• Questions

  • Can you use images you don't own as covers on this site?

I don't think that they care, some original novels have ripped out characters from anime and put it as their cover

    8374fg48fh There are people here who make free images for your novel(but only on this site) you should browse the forum to find them.

        8374fg48fh
        Obligatory, I am not a lawyer and you should not take this as legal advice.
        If you did use someone elses image without permission (which is a dick move) then the likely worst-case scenario is them asking you to take it down. They may ask nicely or have a lawyer send a DMCA notice. However, it is even more likely they never find out.
        If you're making any money off your novel, then it's very important you don't use somebody elses image. You can get sued for monetary damages if you do.
        Your best bet is to search for free images that are allowed for commercial use. Throw a few of them together in photoshop or Gimp. Alternatively, find one of the free cover threads in the forums and request one to be made for you. It likely won't be usable for commercial use, but it probably also won't break any laws.
        If you ever sell on Amazon or go commercial then you'll want to pay a pro to make you a real cover that you own and can be used commercially.

            SnoozySloth If you did use someone elses image without permission (which is a dick move)

            Worst case scenario as a fellow artist, some aggregator sites also would use your novel without permission. I believe there are novel who already being translated to other languages too. Lol.

                AardwarkThe2nd
                I tried searching for fanart that resembled that on google and deviant art. Had no success. Found a few that were vaguely similar, but nothing I found came close to it. I think you'll need to provide proof. =p. I also reverse image searched it and found a few copies of it with chinese text which seemed to suggest it was book art for a Chinese novel. Since it is a translated novel I think it's a legit image.

                    8374fg48fh Yeah, this reminds me of a writer on RoyalRoadl who was making cash off his novel and used a fanfiction devianart picture with permission from the artist and then almost got sued when said person decided he wanted in on some of that cash. Make sure to keep a copy of the guys' confirmation for later if he says yes now and decides to feign ignorance and sue you later when you make it big. Worst case scenario is going to court and showing said evidence to then establish officially that you'll change the cover as it does not belong to you and the artist does not wish for you to use it, you won't be fined other than the lawyer fees. (I'm hopeful the artist of the cover you wish to ask permission to use isn't a jerk though and wouldn't do this kind of thing, but well you never know.)

                    Or If you do make money off the novel at a later date, might as well pay the dude some money as a thank you.
                    Or you could get a paid for professional artist to make a more customized cover. (Or multiple covers, if you wish for a cover per book in the series)

                    (I do not own a degree in law and do not know the specifics about that guy on RoyalRoadl almost getting sued cause It was discussed in a discord server for novel fanatics, specifically one devoted to Wuxiaworld. (Can't remember if he got a DMCA or If they skipped the DMCA)

                        8374fg48fh
                        Rextraos
                        If you ever go commercial it's best to pay a pro. The deviant artist might not be using commercially licensed images in his art. So, best to be careful.

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