Due to recent events, we regret to inform you that we no longer accept "self taken" pictures for secrets. This is due to issues regarding one or more secret submitters wanting to have their secrets removed for one reason or another.

From the time this journal is posted onwards, we will only accept secrets that are either plain text on a background, or use images from deviantART stock resources. Included in our shoutboard are stock artists who are happy to have you use their work for secrets.

In future this may change, but for now our hands are tied in regards to the issue.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused. If you have any questions, please, feel free to note or email us.

A lot of the questions you have all been asking or some of the statements that have been brought up are all in our main page journal. We will how ever remind you all of this, then answer a few of your questions.

*Legal Notice*
By submitting information to DeviantArtSecret, you grant DeviantArtSecret a perpetual, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, distribute, and otherwise exercise all copyright and publicity rights with respect to that information at its sole discretion, including incorporating it in other works in any media now known or later developed.

If you do not wish to grant DeviantArtSecret these rights, it is suggested that you do not submit information to DeviantArtSecret. DeviantArtSecret reserves the right to select, edit and arrange submissions, and to remove information from the DeviantArtSecret website at any time at its sole discretion.

Note: This applies to the secret itself and the idea behind it, and not necessarily the art used along side it, due to the use of stock art.

Once a secret is submitted, the secret will not be removed. DAS is the only one that will decide if a secret will be removed if it falls under complications.

DeviantArtSecret reserves the right to change the rules at any time.

A lot of your questions or statements about adding something like this, as you can see has already been done, and has been up for well over a year now.
This unfortunately doesn't hold up with DA.
The policy you see above, is along the same lines as what Frank has. Not the same but along the same lines.
But unless you have singed something like this which to me seems a little fair fetched.
We realise their are a lot of young ( we are all young at heart don't worry ) members that send in secrets. so this agreement form is a little over OTT ..
We are however trying to work something out with DA that will be something a long the same lines, but a lot  easier to understand.

According to DA our journal means nothing at all if someone decides they want to report us. We need something signed.
This also means even though your emails you send us saying you give DAS permission to use your art. This is also not enough.
This disappoints us as much as it disappoints you as secret tellers..
We hope this is worked out very  soon, this is a DA rule though, there is nothing we can do about it at all.
To those of you who have mentioned making their own secrets account where members can send their own images in.
Good luck to you. This rule isn't a DAS rule though it is a DA rule so you will have the same problem.
FAQ #193: How do I prove that I had permission to use someone's work?

Does this mean that you can't have secrets in any media other than plain background with text or stock image with text? So we can't draw images?
This is only for photos, you can still send your drawings in.

n my opinion they should be allowed to use self taken images as long as it doesn't reveal the identity of the person unless they don't mind it doing so
If for what ever reason the person then decided they don't want their secret on DAS, they can then report it to DA demanding it be removed, because they took the photo.

but can't you somehow add into the rules, that once a secret is submitted to eviantArtSecret, the secret - including the artwork, is the property of eviantArtSecret?
As you can see in the policy we  have had for over a year now, it already states all this. But its doesn't mean anything to DA

I would send an e-mail to PostSecret and ask what their policy wording is because I'm sure they have had to deal with the same types of issues, people regretting sending in a secret or some such thing.
What PS has doesn't stand with DA, as DA has its own rules. DAS isn't a site on its own like PS is. We are "just" an account within DA, so we also like yourselves have to follow the rules of DA

once something is posted on the Internet it technically becomes public property.
People can argue it all they want for or against, but that's how post secret gets away without having to have a policy on their site.
This may be so. But as mentioned above. We are not our own site with our own rules, we must follow the rules of DA

What if we wanted to use an image we had taken that didn't have people in it or something
Its still a photo you have taken so at this point no sorry.

could someone not just create a own stock image, post it on deviantart, then use that same image in their secret?
Yes go for your life, that would work fine.  If you don't mind people knowing you sent the secret in, you can also add it to your own account.

a self-taken image would be more appropriate for some, wouldn't it?
In some cases yes. Regardless, DA states that they have to sign something saying DAS can use it first.

That's part of the "Be Creative" clause in the rules of DAS. It's a great idea, DAS, i think it can help a lot of people get things off their chest that they don't feel they can say out loud to anyone else. It is doubtful now that i will be posting anything since i cant use my own images.
Sorry to hear you feel that way. Although you don't need to use a photo you took yourself to get your message across. You can be often more creative by using the millions and millions of stock photos here on DA.  Or as mentioned make your own stock account, that way you can still use your own art is you must.

you could use a picture you took yourself if you're a stock artist, then you give yourself credit and no one would know, unless someone who See's it knows you.
As mentioned already, this is very  true. and no its not a lot of hassle to do this. If you really want to use your own photos, and you really want to get your secret on here, you would make a stock account.

its not creative.
It is just as creative to use stock photos or brushes  to make a secret then to use your own photos.. If not more so.

It would make way more sense that people have rules to agree to before choosing to submit a secret.
As already stated many times, we already have all this. But it doesn't stick with DA. People can still report it to DA demanding it be removed.

What if I don't want to use a stock picture because it doesn't convey the same feelings that one of my personal pictures does?
Then send a complaint to DA its them that have made this rule.

This new rule is just plain stupid. You keep taking away things that we can do with our secrets. Soon, there isn't going to be anything left, it'll just be words on a background if this keeps up.
We cant do anything about it, its out of our hands.
Although as mentioned we are trying to work something out with DA  hopefully that will help.

Also, this is supposed to be a community group, therefor I think there should be community input as opposed to one person making up their mind. If you're really worried about things like this, you could easily message a DA staff and ask for some input and advice.
No-one has a say this this DAS doesn't even have a say in it. Its a DA rule its not something any of us have any control over. In case you haven't noticed. DAS always runs a poll because making an new distions. So the members of DAS always have a say in how things work in here.  But this is not something DAS has any control over. If you arnt happy, then maybe the person/s who decided to report DAS should have thought about that first.
DA is involved in this.. If they wernt involved in it.. This journal wouldn't have been written, and this rule wouldn't have been made.


I suggest you reconsider and if you feel it's too tough a decision, then start approaching some gallery directors.
We had no choice in the matter. This is a DA rule not something DAS decided.

-DAS