 'commercial' usage.
I have to say, this is frustrating:
'You can use my stock for DA prints...
Not for commercial use.' Now this is a contradiction.
Which is it? Do you allow prints or do you not?
Prints are a commercial use. To restrict commercial use to only DA makes no sense... unless the stocker is relying on the fact that on Deviantart there is a 1 in a trillion chance that an artists work will actually be sold as a print and if it does the artist is unlikely to receive any more than $1 per print unless they are lucky enough to have a premium print account.
There seems to be a general belief that stock use is more easily regulated here on DA than it is offsite. Would you agree or disagree?
Just as a point of interest: what issues do you think of when setting stock rules? or when reading the rules set by a stocker...
These are things I took into consideration when I decided to make my stock unresricted:
I want my stock to be used. I want it to help artists and potential artists to learn. I want it to help established artists find inspiration. I want to see creativity. I am under no illusion that it will only be used by those with talent. I expect it may be misused occasionally and I don't expect to be able to police it.

As an artist I look for inspiration, for good quality, variety. I look for the unrestricted stock or the stocker with clear, simple rules. I use exclusive stock occasionally. I would love to be more successful in selling prints so that i have the finances to purchase more exclusive stock & help support good quality resources.












Why are your rules in place? What do you want from your stock?Hopefully all these questions are leading us to the answers...
I ask another question: If you (the stocker) do not want your images used in a way that could possibly generate income for another artist then it might be an idea to rethink why you are offering stock. Is it for the use of beginners only? Is there a point where you are satisfied that the stock image is altered enough to make it a 'new' image... and to what extent would you be willing or able to control this?
Is the non-commercial usage rule a protection against theft? or does it have a more elaborate explanation?
I believe there is alot of confusion in the community as to what this rule means, and its not just the artists using the stock that are confused.
It is of course the right of the stock provider to set their own rules. But a limitation to
where the image may be used will result in many artists avoiding your stock

We love DA, but as many have pointed out its not the only place for art online.
Now I'm not saying that stock rules should always allow commercial use or that every stocker need make their stock unrestricted (though that would be helpful) but if you allow prints here then it would make sense to allow them outside DA.
If you'd like to be able to pick & choose how your stock is used then explain how an artist will need to use your stock in order to obtain print/commercial permission for their artwork. How much alteration will need to be made?
My personal experiencesAs an artist I work hard to create my work and occasionally am lucky enough to sell an artwork through my personal store. I prefer to sell my work this way as I can control the process and after all my expense I receive the full value of the print.
When I've finished an artwork I upload it to DA and go about the long task of tracking down and crediting and contacting every piece of stock I've used, whether leaf, bird or blade of grass, its only fair that I credit where the building blocks of my art come from.
Yet when i find after all that work that more than half the stock I've used has a contradicting restriction placed upon it, I lose heart.
I will contact all stockers to ask for print permission. Generally, I receive only 2 replies out of every 10 messages sent (and this is spanning a time frame of over 3 months per artwork) I have received no reply for artworks submitted over 12 months ago...
Do I have to meticulously erase every part of my work that doesnt have commercial permission? And this brings me to the next issue: Copyright. A topic so variable and a debate so heated it cannot be contained in this article. Until next time...
Please, I beg you, if you have a contradiction in your stock rules please think about what you are trying to say... lets make it clearer for all the artists and for future stockers too.
xxx
P.S Thankyou to everyone who has commented so far, you've helped a great deal with broadening my perspective and in the expansion of this journal into an article

Original CSS made by `
TwiggyTeeluckTexture by `
Princess-of-ShadowsOther graphics by *
CearaFinnCSS modified by *
GingerKellyStudio
Add Media
Style