Post #323973 by MauiTiki on Tue, Aug 7, 2007 9:37 PM

I have had my art (sticker designs) stolen and sold by people in competition with my own website. I can go to e-bay most any day and find someone selling one of my designs (usually poorly copied).

Everything I have online has a copyright notice attached to the photo, but it does no good.

I have hired multiple lawyers and have never gotten a cent from infringer's. Truly the best you can do is stop someone from continuing to sell your art, unless they are a major corporation making huge profits from your art. Even then you would need an official copyright from the Library of Congress to get anywhere.

In this age of the internet, using other people's art to create your own art has become commonplace. My College art professor always said "art evolves from art". People take other artists work and improve on it or interpret in in another medium. That's how art evolves and an artist grows to develop their own style.

What TeaKey's father did was not intended for sale. He used your art for inspiration. I'm not sure why you were asked to sign something that would associate you with it. I used to get VERY upset each time I found my artwork stolen and being sold, but I have gotten to a point where I can't let it bother me. I send a firm letter that they must cease and desist all future sales and reproduction of my work. I check back to be sure they have stopped and that's it. I move on.

Hassan, your art is incredible and will inspire people. If you don't want it copied, don't put it out there. Otherwise (I hate to say it) you'll have to learn to be flattered by people you have inspired, weather the result is good or bad.

You'll find multiple threads on this site of people complaining of being severely ripped off. What happened here is very minor, and I can't believe the uproar it has caused.