Save The Alien Status Update
I have not posted any new updates to the “Save The Alien” drama even though I am continually queried to do so. I owe an explanation to everyone that watched from the sidelines as the rigmarole unfolded.
During the course of the past six months not much has transpired on the legal battlefield, thanks to games being played by deviantART’s stunningly brilliant adolescent CEO and his gaggle of high-priced Silicon Valley lawyers.
Here we are, six months after my involuntary termination from deviantART, Inc. by the CEO and CTO and the reason for dismissal has never been articulated. I have been left to mere speculation, basically hypothesizing that they opted to “terminate our relationship” based on their perceptions of how at-will employment works. The genuine motive for the actions taken in July 2005 remain elusive.
At this point in the process, due to forthcoming actions, I have been advised by my lawyers not to make further statements regarding my legal claims against the current principals of deviantART, Inc. When my legal team informs me that I am allowed to speak I will release further updates.
I want to thank everyone that has helped the cause. The support that I have received, and continue to do so, is phenomenol.
Always remember that good things come to those who wait.
Well i hope that after all of this is over you come out of this with a big grin on your face. Best of luck Scott
I will continue to show finacial support where I can find it. God speed.
I’m not surprised to hear this but feel for ya bro.It is my hope that you get satisfaction on this matter.I have left DA and will not return unless you come back.Best of luck my friend.
Been boring on dA w/o you; must say you were always my favorite admin :)
GOOD LUCK YELLOW DUDE!!!!
good luck mate, all the best and hope you screw them hard in court
You have my sympathy. I couldn’t believe it when I heard about all this, seems like ages ago now. I was hoping it would have been all sorted out by now. I’ll be donating to help the cause asap.
Good luck with everything.
Keep strong, keep the faith…
Take care. You’ll get through it. I can’t wait for you to return.
good luck scott!! I’m rooting for you!
It will be a fine day when your back at DA.
Hang in there, Scott…
You’re a good egg…errrr alien…. And good stuff happens to… well there has to be some good heading around your way soon, I think!
Pistol’s at dawn would of been so much simpler :P
But seriously, good luck man.
Scott,
You made deviantART fun and just. Now that you are gone I am seriously thinking of moving out. It has become like a corrupt 3rd world state and it makes me sick. I wish you the best and I hope Spyed gets what’s coming to him.
Best of luck. Even if I’m silent on the goings on at devART now, you’ve got and always will have my unwavering support.
Good things DO come to those who wait.
I hope that you come back to da. I would have left, but reasons are irrelivant right now. I hope all is getting better for you and your family. (lots of hugs)
Thanks for at least telling us this much, my friend.
Best of luck to you in this…you know I’m there, on your side, if you need anything.
Hopefully when this is brought to court, this will be resolved and you will be reinstated in your place, or at least at some kind of rank. It’s not been the same since you left, man.
All the best… always on ur side.
And yes indeed… good things come to those who wait patiently
Most definitely, DA hasn’t been the same ever since they have “terminated” you. I should have left, but I don’t want them to keep me from being happy. But I’m still fighting, and nothing can save DA besides you. No free gifts, subscriptions or whatever, no artificial niceness. DA is going down without you, no matter what.
It will never be the same, and I’ll never, ever forget you. Of my life. I’m just a kid but I know you’re one of my role models.
Best of luck, Yellow Dude.
It was a shock to me when you were terminated. Now I didn’t agree with everything you said or did, but I valued the site more than my selfish desires for the ability to post stuff featuring material I didn’t own the copyrights to. And really, there are many things I’ve learned to just walk away from. However I think they should have let you keep control over a site you worked tirelessly on to create and breath life into. They should know that kicking you out like that makes people wonder what is going on, and even if it was legal, it fucking sucks. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
I hope you can get Deviant ART back, no matter what it takes. I will be praying for you.
I wish you the very best of luck Scott. I know that this shouldn’t of happened in the first place. There is something serioulsy lacking in DA lately.
tsk, tsk. not to you, of course; that’s reserved for the “stunningly brilliant adolescent CEO”.
don’t let the punks get you down. *insert beer mug avatar here*
I still need to donate. I will do that ASAP.
Hope all fares well, and if it doesn’t, just know that the majority of DA is with you
And to those who deserve..
much love to you and yours, Scott!
Keep fighting the good fight brother.
Best of luck Jark, we’re all still rooting for you!!
We are all a big happy family man! :)
Ah, thanks for the update. Good luck with it all! Tis still sad that you arnt there, i mean now who are we going to question about escaping from various government projects…(oops….wrong place, and wrong topic…)
Anyway good luck with it all, id help with the fund etc but sadly theres not much i can do. Feel free to contact me if you have ideas though. =)
You’re the reason I left DA. After you left it’s been getting more and more like MySpace. And I HAAATE MySpace. Which is why I went and set up my own website for my art. That way certain black ninja cant go around editing my stuff. [Like there's anything to be gained from editing my website. No one watches it except for 5 of my former devwatchers.]
Here’s to hoping Spyed quits and you can get back to your life.
KMeist wrote:
“You’re the reason I left DA. After you left it’s been getting more and more like MySpace. And I HAAATE MySpace. Which is why I went and set up my own website for my art.”
————–
That about sums it up. Let the place crash and burn. `justthorne is working miracles trying to keep the evil factor to a minium, but I’d be willing to bet if you started up again somewhere else there are plenty of us to follow you. If you build it, they will come.
Good luck fighting the good fight! Slay the black ninja!
quality on DA is dropping… :( good luck scott! i hope this thing will end the right way.
We do miss you and I hope that everything works out for the best. Sometimes things just happen for some odd reasons and what happened to you is not fair. Good Luck in whatever you choose to do!
~Artslavist
I hope everything works out great in the end. Good Luck Scott & Family!
I really hope that you pull through. At deviantART we are all rooting for you. Good luck with the legal proceedings and all. I really hope that you will be able to return to your previous position at deviantART.
Sincerely, Rowan Moore
If I had more money to give I would. I trust that things will work out for you Scott and Angelo will inevitably reap the seeds he has sowed. Hopefully sooner than later.
Stay Strong Scott, somehow I think the longer it goes the worse it will get for Spyed in court..theres a mass of problems with the integrity of dA nowadays and you`ll know them all I bet.
I believe one day the truth will come out and just desserts issued to all who need `em!
Regards to you and your family
“This place has lost it’s spark.” `missmisery couldn’t have said it better. That’s how I feel about dA now.
The adminstration and their tactics have been making me sick. Not to mention the increase in censorship. I feel like the community has lost it’s feel.
Good luck Scott. Let us know of updates.
All I can say is…when people bitch and moan about the inevitable collateral damage, remind them that they had ample opportunity to do what was right rather than align themselves with those that seemed to be on top at the moment.
Err, what I meant was, keep the faith and remember those that matter are in it for the long haul. However long it takes.
Yeah, dA has just been going down the tubes since you left. For the past couple of weeks I’ve been working on a “replacement,” or “competitor” even. Right now it looks like its ripping off their web design, but I just whipped that up really quick so it wasn’t simply black text on white background.
It’s coming along pretty well so far, and at just under 600 lines of php total, I haven’t seen it take longer than .0035 seconds to generate a page, compared to dA’s .4~.6 range. Maybe that’s because I’m not getting constant traffic like dA… who’s to say?
Anyway lemme know if you like what you see (if you even get around to reading this, I know there are a lot of responses to go through). Any feedback you could give would be GREATLY appreciated :D
I imagine the worst part is having to bite your tongue and keep quiet about the whole lot.
Don’t stop fighting…you’re fighting for us as much as we’re fighting for you.
That’s what I thought at the beginning: you were telling everyone the story while the other side were in complete silence, I believe they knew how to play!
All the luck!
Your time will come, one way or another. Im absolutely sure of that.
very simply - the way i know best -
people fucking suck
i dont trust anymore ;/
Your untimely departure from dA is yet another indicator of the web’s slow shift toward a morale decline. The web should remain a place where people can engage in digital philanthropy, where communities are built from trust and similar goals. dA was a good example of that - like minded people getting together online within a trusted community. Regardless of whether dA was a commercial venture or not, it’s core principle was community.
Commerce, industry and business has no concept of community because it does not directly generate revenue. It is rare that people will pay money to get together online simply to be part of a group. The corporation will squeeze the community aspect (and other aspects that are not directly revenue generating) and this can only be bad for the users.
Unfortunately, the exploited are the innocent (as they often are). Those publishing great works without the understanding of the legal jargon that surrounds the slow creep of the terms and conditions. The typical artists doesn’t care for reading through ‘legalese’ - they just care about the art. The truly inspirational are likely to suffer the most as their art is taken and exploited for the purpose of the company.
I’m quite surprised that you want to return to the digital ghetto that your creation has become. The community won’t last under the pressure of aggressive mercantilism. I’ve seen several of my favourite artists leave dA and I am wondering if I should leave too. Those people who really do care and leave the useful feedback (few and far between) are giving up hope - in this case, you can’t fight the man.
I’d hope you go onto create something new - something better. Whatever creative juices that spurred you on to create dA (whether it be from Graphics Forums or thePad) I’d like to see unleashed into a new project - fresh and free from the emotional hardship you’ve been through.
Whatever you decide, good luck and keep us informed!
Hey Jark! Just wanted to leave a couple of lines to wish you good luck and god speed.
A team of lawyers, wow. It’s come to this. I do regret this but I do hope that you emerge victorious.
Good luck with everything.
Stay up Jark!
WE have not forgotten. Keep the fight going.
I figure, even if they don’t reinstate you at dA, you and Matt probably own the rights to most of the core software and the architechture of dA. Therefore, you could set up shop someplace else and you KNOW most deviants would follow, either because they believe in you and your style of site management, or because they’re just following their friends over.
We will fight for the yellow alien.
It’s really amazing how everyone knows your name now, since this happened. Even new deviants know who you are now. Stay strong, it will pass.
Never give up on your fight–for at this point, it is more than just your own; it is a fight for the rights of all of the great creators who have been ousted by lesser men with more crude tactics and questionable ethics. Your choice of the word “adolescent” to describe the tactics of a certain “CEO” is most appropriate. Stay strong and send the message that its time for the creators of all great things to get their due. Luck be with you.
-ds
Keep on fighting man, we know you’re in the right!
all the best sue the bastards
dA has gone to the dogs without you.
Artists are being banned for unjust causes and others are leaving because of the injustice.
We need you back. ;_;
It’s not the same without you.
-Tenchi
Best of luck to you scott.
I’m not sure if it is worth mentioning but “Shawn Vulliez” (5 from the top) on the save-the-alien page is me, ‘altffour’
I just wanted to let you know that if you plan on starting your own art site in the future, just let us know and I’ll be there.
We’re here for you all the way !
Scott, I am still baffled as to why they removed you, my heart goes out to you as I know the terrible stress legal battles can induce upon a person. I can only hope this is resolved soon, and I will stay with your creation (DeviantART) to help promote my fledgling work, as I believe is your wish for all young deviants.
- Lucifer
Scott, I hope ya the best thru these messy legal battle.
I know that patience is a virtue (and that I don’t posses it…) I hope you have enough.
Good luck dude.
I’ve closed down my dA account, so whatever happens will have little effect on me, personally, but I hope you stick it to ‘em anyway, out of principle.
It sucks so bad man, I never really paid attention to admin before this but now, I hate it when websites hit the shitters internally.
This whole thing just stinks. Nothing anyone can do about it but you I guess
Well this is one guy whos standing proud in the yellow army
dA has never been the same. i’ve just got no interest like i used to, and that’s a shame. i hope that isnt taken as what YOU did doesnt matter, it does. I just dont like the feeling i get from the whole thing and what happened.
youre thought about mate. be well
xam
I think it’s time for a new art community. And this time we better care about capitalism taking it out of our hands…
Keep fighting man. I haven’t been on DA for ages, and don’t intend to until you return… if you return.
Scott, I continually hope that something amazing comes out of this for you somehow. Keep believing. I will support you regardless of what happens.
your friend,
D.
Don’t cry…
im new around here but my suports with you this whole thing sounds pretty fucked up..
I know this may mean little as I am unable to help support you financially through the rough times but we are all rooting for you. Stay strong Scott!
Unwavering,
Rhari
I’m starting to think if I should stay or if I should go because the site has really gone down hill and it has shown on the outside as well (the public side) with the change of power that went on late last year.
Quite a few of the artists who watch me have stood up and noticed are thinking of leaving some already left not wanting their art used for money.
I really hope you do come back because deviantART is really starting to look like a internet version of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Someone up there said “if you build it, they will come”… I couldn’t have said it better.
I wish I could offer more than moral support.
Good luck. Good things come to those who wait… and those who fight for them.
thanks for turning deviants against themselves. i like neither you or angelo, so this whole thing disgusts me any way i look at it. but more so on your end, since you seem to have your own little army of people you don’t know. all of you have an answer or retort to everything. your lawyers are right-shut up about it.
I keep my word, im not coming back until the boss is back.
Good Luck brother!
It must suck that you’ve become a “member”.
Mr. Jark. I belive you are dealing with a person that believes he is god. God over this microcosm that you took the time and effort to construct with the help of your friends.
You must focus on this word and this one word alone.
“Deicide”. It means “God Killing” or “The Killing of God”.
You must focus on the deicide of this individual and shut him down in his entirety.
He is no god and you must show him and everyone that he is no god. Dispite the help of his sillicon valley lawyers.
I send my support in the only way i can and i raise my glass in respect. “To the deicide!” Jark…To the deicide of Angelo “Spyed” Sotira.
Take his blood. Paint the picture of truth with it. Show us all what it truly means in due time.
I know how you feel and stuff, but It doesn’t mean that your quiting DeviantArt. We always beside you. Infact, we are your allies to protect our dA accounts, but we salute you to be the one who is a Co-Founder.
We always save our little Alien.
~GPH
Patience will be required for long periods of time, I know that you will get the truth from behind the ninja mask and that it will be to his fall from grace…
Hang in there… You have a lot of support.
you know how i feel about this f@#$%& up situation…
well good luck dude and all the best, its awesome to see so many supporting you financially too
i really hope you win this case
once again, good luck, hope to here more “good news” soon
I must confess and accept my ignorance, for I just found out about your termination a day ago. While I would love to be able to try and offer some monetary assistance, my current circumstance means i cannot. However I would like to offer my support in anyway necessary, be this through continued emails and posts directed to the people responsible for this, or even continual encouragement. I do not think that boycotting deviant art will help your situation (so I will remain a member), though at the very least I am glad I do not subscribe because that money I would consider being money used against you. I was never a follower of The Yellow Alien, but I understand and support your position. Do not give up! To give up is to admit defeat to ‘The Man’.
Good luck, you deserve to have your retribution.
~xenos-threat
Well Scott…it has been a while. I basically moved out of devART and am now at Skinbase doing okay. Four features there and hopefully more to come. Thing is Scott what happened to you was so obviously wrong and Angelo has made it worse and damaged a site and a way of life that many held dear. Whatever happens I am sure you will come out fine. Good things happen to good people Scott. Hang in there and remember that for bad things to continue good guys like us need only sit on our butts and do nothing. I am still in your corner with no intention of changing. You are a good guy and never lose sight of that!
well… i haven’t been around for a long while due to extra commitments, but i’m very sorry to hear that you are still without just explanation.
i sincerely hope your situation has improved since this entry or that is due to improve soon.
keep up the fight. :)
jark dude, I really get the feeling you were hard done by man. But I wil say that maybe you aren’t applying enough pressure. I know of a whole bunch of dudes that would put all their galleries and prints into storage if you said the words. Apply more pressure through your already huge fanbase. We are all behind you.
i sometimes think about re-subbing to DA but i’ll be damned if i give them a cent as it will just go to pay the fees of the SV laywers to work against you. i wish we could ‘go’ somewhere and just start again…
im still on your side jarkman.
xam
The heart of the community is with you - don’t give up!
You’re damned right, all good things come to those who wait. It’ll be meatpies for them all.
I’m just catching up with what has been going on. Man Jark, they will get what comes to them. I hope you come out on top of all this.
Reposting this in the most current message on the subject: I had originally posted it on the original post.
I happened across the story of Jark while randomly browsing devart; to be quite honest, I had never given time nor thought to the founders of deviant art or its corporate structure. At the current juncture I am seriously considering leaving devART as a member based on my disgust for the current administration, despite the fondness I hold for the community; I will certainly be more seriously considering the creation of a personal site to showcase my work. Angelo’s actions in this case are not only blatantly immoral, but also appear to be illegal; leaving the potentially more serious actions alone, the simple witholding of financial documents from a qualified shareholder was a legal infraction that will merit some punishment should this case ever see completion (as I sincerly hope it does).
I’m with you Jark- I gave what I could at the current time, and apologize for its slight stature; the budget of one paying for college is continually strained. I’ll continue giving when I have some spare dollars, and should I experience some windfall you will certainly know about it.
Good luck, and keep us updated.
-Dillon Compton
I’m sure you’re not fighting to get your job back, why would you want to work with them now even if you could?
Hopefully you will get an ass-ton of money though.
good luck
Jark, it is only a matter of time now - we must make sure that everyone knows what is going on in deviantArt in order to get as much support as possible. There’s a Chinese saying: without moving forward, you will go backwards. You have my support!