Let me take a second to climb up on my soapbox for a brief post. I was recently made aware of a couple of things…my personal photos being used by someone else without the appropriate source being noted and several Etsy shops where artists were remaking my canvases and selling them as their own. Some of you may go ahead and just close out your browser right now…some of you may stick around and hear me out. I know everyone says that imitation is the best form of flattery, but honestly, I just don’t see it. I don’t feel it. And I don’t really care for it as an artist.
When I was made known about these things and took a look around their shops…it made my stomach hurt and it hurt my feelings. It sucked looking through the shops and seeing my ideas…my designs…my work…recreated in a wanna-be fashion. I have worked very hard to perfect my art process. I’ve done trial after trial. I’ve tested and retested ways over the years and then to see someone try and rip that process off and sell it as theirs…straight up same size canvases, same wording, same everything…it’s kind of cruddy.
I’m not one for confrontation. I’m not one to slander people’s names or their shops. Honestly, I don’t have the time or energy, but most importantly that kind of heart. What I will say, is it does hurt like hell to see other people ripping off your hard work and selling it for their own. I understand being inspired by others, but taking someone’s work…their heart…their time…their income…and copying it as your own is just straight up redonk. I have contacted these shops…some have been super nice and fixed the problem, others have been not so nice. I do feel it is my right to protect my work and I’m kind of totally digging my copyrights now.
As an artist…as someone who creates for a living and pours their time and energy and my own personal creative process into my work…I will never sell you something which is not my own. I will never take someone else’s work and claim it as mine. Instead, I choose to be inspired by all the amazing artists out there and stretch my mind and creativity to create newness…my own ideas. God has given me a mind to put to work and I plan on doing just that.
Just for fun businessyness #madeupword…for all you artists out there…here is a great resource from Etsy which outlines your copyright. Whether you have an Etsy shop or not, your work is still protected. It’s excellent and expands on what all your copyright covers and it’s a lot…which is nice to know.
Now I’m stepping down off my box. And because these kind of posts aren’t really much fun, I’ll leave you with a picture of Amon in his socks and diaper getting his teeth brushed by Josh Kelley.
Happy Wednesday.
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That is terrible! Anyone that knows you or who has followed you, knows your heart and knows that your work all means something! So sorry, and hope they take those down. XO
This does stink Laura so sorry! Praying God will give you wisdom and discernment on how to best handle the situation!
ugh. totally not cool. i’ve been seriously considering restarting blogging for a lot of reasons (cheaper than therapy and want to get stuff out of my head), but this is the second time in a few days that i’ve seen bloggers i love have their content/ images/ work stolen. i know it’s easy to do with the internets, but still completely sucks and makes me reconsider a lot of the ways i can put myself and my family/ work out there.
That is sooooo crazy!!!!! Hope they will all come to their senses and take the work down. Makes me sad to think that people think that is ok.
Did all agree to stop copying? I think you are familiar with stitchessosweet.com. The owner, Jill, had the same problem and shut down 4 businesses. She is an attorney. If you need help, I’m sure she would help you. I’m so sorry this happened to you and I hope you can get all of the shops closed down.
That sucks!! How did you find out? I really want to run tomorrow! Are you up for it? My not being there this morning was not my doing. Off to plank world…
I’m so sorry this happened! I’m glad you’re sticking up for yourself and all the other artists out there though! Thanks for posting the copyright thing too. I was gonna ask about it! God bless!
Get on your soapbox anytime, Laura! You have every right too! Keep us posted on these ‘copy’ shops. Hang in there and remember what a blessing you are to many!
There is nothing that will turn your stomach more quickly. I have had this happen NUMEROUS times, and it makes me feel physically sick. I don’t know what it is about it. It’s like the same feeling as when someone breaks into your car or house or something. Just icky and unsettling. Most people will quickly apologize or at least cease to sell it, but others have argued with me, been ugly, and then flat out bad mouthed the very work of mine they copied?!?! Telling me they will take it down ONLY because it never sells, or they never liked it anyway. Most of the shops had the owner’s name and the word “designs” after them. As if anything in their shop was their “design.” I try to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume that they are not familiar with copyright laws, but whether something is legal or not has nothing to do with whether it’s ETHICAL. You can easily tell if someone is an artist/designer or just a copycat by looking at their collective body of work in their etsy shop. If each and every design has a certain similar style or flair it’s probably their own, if it’s all over the place, they are most likely just people with the craftiness, supplies, or in my case the photoshop skills to recreate something. I have had to get “legal” with people and there is nothing I dislike more. Good luck. I’m sorry you’ve had to experience that icky feeling. It stinks!
You are right – Imitation is NOT the best form of flattery – its THEFT. Give me the names of the ones who were not-so-nice. You may be too nice to call them out publicly – but I’m not. I’ll light Twitter up!
Laura,
You should definitely let anyone who can help you, do so. Those who “take” other people’s talents and use them to make items to sell, should be exposed as frauds. I hope all of these copycats will get theirs!
Oddly enough, I was just looking on Etsy to try to find these artists when I thought I would see if you posted anything about it. As one who enjoys creating incredibly and would love to make a living doing so some day, I can empathize how you feel having your creations stolen and copied. I give you a lot of credit for not naming these shops . I don’t know that I would have been so kind.
We had the same thing happen with our adoption shirts. Seriously, stealing someone’s adoption shirt design???? I would’ve gladly given her permission to use it as I understand all too well how painful fundraising is but she claimed that we didn’t “own” the design once we put it on the internet. Actually, we do…
Boo! I’m glad you’ve found them and confronted them, but sucks that you even had to deal with this. Your work is beautiful and original and hopefully these wannabes will quit it now! Keep your head up and keep on creating – you truly have a gift and I would hate for a few crummy people make you stop!