Let me see if I can be any clearer than this...

THE ORPHANED WORKS ACT WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO STEAL YOUR WORK.

*clears throaght* Let me explain.

You see as of now, with no such act, anyone can take and modify your art work as they please. I wouldn't be surprised if someone is planning on taking some of my ideas right now...

WITH the Orphaned Works Act, the person NEEDS to try to contact you before using something or they will get ROYALLY SUED. All you need to do is make yourself CONTACTABLE. Sign your work, first of all. Secondly date your works. The great thing about DA is that when you post your art there's a date under it... So most of you don't have to worry about that. Lastly, put some basic contact information on your front page. Email address is probably the best thing.

WHO KNOWS, you might get an email from someone who wants to use your work. Do a background check on them to make sure they aren't scammers. You might actually make some MONEY from your intelligent property...

What more do I have to say? If you are responsible, the OWA can make the world a better place. STOP BITCHING, for God's sake.

And though it pains me to say it, over half the people who are bitching about this don't even have to worry about their art being "liked". 80% or so of those artists, who will remain annonymous, DONT EVEN HAVE ORIGINAL ART... Have a nice day.