BEWARE OF A FALSE COPYRIGHT CLAIMER 🧵 Twitter user @/HellaHeckinGay (softbarkz here) falsely DMCA'd my partner's sona and claimed that it is a "rip off" of theirs. Smooch, @tundrasugar.bsky.social's sona, has existed for some time now. Lovecore isn't just for you. More info in alt texts! #furry

These are just the immediate designs we could easily find to reference. Like the alt text on the images describe, all characters shown have 3 common factors: color scheme, heart motifs, and a heart face marking. None of these are unique to the sona "Zero" as softbarkz / HellaHeckinGay claims.

(Side note, if the alt text was not clear, I am in no way shape or form claiming that the previously mentioned 4 designs are copies. They are all really pretty takes on the lovecore / valentines day aesthetic!! Please show the Toyhouse profiles some love!)

This was their response to both my boyfriend privately, as well as publicly to my beware post on Twitter: Here, they improperly use copyright law and claim to have a copyright in the works for their character. One major issue: It is almost impossible to copyright a furry design. Sorry, it's true.

I can testify: You were not present in any way online or in person during the creation of Smooch or any of the art created for them. I was there for every drawing Tundrasugar made of them however, and not once did your sona ever come up in conversation. This is the first time I am seeing Zero.

I am a fulltime artist, a disabled trans man about to go into a major surgery that has already caused hiccups for my income. I rely on being able to post the art I create, ESPECIALLY for promotional content that I spent hours creating. You threatened my account under the guise of "good faith."

It is absolutely fair to feel targeted because you DID reach out to other artists and have a conversation with them where you wrongly smeared Tundra's name and tried to scare innocent artists into taking down their art— But did not say a god damn word to Tundra or me. This was intentional.

This is a clear cut example of bullying, while using big words and "legal speak" to make it sound like it's lawful. It isn't, and anyone in the fandom can tell you that Zero AND SMOOCH are not the first of their kind. You can easily find designs that look near identical to either of them.

You can find more information from my partner's side, who was the one who had the most posts removed due to this fraudulent copyright claim. Beware, artists and creatives, of this grifting bully who will go after you based off of personal opinion alone. x.com/tundrasugar/... More screenshots above

This is such a huge waste of everyone's time, and their dismissive "the platforms will decide" attitude while actively threatening our livelihoods is insane. You are insane, Softbarkz.

Going after two creatives who barely have enough money to make it by each month, knowing they CAN NOT fight back, is cruel. We have all your legal identifying information, but have no way to fight back without giving you OURS. We aren't that stupid. We have to pray the platforms know this is bogus.

A toyhouse bulletin was made, we aren't sure if we should make a full PSA in the forums. Some advice from other furries would be great :'D toyhou.se/~bulletins/3...