Fan art is something to behold, especially when it is in our fandomverse. And attribution is a good thing. It is upon the kindness of the sharing party to provide decent attribution from the shared art. But it is not MANDATORY and DEMANDING IT IS FUCKED UP!
Artists are taking forms they did not create and using their talents to create derivatives with their skill. Their skills COST, and that should be what is important and remunerated and by our group, we respect it. But the final completion of the art of a derivative work that the artist does NOT own the intellectual property license nor has approval from Lucasfilm to create, is NOT — NOT what needs to be attributed by law.
You can go to court to demand copyright, but you don’t own the license. You created the work out of the kindness of your heart. That’s just the final artform work.
Here is Disney Lucasfilm’s legal framework that our parent company, Ariafya LLC follows (source):
Our long-standing company policy does not allow us to accept or consider unsolicited creative ideas, suggestions or materials. In connection with anything you submit to us – whether or not solicited by us – you agree that creative ideas, suggestions or other materials you submit are not being made in confidence or trust and that no confidential or fiduciary relationship is intended or created between you and us in any way, and that you have no expectation of review, compensation or consideration of any type.
THE SKILL OF THE ARTIST IS NOT IN QUESTION HERE!
Should you want Disney Lucasfilm to consider your work as an artist or an author, you have to take the RISK to get your name out there. Do what it takes to get noticed by the fandom. PARTICIPATE IN THEIR ACTIVITIES! NETWORK! Don’t massively bad-mouth Disney Lucasfilm and their products.
Inside tracks and knowing someone on the inside is fine and a plus, but Disney is still a corporate entity that wants professionals in its repertoire. They want professionals to KNOW how to play the game and will not freeze up when it is crunch time. Disney is the big league.
If you are yelling and trolling fans for not attributing your work on social media sites, like Tumblr, then you are pathetic and not in the big leagues. No one stole your work, your game in PROMOTION of your work was sloppy and pathetic in this day and age of social media. So it would behoove you to learn this business, first.
If you are going to POST your work ANYWHERE online before the public eye, then you need a business plan of fandom social media engagement and reaction. Yelling at fans or trolling them is going to get you hated. Trolling is not Fandom.
I am not a visual artist. But I do have an official business license and I know how to work social media well enough to get my work where I need it and with commercial support. And yes, I will ask what’s in it for me because I do business, not placating sensitivities. This is not about someone’s emotional instabilities, this is adulting and there are things I have to do in order to complete my project goals that I have set for my needs in a timely manner.
You want to make friends on social media, join a dating app.
You want to take your art to the big leagues, that’s what I’m all about…
Star Wars Performance University 