A GIF of a flailing purple dove from facebook sticker called “Trash Doves” was popping up in never-ending chains of comment thres everywhere. After achieving viral fame, creator, Syd Weiler dealt with repeated instances of plagiarism and copyright infringement. 4chan users also coordinated a harassment campaign to make a fuss that dove was a hate symbol, leing to its removal from Apple App Store.  

“ improbable explosion of my work online changed my life and course of my illustration career entirely,” Weiler claimed in her blog post. 

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Trash doves in Asia

Weiler wasn't able to re most of articles and memes which were being me about sticker as doves first went viral in Thailand after appearing on a Thai Facebook p. Messenger sticker set quickly started spreing across Asia which also credited to Weiler's name, opening her personal Facebook p to hundreds of strangers who w h access to her photos and comment on her posts. 

For success of stickers, as a thank you gesture, Weiler drew a little Trash Dove holding Thai flag with its foot. sticker turned out to be an offensive cultural faux pas, as feet are considered to be dirty in Thai culture. This resulted in people sending her angry messs and asking why she hated Thailand. She soon apologized and redrew im with Thai flag in its beak.

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Misinformed campaign 

4chan users started a misinformed campaign to turn bird into a symbol of white supremacy and neo-Nazi messs as soon as popularity of bird began spreing across world. 4chan users also targetted Weiler by flooding her inboxes with ims of photoshopped Nazi doves. One of users also posted her dress in chat, prompting her to call cops in event she was being swatted.

viral doves opened gate to bootleg merchandises, games, and apps that tried to make a profit from Weiler's creation. Weiler and her fellow illustrators registered over 80 ps worth of links to unauthorized merchandise. She compiled an individual copyright takedown tice. This highlights risks that indie artists have to take while creating anything for internet. y have to fight to maintain control over copyright and to deal with worst-case-possible scenario where ir artwork could be co-opted into a hate symbol.

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