First off, I know art thieves aren't a new creation.
Secondly, I am well aware of the 'report' button here on Deviant Art.
To be honest, I stopped being anal about seeing my art 'stolen' after the fourth or fifth time it happened.
Being pissed about it doesn't change the mentality of the people that do it.
The threat of being reported by me has not stopped them trying it.
So I chose to go down the path of trying to resolve things in a somewhat friendly and respectable manner. This is rare for me.
Instead of abusing the thief and getting all my mates to report them, I would point out the obvious similarities in our work and give them the chance to confess and either remove it, or stop claiming it as their own inspiration by at least linking my DA Page.
I don't feel that this is an unreasonable attitude.
I know that fanart is already practically 'thieving' someone elses character design and I know I don't have the right to claim that kind of brilliance, which is why I try to be decent when I find someone using my art for other purposes.
That said, every now and again, I can get a bit indignant.
This usually happens when I find someone not only chucking my art as their own, but when they've also got a watered down, blubbering teenage bicurious-in-denial fangirl version of my artist comments.
This is simply unacceptable.
-> If you're going to steal, use, trace or otherwise donkey punch my shit, at least be yourself and think up your own fucking comments, yeah?
I know I can't stop you from doing your bullshit, but leave my amazingly unique and stupid ramblings out of it.
I know this incident ended in public humiliation for you/someone.
But if fear doesn't teach a lesson, maybe a ripe, fistful of shame will.