[diputsmonro]

What if we flip the script - would it be cool if Disney scraped DeviantArt and created merchandise, movies, etc. based on the art and characters of small creators? Rules need to exist to protect the little guy.

Technically a lot of the merch people sell at conventions is infringing, but Disney, Nintendo, etc. recognize that pursuing action against them would ultimately be worse for their brand.

Generally speaking, whether a fandom existing around a creator's work is good is ultimately up to the creator. If the fandom economy chokes out the product of the artist, then the artist should have legal recourse (this is effectively the same scenario as counterfeits / knock offs). But if the creator's work is able to flourish alongside the fandom, then the creator may well decide that keeping the fandom engaged is worth more than being a legal prude. The protection should exist legally, and the creator should be allowed to exercise it as they deem necessary.

[exodust]

> would it be cool if Disney scraped DeviantArt and created merchandise, movies, etc. based on the art and characters of small creators?

You've more than flipped the script. You've introduced a global corporation as the "prompt author", feeding off the work of small creators. It's not a fair equivalence because suddenly the "prompt author" has major distribution partners, reach, budget and branding to propel their deception around the world.

Where exactly are all these plagiarising AI-gen artists anyway? Professional concept art involves highly intentional detail, themes and thinking. AI-gen renderings are more like rolling a dice and saying "cool! check this out!" It's not the same game.