When someone steals images to use for their own benefit, they are stealing pieces of an artist's heart and soul to use for their own gain.
It's happened to me a lot in my journey as a beadmaker, and no matter how much I try to ignore it and tell myself to get over it, it still hurts just as much.
Case in point - I got a message from a fellow beadmaker this morning that this website stole this pic for use on their lampwork section.
Now, I am sure some people think, hey, that's a form of flattery - I should be glad. Yep, I've been told that before, but no. I'm not glad. Now, if people are lifting images just to show to people and say hey, look at these beads, I am generally okay with it.
But that website is using a pic of my beads to sell their beads, which are mass-produced. They're using me.
I've emailed the offending webmaster, and hopefully the pic will be taken down soon. However, who knows - when this has happened before, the owners of the websites usually do not respond, and the pics are usually left up.
I write about this now, because it helps me to talk about it, and because maybe it will deter some people from committing the same copyright infringement. I am sure a lot of people don't know how wrong this is.
Many beadmakers have told me that talking about this is like beating a dead horse. I just have this to say - if the violations are still happening, the horse is not dead to me.
Anyway. It's worth mentioning that this website and company lists itself as being in California, and the shop is hosted at Yahoo, I believe. If they don't remove the image within 24 hours, I will be reporting them to Yahoo.
Oh, and yes, I do know about watermarking (doesn't work, they remove it) and other copying deterrants. I've been through this so many times that it seems I have some sort of target on my back. I can't remove the target, but talking about it does help, so thanks for putting up with that. :)
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Kandice, I found a tutorial on Dawnandevan.com that tells how to add your signature in the same color range. I've been playing with layering it over part of the bead image. At least it will make it harder for them to steal.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry this keeps happening...Oh and the prices they put on your work.
Oh Kandice, not again. I'm so sorry. Stupid ugly people.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your works being stolen for their own business. I don't get much of those but I guess it happens when you get popular. I have a friend that had his entire blog layout, tutorials and photo style copied. But the guy took it down.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, if the violation still occurs, its not beating a dead horse at all.
Oh, and I'm just dropping by. Pardon me.
I think this sucks. In fact, I think it stinks so bad that someone is stealing pictures of your work that I just did something that probably won't help, but at least made me feel better.
ReplyDeleteI just contacted each of the sites you have listed and told them they should be ashamed of themselves - and that, because of their lack of judgement and refusal to follow copyright laws, I will never patronize their sites or stores, and will make sure no one I know does either.
It probably won't help, but at least it's sending a message. I can't believe how brazen some people are. They definitely win the "Mean People of the Day" award.
There is a way to make it impossible to right click on your site - but I don't know how to do it, or if it's even a possibility for you. It's easy to say you should be flattered (because your work IS fabulous!), but I agree with you. It doesn't feel very flattering...it feels more like a violation.
Sadly I've been in your position but not online. ALl you can do is what you are doing and keep doing it. Kudos to you. Just keep doing beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteYour work is so amazing that it doesn't surprise me. There are too many people out there with no ethics. When I first started I bought from one of those sites that claims their beads are handmade but they're just mass produced in China and knockoffs of actual artists. I threw all my stash of those away once I found out the truth.
ReplyDeleteSo just keep telling the truth and spreading the word!! =)
You guys are so sweet - thank you for the kind words. :)
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that this is happening to you. The picture you are showing is very pretty. I like the way that you have all the colors, they are perfect together.
ReplyDeleteIt's an aweful feeling when things like this happen to you. It is a sad sign when others use your work to sell their own.
ReplyDeleteI understand how mad you must be feeling but more to the point...you must be feeling hurt.
I wish I had an answer to the problem but it is one that I encounter too with scrapbook designs and I haven't yet found an answer.
People can be so ignorant. I'm so sorry this happened to you and am glad they removed your work from their site.
ReplyDeleteBrett
vanfleetstreetdesign.etsy.com
when you copyright your work by putting your name and date across the page or watermark it, then one gets the idea thta using it is frowned upon even if just to have a photo on their blog. I think most people are not bad and are not making money off blogging and just use photos they see to decorate their blogs cheaply. 'copying is the best form of flattery'
ReplyDelete..just ask them to link to your page so you get a back link,smiled upon by Google and Alexa ranks and search engines and free plug for you! mke it a win, WIN situation. -Ann
Dropping by thru Entrecard. It stinks that people use your images in unethical ways, but I have to say that that is the single most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Those are my favorite colors together, my bedroom looks like that and smells like lavender and mint... I could almost smell it when I first glanced at your beads. :-) You are talented!
ReplyDeleteI'm dropping to and read your post. It really sucks that they are doing this to you! Ticks me off that there are low-life people out there that do these kinds of things! I hope this stops for you soon, I know it would drive me nuts. Hang in there and keep on fighting them!
ReplyDeleteMiriam
I couldn't agree more about this NOT being flattery. It is downright theft of your image to try to sell their (2nd rate) beads. Keep up the fight.
ReplyDeleteThis is not flattery, it is laziness and falsely selling the idea that this item is available for sell. Your work is beautiful and I wish you the best.
ReplyDeleteerika
So sorry this keeps happening to you. :( Maybe if you made sucky beads they wouldn't steal your photos? hee hee.
ReplyDeleteWow. I have to say, I have no idea how they used your photo - their cheap mass-produced chinese crap doesn't even compare to yours. Who would think they are making your beads, along with that stuff??!?!?!?!?
ReplyDeletehttp://bloggertricks.com/2007/12/how-to-disable-right-click-in.html
ReplyDeleteHere's one way to stop this. You can always add in a email me link for people to ask your permission to use your images.
Best of Luck!
krystal with solsisters
http://www.solsisters.blogspot.com
Totally agree.. You should be angry.. I hate thieves! Btw, you made those beads?? They are really pretty.. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is horrible.. I am so sorry to hear this.. I hope it gets removed pronto!
ReplyDeleteI understand completely why you are so angry and you have every right to be.
ReplyDeleteI am glad they stopped using your photo. But an apology and follow up email would be nice too!
how rude....
ReplyDeleteobviously they don't care what you think...!
Well I think it can only be considered flattery if they credit you. But if they're implying (by lack of credit) that the photo represents their own product then that's false and misleading.
ReplyDeleteYou have a right to be upset. Just don't allow it to spoil things for you too much.