(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Recently I decided to read the thread You must login or register to view this content. and was a little concerned about the way it defined the actual offense. The Low Key OG wrote in his post that "ripping is basically stealing one's work and claiming or using it as if it is your own," which is partially correct; unfortunately, the way he worded it was too specific and leaves out many of the subtleties of what ripping is. I want to clarify, for the purpose of giving the Moderators and Admins more concrete understanding of what is or is not allowed.

1. - Ripping is STEALING
Everyone (or, most everyone) understands this overarching concept, but to be fair there are cases where stealing isn't actually stealing. Let me offer a clarification of the "line" that needs to be crossed:
A tag is only being "stolen" to the point where it is unchanged from the original artist's work, or only 'lightly' changed (i.e. only text added, or only altered with effects that show a less-than-reasonable attempt to make the art one's own creation, such as only changing the color scheme).
It's hard to put a definitive stamp on just how much someone needs to alter a tag to make it his or her own artwork, but that's not to say it cannot be done nor that it has not. If I could offer my own thoughts (which is essentially what I'm doing in this entire post, so yes I can offer my own thoughts), the following would be considered reasonable amounts of change to the tag:
-vectoring the entirety of the tag (seeing as it does take a damn lot of skill to do a proper vector).
-adding enough effects to show an obvious change to the style of the tag, like the difference between You must login or register to view this content. and You must login or register to view this content..
-using the original artist's work only as an effect or small part of a new piece of art, as in using You must login or register to view this content. in a tag like You must login or register to view this content..

Ripping is NOT ASKING PERMISSION
Probably the most often-overlooked aspect of ripping is that of using another artist's work as a main focal point of the tag, or even sometimes as a texture or effect, without the original artist's permission. Now, this isn't true of all artists - only of ones that have copyrights on their work (which most do not - but ones on DeviantArt and some on sites like Flickr do).
Using the artwork - including photography, drawings, and paintings (both digital and conventional) - of another non-commercial artist is ripping unless otherwise noted by the artist.

I want to make this second point EXTREMELY CLEAR: any artwork used from DeviantArt and not specifically from the Resources and Stock Images section is to be considered out-of-bounds for use by any artist, unless that artist has gotten the proper permission from the original artist of the piece they want to use. Using artwork without permission should be on the same level of offense as blatantly ripping someone's tag and claiming it as their own.

(As an aside, having spoken to many Deviants I have learned that they are usually VERY willing to let you use their work, as long as you ask permission and mention their name or post a link to their DA account wherever you post the tag that uses their art.)

I don't know how well I've clarified everything here, I'm rushing to get this done before heading to sleep. But please posts and questions or concerns you have with this post, and I'll be happy to address them.