Plagiarized NFT collections and instances of art theft remain a persistent problem within the market.
Plagiarism and art theft are significant concerns in the Web3 landscape. For instance, in early 2022, OpenSea disclosed that a large percentage of free NFTs created on its platform were fraudulent or stolen creations. reported According to some reports, 80% of the no-cost NFTs minted on their platform are plagiarized works or scams. Additionally, there's a Twitter account dedicated to reporting instances of stolen art being sold on various NFT platforms. NFT Thefts The Pink Cat NFT collection heavily borrows from artworks seen in the Tank Girl comics among other sources .
Saba Moeel, a digital artist well-known for her ongoing comic series, Pink Cat Daily, has garnered a substantial following on Instagram—over 238,000 fans. Despite the apparent popularity of her NFT collection, many observers note that her work closely resembles that of other creators. The collection remains active on OpenSea as well as its official website.
The controversy erupted when Moeel was invited to the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF), but her invitation was rescinded following loud criticism from fans and accusations of her utilizing others' art in her comics.
TCAF issued a statement saying, 'At the time we extended the invite, we were not aware of Moeel's problematic online behavior, including her alleged plagiarism and tracing allegations. We sincerely regret promoting and programming this artist.'
Moeel acknowledged that she drew influence from Tank Girl comics yet seemed oblivious to the fact that her NFT and comic series had recreated and borrowed heavily from these decades-old works. wrote in an official statement.
She mentioned that Tank Girl represents one of her favorite artistic inspirations for Pink Cat. comic book . She mentioned Interestingly, an image of Pink Cat featured in an article by the Los Angeles Times, where it was dubbed 'the Gen Z Garfield,' was actually traced—originating from a vintage chocolate advertisement from the 1960s.
This raises the argument that 'the visuals might not matter as much; what truly counts is the narrative behind them.'
On top of that, the Pink Cat argued In a different context, if art was created solely for enjoyment and appreciation (while acknowledging the original creators), it wouldn't lead to problems. The real issue arises when individuals capitalize on artworks they did not create.
Enforcing copyright on art could serve as a deterrent against theft and streamline the process for pursuing legal recourse. However, in some situations, such as a case involving a Middle Eastern NFT platform, U.S. laws had limited impact. The decentralized nature of NFTs, combined with the anonymity that scammers exploit, complicates matters further.
Copyright and laws concerning NFTs
As the leading NFT marketplace, OpenSea has started to combat art theft by delisting infringing content, banning offending accounts, and implementing image recognition technology. More stringent regulations are necessary to cut down on these thefts, including better verification processes and harsher penalties for offenders. the case of artist Minh Kieu When purchasing NFTs, it's crucial to conduct thorough research into the artist and their collection to avoid inadvertently supporting art theft. For instance, if an artist isn't promoting their NFT collection across their social media channels, it's a strong indication that someone may have stolen their work.
Cool Cats NFTs are making their way into The Sandbox Metaverse.
DC Comics has announced the launch of its own NFT marketplace.
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