Disdain

For the sake of the DGM fandom's need of copycat awareness, purposeful with ill intent or not should be looked over very carefully and taken into VERY serious consideration. Especially towards the ones being victimized in these acts.

And just be care, I know it's easy to be very inspired by someone and it may be by accident, and that's okay. The act of it is not, but it would be okay as long as you confront your acts and correct them and if you correct them with the person you may have caused some harm to. 

It's helpful and courteous. So please. Don't do something rude and harmful. And if you truly feel as though you've done nothing wrong and feel whatever it is you may be accused of to be something common, talk about it. At the very least. 

I do believe I can proudly say that for at the very least, I know for a fact I've never copied anyone or anyone's DGM OC. I am terribly sorry that the both of you (Chi and Rei) have had to deal with such acts and although we know it's something that is always there, raising awareness is truly the best thing to do. I have noticed copying with the help of others as I wasn't extremely observant of this sort of thing until a while back, but it is something that should be stopped to the best of all of our abilities. I believe people can be easily influenced by what they love/are inspired by but it doesn't excuse copying whatsoever and Rei you show this wonderfully.

FOR THOSE WHO FEEL LIKE THEY MAY HAVE COPIED WITHOUT SUCH INTENTIONS: Like Rei said, message the artist and talk it over. Maybe if you feel something is too similar that isn't common, why not change it up? Make what is yours really yours, just be yourself in your art and not someone else.

For me, I'm extremely anal about not being like someone else, frankly I have those who could probably vouch for that. But I understand that people who mean no ill intentions can make a mistake, so please. Go through and do a courteous act to not make such mistakes. Because, and not that my art or OCs are anything ridiculously special, I would not my art copied, or stolen, or ripped off in any manner.