I Hate Closed Species [RANT]

[@Puddycat431]

ok so once (i was REALLY into vampires and mlp then) so I made blood sucking ponies with twists and lore and stuff and one day I got a note from the owner of a "closed species" saying "you cant do this you cant have them sucking blood my mlp species does that" and me being the insecure 13 year old I was took down my entire species because i didn't want to start fights on the internet with young adults but looking back at it now if i had half as much sass as i do now i would have told them straight "im sorry honey you own vampires? you own bat ponies? do you own anything to do with mlp? no? then i dont wanna hear your shit" like seriously i was told i cant make a vampire pony race because someone else had

[@criesincowboy9629]

Vampires and mlp are still pretty cool.

[@Clevoliver]

People are Outrageous.

[@pandafamily6576]

I agree, it is a bunch of horse poo.

[@bonnietelocole6777]

I was told I couldn't draw clothes wrinkles a certain way because someone else did it that same way and was uncomfortable with me drawing them that way. It's really weird and gatekeep-y so I know exactly what you mean, and I know people absolutely have this kind of audacity. I hope the person that did that to you looks back on their actions with shame every night.

[@lindenbree9188]

Sounds like closed species is basically "fan art not allowed" and "inspiration from this not allowed". Reminds me of Anne Rice, an author who went batshit because people made fanfic of her books. So she not only forced them to delete it, but had her team harass these authors into hiding. My opinion of her is... not very high. I would be honoured if someone liked my stuff enough to make fan art of it. If I was so attached to a character that no one is allowed to take inspiration from it, I wouldn't put it online in the first place. Who am I to try to control what inspires someone? Like if the rule was "derivative art/fan art must give credit to me as the concept owner", I get that. But "you can't draw anything similar ever" is... kind of ridiculous Also, if you're so attached to a character you can't fathom someone else drawing it, I don't see how the hell you'd be okay with selling it off...

[@DH-gq7bm]

Exactly.

[@pandafamily6576]

Yeah, most of my art that I make is basically referenced or inspired by other artists and thats how I learned how to draw. Its a shame that some people are selfish to others that act this way. I hope I'm not rude but, its stupid to me and Aruva made pretty good points. I don't understand why people can't just let inspiration run wild and everything, people just need to stop telling them what to do and change and that they should be happy that people love their art so much that they would want to do fan art or inspiration/referencing. Its kinda depressing to the fans to be honest with ya.

[@MrWereWolfGirl]

Whilst I don't mind closed species I think that some people go way too far and make a let's say dog with a sword attached to their side and call it a closed species, that's when it gets annoying because everything you draw can in some way resemble a closed species and you may not even know about said closed species because you haven't seen them around before and people will call you out oni it and insult you because you "stole the closed species you didn't even know existed"- That's when it gets annoying and overused.

[@RednightPpman97]

Yeah I think it's called a dubDog

[@luka4282]

like DUDE, someone claimed the rights to.. get this, a dog.. made of water.. Waterdogs and all the other closed species make no sense. I will draw what i want, and no one is gonna stop me. I don't go out of my way to "steal" a design you have tried to close off, it just happens.

[@NurseOrysia1]

Ok, but let's say it isn't a waterdog, a wolf with wings, or cinna-dogs. Maybe it's an actually unique looking species, that has rich culture, backstory, and/or lore. Stealing something that someone has poured their heart into, is just flat out disrespectful to the creator. Waterdogs or any, "Original species" that is just a basic wolf, fox, cat, or dog mixed with another animal or object, was made just so that the artist could get a quick buck by these fools who buy them. But as a young creature designer myself, I speak on the behalf of species like gastrosnaps or CCC, those kinds are the ones who have had time, thought, lore and love put in them. And the artists behind it all, in my opinion, deserve some money for creating something like that. Draw all the waterdogs that you'd like, but don't just go ahead and straight up copy artist original designs, and then proceed to call it your own.

[@poutycakes3573]

I think closing off species is like taking away someones imagination of potentially designing a character.

[@TwiDashFTW]

I really want to draw a character based off of a closed species just to make people mad.

[@jarjarblinks1418]

I can understand that, I've seen a fair amount of closed species that people charge 20-30 dollar for them. Hell I've made my own species of OCs but if someone wants to make one go right on ahead! I think the reason why people make those is because they want to properly copy right it but dont know how to so they sell it to show people that this is their design and no one can say otherwise. The thing that gets me is that some people rip designs from other people and attempt to sell it for their own.

[@tinybluechild6361]

I think a major point here is that you can't really stop others from doing what they want. Like, they can draw, so there's really nothing stopping them from making something they love just as much and saying it's just not a part of that species. What are you gonna do? Send your army after them to send them death threats and report them until either they take down this thing that they love or their entire account is ruined? All because they made a character that happens to look like a 'species' you made? That's just stupid and unnecessary and it runs people out of the art community. The art community does not revolve around you or your species, so not every character is a rip off of something you made. What if some artist came to you, saying your beloved species you worked so hard on was almost an exact replica of theirs, a species they also love and worked hard on. What then? Do you just give up on this thing you love because of that? You wouldn't, would you? So why should artists have to do that for you? Like many people have said before me, no concept is truly original. You can't just make a thing and expect no one to make something similar to it ever. It doesn't matter how original you may think it is; it came from something else and there's probably something like it out there. People need to stop actually harassing other artists, all because they happen to have a character that looks like an 'original species'. It's stupid.

[@munchia-]

@KZbin Watcher If I draw something similar, I'm proud of it and someone comes along and tells me to take it down I will be a bitch about it. Most closed species are a damn cash grab anyways.

[@Clevoliver]

" I drew a circle " Other person: That's mine! You're stealing!

[@gremshabs]

YES FINALLY SOMEONE TALKS ABOUT THIS! I went into a furry croup one day and someone was charging $80 for a closed species character with only one full body drawing, IT WAS JUST A PURPLE FOX WITH WINGS!! they were stupidly serious with it

[@AEtherArts]

Furries are the exception for a lot of things cause the fandom is literally based around art so they price things like it's fine art in a gallery.

[@luka4282]

Rotten and that's why art is called a luxury, not everyone is meant to afford it. And if you took a second to think of the hours of work that went into a piece, you'd understand. Also for things out of your price point, how about doing the better option and draw it for yourself and not complain about the price on something you really can live without? (you wanna be salty, then i will be salty as well. bitching about prices on artwork, no matter what it is of or who made it will not get you anywhere.)

[@jazzydrawz3792]

Closed species in my opinion are great but uh...Yep that wasn't a species at all. Don't let them make you think all of us species makers are like that!

[@incognito6814]

I've seen a closed species adoptable go for 500$ And somebody bought it.

[@staceyevans2315]

@@luka4282 I think they mean what the closed species actually was. All it really was is a purple fox with wings. So they mean if it is so uncreative, then why put it such a stupid price? Sense they're put pretty much no effort into making the "species". Yet they think it is enough of a masterpeice to make the price 80 dollars. This is what they really mean. I hope you understand.

[@weezybfree]

me: **laughs in i turned my protogen oc into a primagen just to piss off the artists**

[@jessicabell2814]

This is pure awesomeness 😎

[@CreatorOfTheKoladi]

upgrades people! upgrades!

[@CynicalCopycat]

I get closed species that are like, really well designed, or maybe semi-closed species where you can make a character but can only obtain very rare traits by buying them, or when the person provides many other ways to get them besides money like dta, myo contests, raffles, etc. But what I don't get is people shoving chopsticks up a fox's butt, calling it a close species and asking for 75$. That's just ridiculous.

[@drstinkycat]

basically fox with fans as its tail. Yes theres a freaking closed species about it

[@angelcake3646]

Okay. So lemme give a rundown of why closed species exist and why they are closed. 1. The main point of a closed species is so that the creator of the species can maintain said creature that they probably put a lot of time into. 2. The creator may have rules for the species and would like to make sure people aren't just making a bunch of designs that break these rules. 3. Part of it may be that they want to make sure that the buyer actually wants and uses it. So prices are added in order to make sure only those who really want it will buy. I personally have a closed species that i would like to keep track of and make sure it gets the love it deserves. I also have an open species that i made with the intent that anyone could have one or many as long as the guidelines are generally met.

[@AruvaChan]

That makes a lot more sense tbh.

[@deborahwolfborn]

Yeah, but that also puts a halt to some people’s creativity. I mean I get that you want to do that and moderate it but if someone wants to make a character themselves based off the species they see then as artists they should be free to do so. Maybe they don’t want exactly that species you created they just want a character that looks like it cause it looks “cool” and they can make a story around the character that’s like getting mad because someone made a cat girl character, because it doesn’t fit your definition of what a cat girl should be like. It stifles artists creativity and discourages them from wanting to make art. Art should be free reign and anyone should be free to make what they want to make. I mean what if someone told you you couldn’t make the species you’re thinking of because it’s too similar to another species someone else made. It’s not fair to you or anyone else who enjoys your art and characters

[@angelcake3646]

Deborah Wolfborn i wasn't saying that, i also find it totally ridiculous to claim an animal that already exists and just add some fire or something, i'm talking about the kind that are totally original and aren't just "water dog". No idea is original, someone's thought of what you have at least once. However if someone makes a totally original species unlike practically any other, that's different. In my opinion, if someone makes something close to the closed species that, say, i own, but didn't do it intentionally, that's fine. But i would rather be able to keep track of something i put love and effort into.

[@deborahwolfborn]

Angel Cake see I can get behind that kind of thinking however sadly most people don’t think the way you do in that matter

[@angelcake3646]

@@deborahwolfborn yeah. It sucks tbh

[@otterpuplover]

So like...obviously I haven't read all 300+ comments but I keep seeing a repeating pattern. 1. All the people defending closed species has their "own" closed species. (No bias of course I assume). 2. I'm not sure if more than one person made this sentiment, but I need this to be understood very black and white. FANART IS NOT ILLEGAL. In fact, making money off of fanart is legal (it can be deligitamized for certain reasons, or just aggressive companies, aka our mouse lord). 3. Lore doesn't make something a legitmate reason to "not let" someone draw it. Ex: Avatar The Last Airbender isn't scoring through oc after oc of people "copying" their work. There's a crap ton of lore in the show, yet you can't really claim it to be original and/or something you can copyright of person manipulating *insert element here*. 4. (Last one, I promise). Intellectual property is complicated and convoluted, and has been seriously OVER COPYRIGHTED. I would research why the big mouse man has influenced this line of thinking that "Anything my pencil touches, I own". In the long run, you don't own anything, unless it is legally copyrighted. I do want to add the note that **any form of art stealing is really crappy of them**, such as tracing, recoloring, etc., but it's not illegal to be a jerk. However, if they make money off of these tactics, that's totally a right to report them. Sorry for the long retort.

[@otterpuplover]

If this does actually get a response, do know my sentiment that you can totally be upset and uncomfortable that people are mimicking you. I think that's a completely fair and natural response.

[@monkeyfan250]

If its similar to my close species then sure. But it cant be my species resold without permission. If you want to create a glowing alien species like mine then fine, but you cant take my art and resell it xD. When i "close species" usually its just to keep the main concept in tact. If someone wants to create a species that is so similar to mine that you couldnt tell them apart other then one trait then it is all good. But the species cant BE MINE and sold.

[@vulpinesvisuals6847]

Closing a species seems snobbish too me. I mean, wouldn't you want your species to grow and thrive?

[@jessicabell2814]

EXACTLY!

[@CreatorOfTheKoladi]

"yeah these are the only one's of their kind, i keep them in the pen."

[@yukouri]

What people don't understand is that "close species" needs to be trademark for a concept and copyright is only for a specific character and not a concept. I feel like the "close species " community are just bullies at times because they don't want to know how laws work in the real world and their way won't work in court.

[@erucchan6958]

The thing is people often get TOO attached to things. Like, I get it, i wrote a fantasy "novel" with species I created myself and i put a lot of work into it. The novel at that time became fairly known and I had a lot of readers (btw i took it down now bc i was little and it was horrible, im going to rewrite it better) OF COURSE some of them wanted to do a similar thing, and they took "my" species. But you know, I took demons as an inspo to create my own demons (that are completely different but i liked the name) and I don't really mind people using it neither having credits? Like, as long as they don't relate their characters to mines (yes, I've had people that invented children for my ocs and I was a bit upset. Like, if someone wants to do a Fanfiction and invent ships with my story im fine with that, but not if someone tries to modify canonically what happens imnotanativespeakersorryifmyenglishisshit) I think nowadays people are just a bit too egocentric, like kid you're not the only one in the world that comes up with ideas, someone somewhere else could have the same exact idea as you without even knowing who you are, bc we're inspired by our surroundings, you cannot create something from nothing . There are even people claiming "art style theft" and "pose theft" and "colour theft" LIKE REALLY? WHAT THE HECK. It's like Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo fighting bc "sorry you cannot draw realistic bodies and anatomy i already do that bye" The thing is, putting barriers to people's imagination is detrimental. C'mon we're creative people. I think a lot of people don't really know what's copyright and they put it on EVERYTHING. im not saying that people can steal your drawings, novels or characters of course, I'm saying that if your novel is about war, you DON'T own the concept of war so bye. If your character has a flower growing on his head you own your character, but not the concept of people with flowers that grow on their head dafaq In mythology we have the Minotaur, let's say that's a character that belongs to the owner, but they don't own the concept of humans with a Taurus head----- I know it's shocking but someone somewhere could come up with a species or a character that's basically the same as yours without knowing about you, the world doesn't revolve around you, let people be. In the real world happens sometimes that you find a person that's identical to you too, so why it couldn't happen that you create a character identical to another? It doesn't take off anything from you and your character and it doesn't take anything off the other artists and the other character. It also happens all the time in anime, manga, books ecc ecc. Overall i think those people are overly protective and emotional bc they have little to no knowledge nor experience in those fields / they are really young or they're just too egocentric and entitled idk I can't explain

[@Niseryusei]

Aruva chan can you lower the music and raise your voice please?

[@stard9864]

Lol chan??

[@ravenpotter3]

I don't really mind closed species, I feel like if a species is closed they should have a lore and try to make a original design, I'm not too interested in original species, but I think they are a cool idea to make species,

[@lulumcbonbon]

I barely understand the concept of closed species, and it's just so weird? Like, you have to pay in order to make an oc based/inspired by that? I mean, I do have species that I don't want strangers to just run around rampant or "mangle" them, so I just, don't share the info and ins and outs of the species? That way people can make their own ocs and it's just not "one of mine". I can just say, yea that not part of my species, do what ever the heck you want. You want it to have pants? Sure, it doesn't have to follow my guideline. I get wanting to share your ideas and wanting to protect your babies, but you can't stop people getting inspired by your art. My main oc was inspired by a closed species (but is not said species) (I didn't know what a closed species was (and didn't really care tbh))

[@datoneperson7696]

The reason is simple: greed

[@marshimishi4303]

Thank you for saying such truth

[@lukassjogren7910]

I think some closed species are priced insanely. I hate when people say "ugh you're commissions are tooo expensiveeeh" but hear me out A myo ticket for a popular species can be over 500 usd. I think thats greedy. I've also seen owners take money from guest artists or just people who make adoptables of that species. That's not cool, its like a boss taking their staff members tip. It feels like they're taking advantage of people. Making closed species is fine. Charging for them is fine. Just not so much people need to empty their whole wallets for it. My monthly rent is literally cheaper than some closed species.

[@incognito6814]

I legit saw a closed species adoptable go for 500 usd, and somebody bought it! It's getting really ridiculous imo.

[@kenzhuynh9531]

I heard from a friend that they saw a foxfan (one of the popular closed species) get auctioned off online for $1000. I mean, I know that art is a serious job for some people, but that’s just...... no.

[@poutycakes3573]

I wonder if an owner of a closed species dies does people have free reign of designing the character or would it look bad if someone drew a closed species that a previous person who died made?

[@ronja8031]

I hate original species too. It feels unfair of owning a concept of something so broad and making a profit off of it, especially if the idea is really unoriginal and everyday e.g. a cross between two real life species. Besides If someone draws your species and gives credit to you what's the harm? It's not same as copying a character of yours as it is not a copy of character; It just owns similar biological traits but often with different colors, patterns and personality. But yea I get that people want to make money :/

[@monkeyfan250]

What if its an open species and your open to 100% creativity xD

[@jellosnails]

Having a closed species is not the same as having a widespread show like pokemon - some people just have lots of lore and history for their species and they prefer random people to just pop out designs and pretty much ruin the whole shabang. Also yeah it's kinda the same as making adopts of any species, but it also gives permission for the buyer to use the character AND the lore attached to it. You don't HAVE to use it, but again, like an adopt, if you like the design and the creator puts up a price and you agree with that price - you can buy it. (and I understand that a lot of young artists hate the idea of paying for a design, but here's the thing - for some people art is their job and they need to pay bills. Some make adopts to be able to get enough money to even eat, and it also includes closed species and such. And they usually make pennies compared to the average character designer in the industry, which is around 42k$)

[@jellosnails]

Yeah I can totally see where you're coming from! And I do agree that commissions are a much better way to make money AND progress your art, as I am mostly a commission artist myself and can say say that drawing FOR people did progress my art a lot. Some closed species can be even 200$~300$ according to several artist friends of mine, so I believe the more popular ones can do that. And yeah people spend money on it, but art is a luxury, and who can say how much a person is allowed to spend as it is their money (kinda a close concept to designer clothes - some people can afford to sell at high prices and some people can afford at high prices). (also gosh I love how well written your reply is?? seriously thank you for being polite also. and as a note I myself never owned any closed species but I never saw them as anything bad)

[@sgtruru]

MelodicEspurr its like a book, I think, if it has a moderately original design and lore I think it's all Gucci.

[@tsunamiwhale5021]

But whats to stop me if I draw a closed species without paying?

[@munchia-]

@@sgtruru Yet what is stopping people from drawing fanart? I can only see the artist not liking that because they aren't making money off that fanart. Imagine if the creators of Pokemon stopped all fanart because they weren't making money off of it. You want to know why they don't? Because it would make them look bad and would lose money overall. Artists who don't allow fanart just look like massive twats to me.

[@im_vibez]

Whether I re-draw a ''closed'' species that has ''rules and lore'' has nothing to do with the owner though, so what if I miss the rules, I'm not drawing it for the lore and rules, I'm drawing it because it looks cool, besides, what if I also had the idea to draw something similar to say, a primagen, i don't care if you say it's a closed species, I'm not ruining the whole shabang by drawing my own primagen oc, it doesn't effect the creators universe.

[@kinglouiev9530]

A closed Species. What? Are we not allowed to draw Human beings? We have to pay $20 to draw an other human?!

[@firestarrusty]

Honestly, I don't think it's fair to say that someone can't draw a character you made, especially if we're also going to whine about fair use on the internet. I remember that people were worried that because of copyright laws, they wouldn't be able to draw fanart anymore. That would suck and be totally unfair right? So why does it apply to people or businesses who actually have a legal copyright on their characters, and not internet creators as well? Seems pretty hypocritical and naive. Now, if someone is going around and telling everyone that they made that character or species, then that would be wrong, because you have the rights to that character since it is your intellectual property. But if someone makes fanart of your character or species and credits you, that's fine. That should be fair use. If you say it's not, I think you're treading dangerous ground, especially if you like to draw fanart of any kind. Like, people draw ocs of Tolkien characters (elves, hobbits, dwarves), Ponies, Sonic characters, Lion king etc. but they don't get any crap for using those "species" or designs! But really, if you do draw someone's closed character, it isn't legal issues you have to worry about. Technically, there's nothing under the law that can be done about it. Mostly it would just be the online harassment from people who don't understand fair use and the effects it could have on them. I'm no expert on the subject myself, but this seems fairly logical to me, and it's why I always disliked things like that. I know, TL;DR, right? Just venting XD

[@CvmTea]

sweetie the difference between copyright and CLOSED SPECIES is that you can make this girl with wings and cat ears and call it a closed specie that you made, and yes YOU CAN DRAW GIRLS WITH WINGS AND CAT EARS but you can't claim its this persons closed specie because you aren't part of the group, you didn't buy a slot but that doesn't mean you can't draw it or you can't make fanart, heck, who even told you that? Please.

[@firestarrusty]

@@CvmTea It's Jhorn! That doesn't make sense at all. Obviously if you draw fanart of a closed species, you ARE drawing that closed species. It doesnt matter if you call it that or not. Also, please don't be so patronizing. I'm not sure if it was intentional or if i just misread your comment, but i dont appreciate it.

[@pandafamily6576]

lol I understand how you feel about this.

[@hikariyuki9936]

I don’t buy into that kind of concept. You can’t copyright a combination of animals or objects. That’s not how legal copyrights work. You CAN own a specific character with their entire background. Example: Legolas vs. just an elf. Legolas would be a copyrighted character. Elves are not. I personally draw animal combinations frequently in my spare time. If I decided to sell merch or make an Etsy shop, I am not going out of my way to research all “closed species” ever created. I’m just not going to, since that’s not how copyrights work. If you went and traced, copied, or recolored an artwork, that’s an entirely different story, and I’d consider that theft if you went to claim or sell it.

[@anfani6839]

Yes, exactly. I also dont get how people can support that kind of behavior. Harassing others for creating something similar to their precious CS is pretty damn toxic. No people on the internet, you cant own and copyright a simple animal like a dog or wolf or fox and a thing like a fan or something like water, now shut up about it.

[@jarlofpropane5368]

My 2 friends and I run an equine breed called the Crystal horse breed on instagram. I guess in a way its a closed breed. We aren't charging people for them, they tell us they want one and we do a guessing game for it. Once they guess the number they pick Crystal colors and a coat and we design it and the character is is theres now. It's mainly to keep track of who has them

[@yeshelloiamsnek580]

Sounds cool actually ^^

[@silverseen8300]

Nope

[@staceyevans2315]

I think that maybe instead of doing a guessing game, you can make a group! And anyone who joins that group is granted access to the Crystal Horse. And they can draw it as much as they like! As long as they stay in the group. That could be a good idea.

[@truleeswag8416]

There was this one time that I was scrolling through some art from people I followed, and there was this one person getting attacked for having some kind of creature design that looked similar to another person's species. People were telling the artist to get rid of it and stuff, and meanwhile I was thinking "How stupid is that?" Seriously, I don't understand why people want to limit others' creativity. They made this art, put effort into it, and now you're saying they should take it down? JUST because it looks like this other person's thing? No, they want to show people how much work they put into it, and you're being inconsiderate of that. Closed species shouldn't really be a thing in my opinion. That being said, don't go around telling people to take their artwork down or something they created down. It's just downright rude and messed up. Don't do it, please. And don't reply to me telling me all the reasons closed species are closed species. I frankly don't want to hear it. I've seen enough crap about why they're a thing. "Oh, I want my creature to get the love they deserve!" or "I want it to be special and unique!" That really screams bullshit doesn't it? And now, since I've wasted enough of my time typing this, I'm done here.

[@Ra1neySt0rm]

I agree with you! I have my own open species. (Nobody made yet except me) I would say it’s a pretty unoriginal Idea, as it’s just a lynx with a long tail. ;w;

[@veyarain82]

*Long Comment Warning* I’m personally part of several closed species ARPG groups on DeviantArt. You don’t have to pay for them, but you do have to stay in the group and be part of the group to own one. I think that’s how they should be handled. This is all speculation, but I think people who close species may fall into two camps: 1) They want to make a quick buck. These creatures haven’t had much thought put into them, and they are really uninspired. They pounce on others who are starting and explore a similar idea. This stiffles creativity and, in my opinion, isn’t cool. Or 2) This person has poured their heart and soul into this creature species. They’ve gotten obsessively detailed, from their specific biology to their world and culture and behavior. This creature and this world, by extension, is very near and dear to the creator’s heart, and they want it to stay that way. They don’t want some stranger to come by and say “Oh, pretty!” and then make something of it that violates the creature and the world they live in, changing it to the point that it’s hurtful, irritating, and insulting. This person poured their heart into it, and now it’s being flippantly changed? It’s like if you were writting a story, and then someone abruptly butted into it and made a self insert that didn’t fit into the world at all. Wouldn’t you be insulted? People of this camp are probably highly specific about what makes their creature theirs. If something is similar, but not the same, it’d probably be fine, though if it were very similar that would be disquieting. These people likely set a price tag on these creatures because they only want people who really care about that creature to use it. They wanna keep it close, to make sure it isn’t butchered or changed. That said, that’s why I like the groups centered on a closed species. By keeping it in a group, all posts and art can be kept tabs on, and now everyone is part of the same world, all in a new realm with accepted rules and guidelines. You’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto. You are in “ “ now. This keeps the spirit of why a species would want to be kept closed while also allowing a broader fan base. You don’t have to pay: you just have to join the world. (Join the cult) I think you’re issue may lie less in closed species in general and more in the first camp and people selling them? I just want you to know that many people (including me) have creatures that are in the “My precious” category, treasured manefestations of heart that are not to be tampered with. But again, those creatures tend to be highly specific, and people who make those may not interfere with others when they create something similar, yet different, which seems to be your big hang up.

[@pandafamily6576]

And the worst part about it is that the Artist is more popular and does the "Popular Card" on you. Not saying all of the popular artist are like that but in this case its a part of it.

[@Ehrettseatery]

I genuinely dislike closed species with a passion,, I hate the concept,, plus it doesn’t help that I got banned permanently from furry amino for making an adopt that looked “too much like a closed species” thanks for coming to my ted talk 😎😎😎

[@monkeyfan250]

Why not just make your own species?

[@endocix]

Not gonna lie I used to draw closed species characters that I hadn't payed to use just for fun, I never posted them but I definitely did it.

[@AruvaChan]

Saucy

[@endocix]

AruvaChan 😎👉👉

[@ffletch]

I despise closed species. I have several species of my own, but I love it when people make a character from it.

[@ffletch]

@@Trospur I don't have anything right now. Most of my species I gave up on, but I'm writing a book and there'll be plenty of new species, including winged humans and colorful aliens.

[@DuskPShermanWallaby123]

havhannah __ cool

[@jceh-art]

havhannah __ But that's just you. There are many reasons people wouldn't want to have an open species, and while all my species are open as well, I respect and understand that's not the case for everyone.

[@Clevoliver]

That's cool. If that'd happen to me, I wouldn't be angry but Just Happy because People look up to me.

[@fuzzycottoncloud5647]

A lot of closed species are changing quite a bit because of these exact arguments. There is no law stating that you can't draw a character based on/similar to their species. They can't take legal action against you, nor should they send their watchers out to hate you for making a similar character. However: -There was a closed species revolt (and might still be one) where users conscious of the fact that it isn't illegal to copy someone's closed species decided to copy said species and even mention openly that they were purposefully doing so. The revolt's logic was simply "It's not illegal, so I shouldn't be told I can't do this." but quite a few of these people did inevitably go against their own morals and sell blatant copies, which made them exactly the same as the people they were against, and over all just hypocrites stealing the income of other artists -Artists behind closed species (specifically the expensive ones ranging from $40-$700usd) typically started out small, and then gradually changed the prices until they were able to make their main income their species. For them it's a way to make money off their artistic creations w/o deadlines or other pressures a commission may put on someone. A lot of these artists are in college and desperately trying to get by, so a closed species provides the option to focus on both art and school w/o feeling like they need to neglect their education to feed themselves. - ^^^ Due to the species revolt, a lot of closed species creators would get hurt financially and personally. This caused many (most as far as I'm aware) to develop their species into an ARPG(art roleplaying game) like platform. Where there's an in-game currency you get by participating/just being active overall in the community, and then you have the opportunity to exchange that for MYO slots, and even rarity upgrades to pre-existing characters.

[@AruvaChan]

This is actually really interesting, I honestly wouldn’t ever knowingly steal another artist creation or use it as my own like this because it is wrong. And it’s good that people are able to make a living off of something they enjoy doing. Thank you for sharing this with me, cause I never knew something like this actually had happened. It’s cool to know people are actually doing stuff with their species too, and not just charging boatloads from the getgo. I know everyone has their own opinions about everything and this isn’t quite my thing but it’s def really important to some artists and I respect that.

[@taylortamietti6931]

I do understand closed species, but only when lots of thought is put into their design. For example, I have seen closed species that are generally creative and have so much thought and detail put into them that I think it would be near imposible to copy. But making a dog with wings or a snake with one eye or a unicorn cat crossbreed isn't a closed specie, and I do agree that it's a bit ridiculous and arrogant to say people must pay you to draw a goat with six legs.

[@sick0art]

this may be an unpopular opinion, but 'closed species' is a stupid idea... virtually nothing these days is unique anymore. Let's say someone named George creates a species of anthropomorphic wolf beavers that give birth asexually. What's to say that someone else hasn't already come up with that idea? or won't somewhere down the line without ever having known of George's work? ideas are not unique. Lots of people come up with the same ideas, without having anything to do with one another. So coming up with a 'closed species' then fighting everyone tooth and nail who might someday down the line come up with a similar species or a character that looks similar to the species? That's a lot of unneeded stress. Because it's gonna happen. And calling everyone who might eventually come up with that idea a 'thief' is just going to make paranoia levels rise and cause even MORE stress. And I betcha most of the people who come up with a similar or same idea won't even have heard of the 'original' creator. But that's just my two cents. People are going to do what they're going to do regardless of common sense.

[@ibchillin]

a single creator's closed species is a little different from a mass-produced, mass-marketed storyline's where they're making money off of it being distributed to other people. stealing someone's species concept would be the same as stealing their character - they designed that species, and while nothing is stopping you from drawing a character for it, it's disrespectful to the artist who created it. it may not be illegal, but it's unethical to rip off someone else's creation without their permission. if artists want to sell adoptable designs for the species they made, i don't see that as any worse than selling adoptables in general. what's to stop someone from using a design that someone else is selling as an adoptable? they don't HAVE to pay for it, they can use it without permission. but that isn't ethical, because the artist who created the design is trying to sell their creation to earn money. it's not a 'single-child' mentality to want to have the things you spent time creating be yours. if a kid puts time and effort into making something out of clay, you don't take it from them and let another kid paint it. if the kid says they'll let the other kid paint their statue if they get something in return, i don't think that's unfair. am i huge fan of the idea? is it something i'd personally do? no. adoptables in general aren't something i'm into or like the concept of. but if other people are into it, and it makes money (which, it really, really does - i know freelancers who sustain themselves entirely on adoptables), then i don't see the harm, really.

[@ibchillin]

i'm not sure i'd personally have a problem with someone creating a fan oc of something i'd made. i'd probably like it, honestly. but i can understand how it can kind of be like, "no, that's my thing", yknow? especially if that species is only used for a couple of character designs in a story you're telling. i know artists who post details about a species they've made, but only to explain the backstory of the protags to a comic or something they're making. i could understand wanting people to respect the work you put into your creation and not wanting them to use it for their own characters.

[@ibchillin]

except, you did all the work of making the design, the lore, whatever went into it. i've spent years coming up with the history, culture, and world of the characters and species in my stories. i might be okay with other people making fan OCs of those, and i might even argue it's smart to let people spread your work through word of mouth like that, but i understand why someone would say "if you want to use my work, pay me". you can copyright almost anything, actually. if it's super generic, it probably won't go through, but even ideas that have been done before can be copyrighted as long as they're marketed as their own product with different branding. there's nothing stopping someone from taking *inspiration* from another person's species and making their own - but to create a character for something from an existing individual creator's work where you are actually using that person's ideas for yourself is a different thing. i wouldn't say it's smart to be the person who says 'don't make stuff from what i made', but i do know of creators who do that with certain species because the species was designed to be important to one particular character's story, and using that as a cookie-cutter mold for your own would detract from that. You can't copyright the concept of a shoe, but you can copyright a type of shoe you've made yourself. People do that all the time.

[@ghostbotmellow706]

"and you see a Pikachu for the first time" at that point I was just giggling idk why this video is so true and funny at the same time and her just talking about Pokémon I was like watt lol (plz ignore me ok bai)

[@choco4109]

Awh this inspired me to make a quick specie thingy :)) I agree with what you said! Some people might not take it the right way but yeah, you can't stop people from drawing something.

[@choco4109]

yeah, you practically can't ;v;

[@tsunamiwhale5021]

The thing that bugs me about closed species is that PROHIBIT you from drawing the species unless you pay them, like this is art! You can draw/paint/create anything you want because it is FUCKING ART. I like to draw closed species for free because fuck, why not?

[@milorca4412]

*I now have trademarked the nose* *If you want to draw noses, you have to pay me >:3* -closed species in a nutshell

[@LeviAckermanAoA]

I mean, DracoStryx basically copyrighted bird-raptor-dragons and Furcadia had those YEARS before whoever thought of DracoStryx, so Closed Species are pretty dang stupid. Not to mention DracoStryx charges like. $300+ for ONE custom 'adopt'.

[@ChampiVenao]

I think I'm general the art/illustration communities undercharged their designs and art. $15 for a fullbody is too low compared to industry standards in Wich the lowest is at least $150 for a full illustration. Same for char designs. $15 is too low, especially if you don't have a TOS where you say it's exclusive for personal use. And when it comes to closed species, you must charge for the work that comes with it, not only the art (backstory, rarity of traits, subspecies,etc) and on top of that if your species has a trademark (like sushidogs) you must charge for that, and also if you already made a name for yourself or your species that adds to the price, esp if there are a lot of people trying to get them. It sounds stupid but most artists have limited time and ofc want to invest that money into something that gives them money. If we are going to complain about stupid crap that is overpriced look at cryptokitties... They are the same as CSs but shitty...

[@ewfahgehajigeamiefma]

As long as they are not taking profit and not claiming as there own (also crediting) shouldnt they be able to draw what they want? Like yall about artistic freedom then do this

[@jamierome7908]

So my name is Jamie and I was sort of listening to this while drawing and I heard “thanks Jamie” and I looked up like “wut” like just so confused lol

[@SammyJ_Studios]

I once watched a drama happen with an artist I really admire and one I *formerly* admired. Formerly admired had made an original closed species that was pretty neat and cute. I had no idea that the other artist (who was actually decently famous) was watching them, so I was like "Oh neat, small world" when I saw the artist draw unofficial art of those creatures. By unofficial, I mean she hadn't made her own characters and hadn't intended to keep them. She just essentially made what would be considered a one-off piece of fanart of the species. Of course, formerly-admired artist finds out and demands they remove it. While I somewhat understand, I believe what she did was fanart, and formerly-admired artist took the situation way out of hand. She made a journal about it which sent her fans berserk to harass the famous artist. Eventually, famous-artist decided to compromise and change her drawing from the deerlike original species to instead be actual deer. As a self-respecting artist and human being, I would see this as perfectly acceptable. It no longer depicts the "stolen" creatures, the "offender" understands what they did "wrong" and rectified it, and they still get to keep their artwork. But nooooo... formerly-respected artist and her fans were FURIOUS that she didn't take down and leave down every trace of her hard work, just because it *had* contained the creatures. That was the last straw for me. I stopped watching that artist entirely and lost all respect for them, and for closed-species owners as a whole.

[@jadetheravinkitty6368]

I don't understand the "no fanart" rule at all for closed species, be grateful people want to draw those creatures in the first place.

[@enderwalkgang]

I made a deviantart (deadCreavity) that does illegal designs for closed species and has closed species ocs.

[@nukiradio]

ur space fawks is jus liek mai space fawks! you has to pay me munneez

[@xplatinumx621]

You make a lot of great points, and I do agree with you! But normally people close their species to maintain population and guidelines, and it's pretty fun to work hard for a popular closed species. (This might get a little long, so just warning you now!) For example, in the Wings of Fire community there is a species called PeakWings. A lot of people want this species, and work hard to save up money or da points for one of them. I believe sometimes you can get one by drawing art too. It can get a little annoying with cool species that aren't too popular costing real money, but some more popular species simply have too many fans for normal species creations, especially ones with excessive guidelines. Closing a species also somewhat persuades people to want one more. From what I've seen, buying one of a species also buys the design the artist made specifically for that one oc. (And some artists make money off them and commissions for a living, but I think you knew that already lol, anyways I'm just giving my opinion of a rundown on closed species ^^)

[@spacecowboy7148]

While I agree to this, there's also why some closed communities have a community mascot that you can draw for prompts or something, or the characters in the community- some people make these for a more closeknit community and sometimes it's for income because the artist is broke- people have a lot of reasons for it but I do mostly agree with this.

[@scarletcerebrum9880]

this video is just "I don't understand a thing" not really a rant or anything fam XD and btw not all closed species are the same, alot if not most, have MYO (make your own) slots/events not to mention people trade and sell and make art in exchange for species, they're pretty accessible, and most people like them for the story and lore behind the species, and others just like it for how exclusive it can be, like a popular clothing brand, it doesn't always look better, but its expensive and fun. Not to mention very few (none that I know of) species don't let you draw pre-existing characters, most people would be happy for you to draw their oc's for free. and not all closed species are even that exclusive, Tootheyes especially have many different closed species and people who make "speciesless" tootheyes, with little to no backlash, Closed species for the most part aren't these sacred, restrictive, locked down things, they have wide communities and people who back them because of it's communities and designs. Yes they're making money but is that so much worse than making an adopt? I think you've only seen a handful of species and have a bad perspective... There are so many species that are way more creative than just 2 animals mashed together, I think you should've done a little more research or spent some time in one or more of these communities before making this, but hopefully you'll get some good reasoning to your questions through this ^^ (hopefully way better than mine) and If you'd like I'd be more than happy to show you some really interesting and original closedspecies, with wonderful art and originality.

[@Umii-Chann]

totally agree

[@ao8021]

It's still technically a rant. You can rant about how you don't understand something. For something to be a rant, you only need speak about something for an extended period of time.

[@zamnitsaph]

Thank you, This video is a load of garbage. If people have an idea and want to profit off of it (like how everything works in this world) so be it. Like jfc.

[@yeshelloiamsnek580]

@@zamnitsaph A lot of closed species are just MLP-other animal mixtures. By their own logic they shouldn't even be allowed to make the species in the first place because it's too similar to the original MLP characters.

[@yeshelloiamsnek580]

@KZbin Watcher What. Are you trolling me. Those species can exist just as much as pony species can, so either way there's no bullshit being said on my part.

[@alexbennet4195]

I don’t even understand “adoptables”, but “closed species” sound really ridiculous.

[@Oreo-And-Donut-Fan]

well,on a technical term,if no one knows your name or address and they cant sue you,you technically could take inspiration from a species without paying and get away with it basically

[@annabelie]

I’m a young artist. Nine. Iidk if I can draw a closed species. I’m so confused about “closed species”. Idk if I can draw one without paying for one that’s not similar. Like at all. Like one that I want to draw, nimbliss, it’s pretty cute and I want to make my own. But I don’t know if I can without buying one. Can I just make my own and not sell it?! I don’t even know. I don’t know if I can draw one anymore. Because it’s a “CLOSED species”. But I want to make my own! And I don’t know if I will get copyrighted for it if I post it online, I just want to draw one for myself. But I don’t know what drawing one would do to me. I have millions of ideas in my head, right? I want to put them down on paper so I can keep them forever, right? I don’t know if I can do that with closed species. Just imagine, not knowing if you can draw something without being attacked or copyrighted for making up an idea! Being copyrighted and attacked if you do. It probably sucks. A lot. And I want to draw something but I don’t know if I can and I’m really confused and scared on what could happen. Phew. That took some typing. But I really needed to say that Thanks for reading. Can I have answers 😅 And just so you know, I just got introduced to this closed species stuff. So I’m still kinda confused.

[@AkephalosXx]

You can draw it. You can draw whatever you want and if you want to draw a character by someone else credit them or if you really are nor sure ask for permission. Closed species has NO legal ground and if you draw something similiar it's not your problem if someone claims it as their own and throw a temper tantrum. You are entitled to your own art and as long as you don't sell it or make money from it you are totally fine. ALSO if your nine you should not be on youtube or deviantart ^^" THAT actually is illegal

[@annabelie]

AkephalosXx oh! Thank you! And I usually just use this account for subscribing and commenting. I don’t post on here anymore

[@maximumraccoonage3240]

You can draw them, but you don't have to post them. It's not that big a deal to just keep them private if it's already super similar to something someone else made and worked super hard on. If you didn't know, sure that's okay. But if you already have seen this closed species AND TAKE THE DESIGN that's wrong. And the reason why they exist is that if you made something you were really proud of and suddenly everyone had one better then yours, how would you feel? If they were just putting up one piece of art and throwing them in their pile of OC's without a care and nobody cared about your ideas or species anymore because it's just "another one of those things". Some people are generic sure, but some people work HECKING hard on these species and deserve the well earned money they get. Sorry for the rant, but this subject is touchy for me.

[@hynder]

Alright, I'm just gonna put something in real quick. I am trying to create characters for a comic I want to start soon. I want to make them interesting and have good appearances, I want to make it so that people can be attached to them. I'm really scared that I'm gonna design one of them and someone is going to claim that I made a design for their species without the rights to do so. Its really limiting me because I am trying to stick to mythological beasts and create similar to those instead of breaking off because I'm scared that I'm going to start the comic and have to give a character a MAJOR redesign or get rid of an important part of them. For all I know, the few ideas that I have for species are already taken and you have to buy rights but I'm scared to look. I like some closed species, there are some really creative ones out there. Its just when it comes to someone spending so long to make a character, not knowing about a closed species, and then learns that their idea was done before and they would have to pay or redo the character because of it.

[@GoAwayImHiding]

Space Donut just don't worry about it, draw what you want and if it accidentally looks like someone else's species just tell them off. I have my own unique species of dragons, which probably look like someone else's stuff by accident but I don't know! So why care? It's just not worth it. So don't stress.

[@Grappleberry]

ilurus Don’t do the research , if you haven’t seen the species, you can’t be shamed for drawing a “closed species”. Plus, they don’t copyright their species too often, their only power is sending hate.

[@eefjevandijk3811]

Dude. People can draw other's characters. You just can't make a character of that species without permission!!!

[@Boiledpumpkinsoup]

I think that if someone makes their own art, they can do whatever they want with it. They shouldn't have to let people use their concept for free just because they want it. Character design is hard work, if it wasn't everyone would just do it for themselves. And if you think someone's prices are unreasonable, simply don't buy from them. I've never made one but if I did, I wouldn't like the idea of other people copying it without compensating, or at the very least, crediting me

[@AruvaChan]

I don’t think that copying someone’s art is right, but I think being inspired by someone’s art is okay. As long as it’s not an exact copy.

[@Boiledpumpkinsoup]

I guess it depends what they do with it. Like you said, if they draw in their sketchbook for their own personal use there's really nothing anyone can do and no harm in it. If they start using someone's design in their drawings and posting that art online, therefore gaining views/followers/credit without the artist's permission, it's not fair to the original artist. Some people are definitely less generous than others when it comes to their art/design but at the end of the day that's their choice

[@AruvaChan]

I agree, art theft is never okay!

[@Boiledpumpkinsoup]

Berd Boots I think legally it probably does. So it would be up to the artist whether or not they want people to make fan art, but I don't think they have any legal recourse as long as you're not profiting off of it. I think some artists just get possessive because unlike peridot or Pokemon, they're a small artist and people aren't as likely to know that a design belongs to them so it's easier to steal credit

[@Boiledpumpkinsoup]

Dithka closed species are okay any time the artist wants to use them. There's a reason people are willing to pay for them

[@yeshelloiamsnek580]

It's sad how often somebody makes a species based off of other people's characters but will attack others for trying to do the same to them. I used to like looking at a lot of MLP art. Some people sell characters from their pony-animal species. They're making money off of a style and animal they took from a children's show. If somebody has a closed species called, let's say "puppy-pony", and you try to make a puppy pony character they'll either block you or send fans at you...

[@TheCrescentLune]

Before MLP was a cartoon, they were actually toys, decades ago. I still have all mine from the 80's, up in the attic.

[@yeshelloiamsnek580]

@@TheCrescentLune I had some toys too as a small child ^^

[@luka4282]

i have a species of my own, it isn't closed. What you pay for is for me drawing it and coming up with what they look like, me designing your new oc. (if that makes sense? if i have to be involved in the drawing and designing process and send it too you. you pay. if you like the idea of the species and draw one for yourself, that's free.)

[@notmyname9191]

You are so funny in this video. In your other videos your timid and shy and I'm not saying that it's bad, but when you act like this you sound so confident. It's funny when you're sassy. I love it. Also great drawing.

[@lorrainedraws4319]

Ok adoptables, i dont really like them but i can understand why people buy them i guess. But with cLosEd sPecies, people just make a cringy bunny deer with wings or something and now no one is aloud to draw anything like that!!! Like your putting a limit on creativity. People are gonna draw what they want. Honestly i wish the art community wasn't ridiculous cause they really just suck the fun out of creativity

[@V1_Ultrakrill]

There's a closed species that's literally just a shrimp with extra fluff

[@ashhuber5909]

I have closed species. Called melfer. I closed it because I'm still working on the spieces it self.

[@AruvaChan]

That’s reasonable

[@uraumi478]

As someone heavily involved in the purchasing of closed species and running closed species, I feel like I should add a comment even though it's kinda old. 1) Most species aren't copyrighted - the CS community functions off of a mutual moral understanding. If you're interested in the species, this is kind of bad, but you could follow the rule of parody theoretically and make your own. You wouldn't legally be wrong (unless it's a sushidog since they're actually trademarked) but you shouldn't call it the species and it's generally considered a bad thing to do. Generally offbrands are looked down on, since most large closed species have taken a lot of hard work and effort from the species creator to build up. Technically speaking, similarity can be acceptable if you don't claim it to be a member of the species. 2) Think of it like buying concept art for a game - character designers are hired to design Disney Princesses for instance. You can draw fanart of it or make fan characters, but it won't be official per say. Speaking to Pokemon, although Nintendo doesn't really chase down IP violations, Disney for instance would hunt you down for having Mickey Mouse (in some cases, but Disney won't always copyright strike). 3) Another example would be for the community. For instance, closed role play groups require apps. Only when you are accepted into the group, will your RP character be officially in their world. It's similar for closed species. You buy an adoptable and you're allowed to officially be a part of the species. You can make that RP character, but you're not a member of the group. 4) Species don't claim to own all the individual traits - but they do own the species lore, art, and the specific character designs/adoptables. You can say, Blizzard owns Overwatch. They own the character Genji, but do they own katanas and ninjas? No. They own Genji - his specific designs/skins/abilities and the lore that goes with him. Another important thing is profit - just as character designers want the game companies to pay them for their character designs, artists want to be paid for the art/design and the time that they've spent building up the communitiy. If designs sell for 100+, that simply means that the artist's designs are in high enough demand for that to be a reasonable price. Maybe it's a simple design but demand dictates the price - you may think it's overpriced but if it's selling, it clearly isn't. Popularity dictated price - hen-tie's lilidae were flatsale sold for 100-400 before but in an auction, bidders wanted it enough to bid 8k. That's not the artist overcharging - that's the bidders willingly spending that money. Nobody is forcing them to pay. Nobody owns specific traits but they do own combined traits + lore, with community behind it. Closed species are a community you are paying to get into, just as how college is a community you pay tuition to get into (but for an education so arguably less of a luxury good). You pay for the name and community, you pay for the artist's time and art skills. It's a luxury commodity and if people want to pay for it, they will. Yes, there are witchhunts, but generally those are less mature members of the species. Most species owners I know are fine with similar concepts/designs - so long as it's not blatant copying + claiming the design as part of their species. Most owners do understand that their concepts aren't totally original and cannot always stop the community from chasing someone down until they've already done the damage.

[@Oakhart76]

*As posted elsewhere in this comment section (in the form of a reply)...* This all seems idiotic when you consider that you're talking about markings being made and left on a surface (be it wood, cave walls, paper or a computer screen.) "You made markings on some paper that looks like the markings that I made on some paper and since I made those particular markings before you did, I have decided that you shouldn't be allowed to make those markings. And if you do, then I have decided that you have to give me a large amount currency that you otherwise would have used to purchase food or clothing. You have to abide by my decision because I'm a narcissist and I actually believe that there is something special about the way my markings look, and everything about this is far more important than your God-given, human right to have complete freedom or to exercise your own free-will!" Of course none of that matters a damn bit to me. I download, copy/paste and "print screen" all I damn well please. If I see a picture of something, or a video that I want, I create my own personal copy of it; even images that "enlarge by dragging your mouse over" and others that try to prevent the "copy image" option when you right-click it. Then I use those images any way I feel like, whether it's plastered all over FB, manipulated and improved upon until its the way I like it... or printed out, framed, and hung on my living room wall. Speaking of improving an image; If I see an image on the internet that I like, copy it and then manipulate it in any way (even something as simple as adjusting the sharpness/brightness/contrast or just recoloring it), that image becomes MY image because I have changed it's appearance to suit my own personal taste and it is no longer the same image as the one I started with. I'm sure this will rub some people the wrong way, but what I said is still a fact. If you change even just one single pixel (such as making a single black pixel anywhere on a digital image), that is no longer the same image. It is now an image that I have created by myself. If you don't want anyone else obtaining a copy of an image that you create, then don't make it public. Keep it off the internet and away from the "public eye"! If you upload your image, then don't act surprised or start crying"FOUL!" Now, excuse me while I step off of my soap-box...

[@waterstardrop]

@aruvachan i agree and totally relate! love your drawings btw!

[@waterstardrop]

but meh what do i know. im just some geek with a computer that likes sharing there opinions with people. haha x3

[@MythicDraws]

I think that part of it is the lore, as well as very specific aspects of a species that people want to protect. If someone has created a detailed backstory with very unique elements, it’s understandable why that person would want to protect their intellectual property. This is why they would price an entry to their species’ community. If someone makes a generic closed species, or has generic aspects of a detailed closed species, they shouldn’t go attack others with the same features for stealing, but even if it is generic there are different values that people have for closed species and if for example, a generic closed species has a wonderful community with a group of people that role play with their similar characters in the same universe, and again, they don’t go attacking others, it should be absolutely fine. I think as long as people aren’t gatekeeping for general and unoriginal things they happen to incorporate in their closed species, there shouldn’t be a problem, even if they put a price tag. People will pay for what they want, and there may be many different parts of a closed species that could be appealing to different people. Whether it’s just to be a part of something, or because you like a design, I think closed species can be a fun way to be in an “exclusive” group where everyone feels special and it’s like a fun little get together. I do agree with a lot of points on this video about gatekeeping though. People should stop saying people can’t draw things that they didn’t even come up with.

[@PaintedWarrior]

What's the background music? 🤔

[@sgtruru]

Imagine having to pay for something... THAT HAS HAD LOTS OF TIME AND EFFORT PUT IN TO IT?! Wow, how unthought of right? Also, most, not all but most creators don't really mind if you make a design similar to their species, but they do mind if you copy the lore and add it to the character.

[@meddlinmegs]

OMG I think KZbin read my mind. When I first looked up closed species, I felt the same way. I was confused by the concept entirely because it's just so bizarre. I think the concept of telling people they're not allowed to draw your character is weird. Yeah, they should credit you and shouldn't sell that character because it's not their intellectual property, but why should you be stopping someone from drawing your character all together? Especially if you're a popular artist because then it's FAN ART! Imagine if the creators of Avatar the Last Airbender told fans they weren't allowed to create characters that are benders or draw a sky bison! I have created species before, I'm writing a sci-fi novel that includes several species of aliens. Now I have already stated on my Deviant Art (where I've posted a few characters) that I don't want people using my characters from my novels in any writings, but if they want to draw them, I don't care. If they look at my Majikku species and decide they want to draw themself as that species, using your example of that, I do not care as long as they credit me. Like, at this stage, I might even use them as a background character if they will let me or want me to (cause I'm still world building so I haven't written many scenes)! Now, using them strictly in the sense of role playing makes sense, if they don't understand the species enough, it might be frustrating to let them use them in a role play, but I've seen people make closed species just because (maybe they're writing a novel, idk). But if they do not want the species to become well known before publishing their book . . . why put it online for feedback? Why not ask your close friends who you trust won't reveal the species to the masses? So for the mini rant lol this just really gets me worked up.

[@oneshovv]

I started to want to have Chimereon and Foxfan, but they're too expensive for me ;-;

[@lachelnderhund]

Tbh, as soon as a species; creator makes it and as soon as they post it, its already closed and when you had no idea of it you make one and you post it people just blow up, i mean they have no right to tell us down

[@annabelmcallister2047]

When I look at closed spiecies it makes me scared of trying new things makeing my own charathers oh it looks like a fox with a fan or a fox wearing scarf but the scarf is used as hands I don't have creative freedom I'm scared of creating thinggs I don't wanna be confronted

[@pppenguig2627]

ah i love your art!! it reminds me of adventure time or a cartoon and i love it jskskskks

[@im_vibez]

Alright, let's make a cyber fluffy raptor, and call it a closed species, you're not allowed to draw it because it's AN ORIGINAL SPECIES. Me: How can it be original if you're literally taking things that already exist and just combining them So.. can I just take a dog and a cat, call it a cog and call it a closed species? No, because those two things already exist. So basically what I'm saying, most, not all, but most closed species are dumb and shouldn't be closed whatsoever.

[@SaraChantland]

Girl I feel you with the Sara thing ;0;

[@AkariWasHere]

When i make a random species I keep it closed until I have 100%of the lore and all that stuffs done then i make it open to everyone ^^

[@CreatorOfTheKoladi]

exactly as i would do

[@antipodias6672]

Some artists put a rediculous amount of love and time into their species. I own like 18 of one closed species and he puts so much love into these creatures that it makes total sense he wants them to stay in a close loving community. Honestly if someone made something super similar to his species we would all be offended because it would hurt him.

[@jazzydrawz3792]

Yeah, if you've worked for days, months, YEARS (like me) on a species I feel like no one gives you the right to say "you can't close that as a personal species!" because all they're seeing is the design. Not the lore, story for them, universe, etc which can take a lot of time to think up and design.

[@emmabertoch3557]

Exactly

[@DaveTheOrderly]

hmm, maybe I have the concept wrong, but my closed species is open to anyone with *permission* to create a character. No fees at all. I just want to manage the species and make sure there's no confusion with who made the species, character, or anything.

[@user-kf9rk4qo9o]

this drawing gave me inspiration but its like a dragon kangaroo.. on a mountain XD

[@blankspace8707]

I just made an adoptable that had one similar trait to a closed species. I posted it, and the co-owner commented saying I should check the species information. I already knew of this species, and I hadn't been inspired by it. I replied telling them that the species doesn't own that trait, and my adopt was far enough away from the species to obviously not be one. They replied saying, ok, but be more careful next time. There was one similar trait, and the rest was completely different...

[@CreatorOfTheKoladi]

draw the closed species flipping off that guy

[@xxsharpterabyte9220]

Im doing a open species, and a closed species BUT my closed species will be license based. Buy/get an license, ill ajust everything with you, and... Ta-da!!! You can make my species, how many ocs you want, how many traits you wants, no uncommon/legendary limitations shit, without any additional payments!

[@vex8713]

I have a closed species in the making. They're panther horses and snow leopard horses. I created them because I love them and believe they're special. The highest for the panthers are 9.00$ and right now my adopts available are 2-3$. I don't see anything wrong with charging for the species

[@kay7247]

I have a few closed species for a book series I'm making but I have taken a logic that if you ask and stick to the rules for each thing and not claim the idea itself then it's cool.

[@porcupain5390]

I’m okay with closed species, but I hate the community around it. I made a mistake and made a character, it looked really similar to a closed species. I didn’t know that it was even a species. Then I started to get harassed and people ‘calling me out.’ And I got bullied into deleting my account. :/

[@stard9864]

I had to take...take a moment... to think about what to say to this. Shaming an artist for making a living by selling their concepts is what I will never get behind. "No idea is original "is to be USED AS A TOOL for concept artists to /create/ and have a take on what's familiar. People have a unique /Take/ of what you might see is a dog or a horse. Why would you want to make a similar character if you didn't find this weird horse compelling? ( It's not an excuse to steal someone's creation. ) Like for example there is magical girl animes with all the same idea but different take on the theme and characters ! Still manages to deviate to become its own unique iconic/recognizable thing that can stand alone on its own. The magical gem girl anime vs steven universe as well. Attack on titan with jack and the beanstock( the fairytale lore about giants and how they eat people explored deeper. ) etc. It has to be able to stand alone on its own but it also has so many fanart of it which is great. The line that is crossed is when someone tries to take the exact concepts to profit off of them which I hope we can all agree on is just /wrong/.

[@NurseOrysia1]

Yes, this is exactly what I was thinking too :/

[@emeraldvulture9576]

I think each species should have a few defining features that every member has that are very specific and fairly unique to that particular thing and only if every one of those traits are used can it be copyrighted but if not then no

[@FruityBonBon]

I have a closed species on my Instagram, but if someone wants one, they don't have to pay me, they just have to give me credit for the species. I think that as long as someone isn't copying a specific character or that species, they should be allowed to make whatever they want. Closed species should be enjoyed for all. I don't see the point in making something that no one else can benefit from.

[@ArcticTFurry]

i have a couple closed species owo. one of these species is closed due to their abilities and im also currently working on an imaginary world and that species exists IN that world but are quite rare and basically gods. and to make sure that people don't go and have these creatures and them being all over the place i have it closed owo

[@kenzhuynh9531]

One time someone got hated on for drawing a sushi dog with its eyes open. And another time someone made an oc and someone said it was their closed species that the other person didn’t even know about. Closed species is just another word for Deviantart drama tbh.

[@cocobeebunnied7371]

I'm making one but I feel that people could make one as long as they don't calll it the same thing but also, $20 for it?! I'm doing like 5 or 10 do people realy sell for that much?

[@WildVoltorb]

Gosh, the art community is so toxic. You guys spend way too much time complaining and making drama instead of improving. Such a waste of time...

[@frostfoxen]

I'm in at least a couple of closed species ARPGs on DeviantArt: Dracostryx and Tokotas. While there's nothing stopping people from making and selling a dragon-bird species like Dracostryx, or a wolf-bear species like Tokotas, and there probably are a few out there, Dracostryx and Tokotas are their own thing, with their own worlds and lore, as well as rules for how to go about getting and designing one [rules which are not hard, and don't always require money if you've got something to trade with]. It's not so much the species themselves and any real life elements that went into them so much as it is the combination of all the things that went into them that makes them what they are, and if someone were to create their own dragon-bird or wolf-bear species that had elements that were clearly ripped off from Dracostryx or Tokotas, people would rightfully be pissed off. If I wanted to start my own dragon-bird or wolf-bear original species, I would have to take care to differentiate them from something that's already established - especially since Dracostryx and Tokotas are well-known on DeviantArt. I would have to make sure my dragon-birds were not ripoffs of Dracostryx, and my wolf-bears were not ripoffs of Tokotas. And people would notice if they were ripoffs or not, too. Especially their creators, who see their species as their own children and wouldn't be happy to find out that someone else was infringing upon their hard work. I can understand the feelings against closed species, especially if they're species that had very little thought put into them other than something like changing the colours and slapping something like wings on them - that's not original, and people stirring up drama over say, a wolf with dragonfly wings is silly. But if there was a whole world with lore and a distinct appearance for such creatures - anything that shows that the creator actually put thought into what they made, it would really be just bad manners to blatantly copy someone else's works as if it were your own.

[@SnowflakeSnowySpirit11AJ429]

ok so. i kinda feel like youre bashing the people who make closed species. youre argument couldve been worded better ngl haha! and yes, i know its a rant. it just sounds rushed lmao but personally, i think closed species are fine. the creator might have put alot of time into their adopts and lore and design so they price it so people will use it. just because they have a closed species doesn't mean theyre being selfish, its just that they want to make their species closed for whatever reason. sometimes its because they dont want people with the same designs as their oc, sometimes its because they really like it and want people to actually use them.

[@Umii-Chann]

totally agree

[@skrunklyOwO]

WEIRDOッ closed species are dumb

[@machinegutzz9956]

Creepy-Quiiji then don't buy them. If you don't like them, that's fine, but don't go to people who disagree and go 'closed species are dumb xdxd' , that's disrespectful and immature. Let people like what they like, and spend their money on what they want.

[@ewfahgehajigeamiefma]

tbh most species have no lore and some charge so much for a simple design. like a cross between animals and bash and witch hunt people who make some remotely similar. Its not that they are bad it is just that some people don't know how to use them properly.

[@jazzydrawz3792]

Zero_Luna_Wolf I'm glad my closed species isn't like that, I've been working on them for 1 - 2 years and I've made an entire universe, story, system and etc for them (planet, creatures and so on).

[@piperhots3093]

Nothing is technically stopping you from drawing something from an oc but profiting off of it is actually illegal. You cant create an oc from a closed species for the same reason you cant profit off of stealing art. Making something similar is excusable but if its too similar or even from that species then legal action can be taken. With your example of the dog mixed with the tiger, just mixing a dog with a tiger does not make it a species but if you do it a certain way and create a world around it then you own everything in that world and you automatically own a copyright over it. Its kind of complicated until you really get into it so, Twisteddisaster has two very good videos explaining adopts and species if you really want to know more.

[@AruvaChan]

I’ll def have to watch them, I’m more curious now than confused. Some people have made some good points 🤔

[@piperhots3093]

Berd Boots Technically no but you most likely would not have legal action taken against you so you would most likely be fine besides a few people telling you that you can't do that. It would be in the same category as fanart which is actually illegal under copyright laws it's just that fanart is seen as a good thing which is why people accept it as where drawing a character from a closed species without permission is seen as a more bad thing which is why you don't see very many people doing it.

[@DuskPShermanWallaby123]

You literally would get nothing from trying to sue someone who took your design. A cop and court would not take that seriously.

[@lyricraine2246]

Nothing is automatically copyrighted tbh. You need to legally get your work copyrighted for it to be classified in court as copyright infringement. Most artist don’t realize that and end up just throwing the word around, not to mention if there’s even 1 difference from your character and the species being ripped off then copyright has no control. It wouldn’t be the same character, your copyright does nothing in that case. Let’s take pillowings for example (those pillow dogs) if you were to make a pillowing but idk give it a more realistic dog tail (everything else pillowing) copyrights mean nothing. It would qualify as a whole new thing. Copyright is a complex and quite honestly annoying thing. It isn’t a 100% protector of art pieces nor does it really save the day. It sucks but it’s true. I’ve seen at least 3 cases where copyright has denied helping a closed species owner for this exact reason on deviantart....

[@lachelnderhund]

It' s not illegal especially when it's just a piece of art

[@ENGLivesAndZERO]

(I actually copied this comment I posted on another video like this, since it's my best way as explanation; I hope this helps!) Okay, there are a lot of valid points and hilarious comments. However, I DO want to point out some things. There are a lot of closed species that don't make sense. There are a LOT. I was looking for Newfoundland Dog pictures on DA (just dogs, 'cause I like them), and came across a closed "horse" species. The literal only difference is that the markings could ONLY be that of dogs. And it was just ridiculous overall. And you had to pay the equivalent of a few dollars for a crappy-made design. I've seen some that are just a species with a few different markings. NOW, onto some things I really, REALLY, want to point out some awesome things. For the closed species characters that I have, they are ones I have gotten for free, and genuinely enjoy. And sometimes its more the lore and abilities of a character than their appearance. First example would be the Hosekiko species. A link to my MYO (Make-Your-Own) character can be found here: www.deviantart.com/englivesandzero/art/Siro-772436792 First off, a "neko"-type character is not locked to this. Neither is them having a gem. What IS off-limits is taking an animal-like human with gems, and making the same lore and background; Hosekikos are animals reincarnated as humanoids with gems, and they can have certain types of powers and abilities. So, while at a glance it SEEMS like it's ridiculous, it's really all about the lore and everything. And if you can get on for free from MYO's, gifts, etc. My second is a well-known species known Kukuri. One of my characters can be found here: www.deviantart.com/kuku-ri/art/Kalila-5861-752903080 At first glance, these look... Different. They're a type of raptor-thing. They, too, have a LOT of lore. It's an ARPG series, with genos, training, activities, all that. It's quite fun, actually. And getting your first geno? It's easy! All you have to do is go to the adoption center and look through the doc, and comment one or two that you'd want! Then you can get someone else to design said geno, and they'll get uploaded! And there are several, several variations, too. Ram horns, short horns, silken tails, Prairie Kukuri, Minis, the list is endless, and all the marking possibilities, too! The reason for them being "closed" is to try and keep track of all the activities and whatnot. This is one that I highly suggest, by the way; it's extremely fun and newcomer-friendly! Third off is another one. Tokotas! My first Toko: www.deviantart.com/totemspirit/art/Suravinda-36465-767175325 These are another ARPG, where you have to get genos and such. And yes, they look like wolves, giant wolves. This doesn't mean people can't have giant, rideable wolves, you just can't claim them to be a Toko. They, like Kukuri, can be gotten for free to first-timers, and they're extremely newcomer-friendly! And, like Kukuri, you do NOT get your character taken away! They can be your personal character, you can completely forget they exist, and come back years later, and they'll STILL be yours. Another lore-heavy species, and another one kept closed to try and keep the ARPG thing. The possibilities are endless! Different fur types, Dires, Tokis, tons of markings -- I can't suggest this one enough, either!! I have a few more, but I think I'll conclude with a final example. These ones are a newer one, called RexBirbs. My character can be seen here (I chose the official upload instead of mine): www.deviantart.com/rexpedia/art/Crystal-Cove-796370205 These ARE a lot harder to get, and you do have to usually pay money. However, there is a possibility for MYO's (how I got mine) or being gifted one! I'm very new to this species, and I haven't completely read everything, but it's another one that, once it's yours, it's yours forever. I highly suggest at least looking at a few, because, unlike the previous two, you don't have to use an official import and be unable to upload. Doesn't mean you can just make your own, but I wanted to point that out. Now that I've said my two-cents, I want to reiterate what I said at the beginning of this novel: a LOT of closed species are too tedious, too exclusive, and far, far too unoriginal. It's quite stupid, really, how expensive some species are. There are a lot out there who ARE snobbish and petty with their species. I just really, really want to also put this out there. Not as an argument, nor anger, but as a positive from someone who has a closed species (coughthatIneedtoupload), who has been in the art community for eighteen years, and who does own characters in a species where SOME genos and characters can go for twenty-five, forty, fifty dollars (those are from people's litters, and they usually have lots of traits, rare markings, manes, etc. More than not, you can get them for free from people, or only do a few pieces of art/writing). All-in-all, if you're still reading this, thank you. I know this may spark some anger, but it's simply my opinion. My goal isn't to force a difference in yours. I'm just putting a positive side to the coin. I have no ownership of the species themselves, I just own characters, but if you're interested in any of the mentioned species, check the below links (I'll feel bad if I didn't give anyone interested a direct link, deterring or confusing any who want to check them out): Hosekikos - www.deviantart.com/hosekiko-mines Kukuri - www.deviantart.com/kukuri-arpg/journal/Newbie-guide-570882661 Tokotas - www.deviantart.com/tokotas/journal/Newbie-Resources-and-Getting-Started-461202634 RexBirbs - www.deviantart.com/rexnest If you want to further contact me, just click the link to my Hosekiko example (Siro), and you'll get my upload (and username) ^^

[@paigelacey4697]

I have a closed species but thats because ive put a lot of time and effort into building their society and a story line for the main character (for the basis of a book or animates series) I dont want people just taking my creatures and using them for their own use before I can even do something with them.

[@ravenfeathers6638]

* watching this while drawing a species I made for a big world. With massive world building and stuff this universe is very close to my heart and I have the species for this world and I closed the species so that there are not so overwhelmingly many of them that the world doesn't get out of control*

[@AruvaChan]

I don’t mind closed species anymore, I had a lot of really nice people explain to me why they keep theirs closed. I’m just mad that people who make unoriginal species make them just to sell them for high prices. It’s not really that much of a thing anymore tho. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@ravenfeathers6638]

@@AruvaChan ah ok