Comic artist Liam Sharp currently faces the problem of his work being stolen and sold digitally for someone else's gain.Sharp announced on Twitter that he would be shutting down his DeviantArt gallery showcasing his art, being that it is being taken by others and turned into non-fungible tokens (NFTs) without his permission. "Sadly I'm going to have to completely shut down my entire @DeviantArt gallery as people keep stealing my art and making NFTs," the post reads, showcasing an example of a minotaur piece raising a red flag as a pirated NFT. "I can't - and shouldn't have to - report each one and make a case, which is consistently ignored. Sad and frustrating."
While existing for some time, NFTs have become prominent in the ever-changing digital landscape seen today, while also causing trouble and controversy with regards to creators and companies. Though they have enabled the sale of unique and limited digital art, allowing artists and content makers to find a new source of revenue, they have also led to issues of digital theft, copyright claims, lawsuits and instilling anger among fans.
Most recently, Marvel fans were disappointed and upset after the social media accounts for the late Stan Lee, responsible for many comic book characters and teams that he created and/or co-created, were being used to advertise the sale of an NFT featuring Indian hero Chakra The Invincible. While Lee's accounts have mostly been used to post memories and flashbacks of the icon, a common sentiment among fans was that the advertising post disrespected the creator's legacy. Meanwhile, with regards to legal matters, filmmaker Quentin Tarrantino has also landed in hot water with Miramax over his move to release NFTs of unreleased content from Pulp Fiction.
However, the issue Sharp is facing echoes the calls of many artists and creators who have felt snubbed for recognition and/or compensation for their work over the years and in recent time. Comic book writer Ed Brubaker had revealed this past April that he was paid more for a cameo appearance in Captain America: The Winter Soldier than he was for creating the Winter Soldier character, who was the film's primary antagonist. Moreover, comic artist David Aja recently called out Marvel Studios for promoting Hakweye on Disney+ with posters and other material pulling inspiration directly from his identifiable work with the character in comics.
At this time, Liam Sharp's DeviantArt page remains online, but his announcement on social media indicates that this will not be the case for much longer.
Source: Twitter