I love deviantart as a community, but is it just me or have they turned more corporate lately. Its changed from a place to put your art into a place where they act like its something special to be here, like you owe them something. When in reality they are completely dependent on us. I mean it used to be when I submitted a peice of artwork it was like a group effort where I was contributing to them and they were contributing to me, now when you submit and you have to read their stupid "agreement" its like drilling holes into your teeth. This is their agreement in my own words. "We own everything you write. You are our bitch. We are taking your art for free, but you need to thank us. Your art belongs to us, we will no longer even pretend that you have any right to your own work. Your art belongs to us. Your soul belongs to us. If slavery in your country is allowed you belong to us. (catch the pattern)

Sincerly your friends at Deviantart.

Funny at some point it felt like you knew your "friends"(people that run deviantart) at deviantart, now you really don't.

Oh well guess it had to happen eventually. Its already turned much more into a broker between artists and buyers than a community for people to share artwork that is just for enjoyment. I mean, I know some people are talented and want to sell their work, but honestly how many of you actually intended to sell anything on deviantart? Admit it, you wanted to see other people's work, and hell, I'll be vain and admit it, I wanted to know what other people thought of my work, but most of all it was just a place to enjoy talking to other artists, getting advice on how to improve, and seeing other's kick ass art for free. Now I feel like its ebay more than a community, and I personally don't feel safe submitting my work here for them to profit off of. (No I dont think I'm that good, but thats not the point.) They take exclusive rights to do whatever the hell they want to do with my work, with no intention of giving me any portion of what money they get from it. Again, my work isn't going to sell, but, they sure seem to want all the money if it does. They've changed from artist friendly, to money friendly, as happens to all things that start out positive.
As a side note that has nothing to do with this particular argument. Don't ever submit anything here that you think might be successful, or intend to sell, because remember they have the right to sell your stuff, its in the agreement. (one way to make sure that some artistst hat might have, will never put their best quality stuff here.) The reason I say this is because if you do plan on being a professional artist and your name gets out there, you will become deviantarts whore, and legally you can do nothing about it. (Luckily for me, I know not to quit my day job, so it doesnt bother me. But a lot of you are good enough to be professionals, and this could really harm your ability to sell to other publishers. If you research, first most places will only buy from you if they have exclusive rights so anything you've done with deviantart is off limits to them. Second, they can use your name without your permission, because you say its ok for them to, again in the agreement. Again, this limits your ability to advertise, or work for a particular company, because deviantart can use your name and most publishers don't like working with you, when deviantart can use you as well. As for visual artwork I haven't done much reasearch on that, but I bet you its pretty close to the same deal as here. Anyway enough ranting.

Mike.