Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Unbelieveable!

I really hate wasting energy on this, but I feel this is something I need to address. Here's the scoop:

Yesterday I was on Flickr, working through creating a certain type of link and in the course of doing so, found one of my photos there. I thought that was rather odd, since I had not posted that particular photo to my Flickr. Further investigation revealed that an online acquaintance had snagged my photo from my blog and posted it to her Flickr account. (Granted, she had credited the image to me, but she had not asked if it was okay with me that she posted as she had done.) This made me really uncomfortable, so I sent her a brief polite email explaining that I would prefer that my photos only be posted to my account. She removed it and replied "Sorry, but don't post them on the internet then!"

Now I had given her the benefit of the doubt that she really didn't mean any harm or perhaps didn't know any better, however, that last comment really got me. How is it that someone does something wrong and that the person that they do it to is somehow responsible? I emailed her back and patiently explained that I consider my photographs part of my art. I choose to share my art online, but that does not mean once I do that people are free to snag and use those images however they want. They are copyrighted to ME. At the very least, you should email and ask permission. In any case, I thanked her from removing it from her Flickr.

Later in the day, I discovered that she also had posted my photo to her Live Journal, with no credit and had created an icon for herself from it. At this point, I was pretty annoyed. I reminded her that Live Journal's terms of service includes the stipulation that you will NOT infringe on anyone's copyrights and asked her to remove my images. This morning, she emailed that she had forgotten about the fact that those were on her Live Journal and said "Your art I thought was your mixed media. I didn't realize you sold photos as well." Whether or not I sell my photos is neither here nor there. It's my art and unless you are ME, or ask for and receive my permission, you have no business using it in any way. The icon made from my photo is still up. I have reiterated that I would like her to remove it. *sigh*

So here's the bottom line:
I know that 99.9% of folks who read my blog and visit my website would never think of doing something like this. I truly appreciate that. This is not directed at you in any way. I appreciate you visiting my corner of the web and commenting and sharing the art world with me. I appreciate that you do it in a respectful way.

I am not by nature a bitchy person. In fact anyone who knows me, knows that I am exceptionally generous and easy going. However, if you step on my toes after I have tried to ask you nicely not to use my work without my permission, I am going to get testy. It's rude and disrespectful and it shows a lack of integrity. How would you feel if it happened to you?

I am hoping that this will clear up any grey area about how I feel about someone "borrowing" my art and that I don't have to waste my time addressing it again. There is a notation on copyright on my sidebar here and on each of the pages of my website. I can't make it any clearer than that.

If you heave read this far, thanks for your patience and for listening. Let's hope tomorrow is a better day.

11 comments:

I need orange said...

This would infuriate me.

The whole "you put it on the internet" thing is like blaming a girl who gets raped for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Maybe she made it possible, but what happened to her is still wrong and not her fault......

I put up small (1000 pixels) and very low-resolution images.

And I hope that that will discourage copying.............

Sigh.

I suspect that as long as they *can*, and they want to, they *will*.......

People tell themselves a lot of stories about how they deserve this and they deserve that, and that's why they can take something that doesn't belong to them, be it music or photos or whatever.

Sigh.

Anonymous said...

That person's reply would tick me off as well. I do worry about people taking my original art and using it without my permission, too.

Thank you for voicing your view on this. Regards, Carla (friend of Lori S-C)

Anonymous said...

Amazingly, I *just* had a very similar incident occur with some of my art. There was a favorable resolution for me but I'm sure I have been dubbed the queen bitch by the offender and her cohorts.

I would prefer to remain anonymous for certain reasons but I just wanted you to know that I'm with you, sister. I am appalled at the rate in which copyright infringement is occurring. Or maybe it's just that the internet is shrinking the world and we're finding it more. At any rate, it's very disturbing.

And the people who are willfully infringing feel totally within their rights to "shop" the net for everything and anything regardless of whether it's copyrighted or not.

liz said...

good for you defending your self and letting the person know how you feel. what she did is TOTALLY wrong and you have evry right to be angered by it...and by her ridiculous attitude.
liz xx

Anonymous said...

You are SO justified in being outraged that someone has stolen (yes stolen, not "borrowed") your artwork!!! I would be just as upset as you. Let's hope she has learned her lesson and will take more care in the future...before someone REALLY takes her to task and sues her for copyright infringement!!

Sweet Petunia said...

I love visiting your blog and reading what you are up to. It is a huge inspiration. It saddens me that someone would take advantage or your site.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you - Viewers should respect another artist's work and respect their copyright.

MB Shaw said...

This is ridiculous and I completely agree with you. You have every right to be angry about this. Glad you could vent and also inform others.

lindaharre said...

I am so sorry that this happened to you! I know it has upset you:( Just remember that your heart is in all of your work and anyone "borrowing" it doesn't have the heart behind it! Your photo may appear once or twice, but they can not reproduce the heart behind any of your work:)

Penny Rabbit said...

I tried to post yesterday but didn't have a Google I.D., I do now so I will post! I offered to kick this person's butt for you but that wouldn't be appropriate! How you handled this is very impressive. You were absolutely correct in your anger, in your frustration! I'm sorry you had to even address this, there should be no question. This friend should be embarrassed, she should be begging your forgiveness. You did good, you were absolutely correct in making your feelings known. You handled this a whole lot better than I!

Lelainia N. Lloyd said...

Actually Penny, this person was a mere aquaintance, not a friend. (Thank goodness!) A friend would have and known better. :)