How To Protect Your Artwork Online
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 ม.ค. 2019
- Today I'm talking about art theft! It's a real concern when sharing your work on the internet that you may well have your illustrations stolen by a website or business. What can be done about it? In this video I discuss DMCA takedowns, lawyers, correspondence with thieves, copyright laws and how to properly record the creations you make.
Thank you to Ideas Powered for inviting me to learn more! ideaspowered.eu/en
USEFUL LINKS!
Google DMCA form: www.google.com/webmasters/too...
More info on DMCA notices: www.socialmediaexaminer.com/h...
Pixsy.com - use this site to upload your images and see whether they are being used without your permission. You can also find legal advice here too.
DACS Knowledge base: www.dacs.org.uk/knowledge-base
Lots of information on copyright laws!
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I had my work stolen online once. Bits and pieces of some digital illustrations I did were used in a video game in another country. I found out because I was doing a google image search of my art. I contacted the company and asked them not to use my artwork in their games. I was lucky they agreed to remove my art. I couldn't believe my art was stolen, because I didn't think my work was that great.(haha) But just goes to show, it can happen to anyone!
I dunno, if your stuff was good enough for these folks to take it and use it in their game, I'd be interested in that game just to see your art. Not that they should take your stuff illegally of course.
This is exactly what I've been thinking before posting any illustrations online. Anyone who is ahead in the process of creating a videogame, anime, cartoon, movie, comic book, graphic novel or creating any other kind of character design can simply go to the profile of unknown people and steal the designs from their sketches. By the time they realise it the company could have already registered the designs as theirs and if you don't have proof then you're done, even your design is gone.
I'm more worried about them stealing a design than an illustration. It's easy to have proof for an illustration, but if they steal an idea they can do any other type of work with it and get away with it.
Just look at Disney for example...
You have a very soothing and calming voice. You should do voice over work, especially for children stories
another plus side to having your work online is that nowadays individuals have access to their own audience, who are happy to speak up in your defence or even spot when your work has been stolen (though I would never condone bullying of any kind). But I have never had my work stolen so maybe I don't know what I am talking about :O
True but of course you need to follow up and get ownership anyway
I made digital brushes out of my fingerprints. Works great for a lot of materials and textures.
Good luck removing that hidden 'watermark' when it's built into the art itself. DMCA or not, I can use that for high selling items, which typically are stolen. And throw a lawyer at it.
Just take 10% of it's sales and apply it to legal.
If you don't have sales, be happy your work is being seen. If they say it's their artwork as an artist, make drama out of it with your proof and watch more people become aware of your art.
I came back to this video to tell some people about it, and I just wanted to say I'm so glad you talked about this and I really wish it had more views so that more people could know about this seeing how there's so many "aliexpress stationery haul" videos on TH-cam recently. Thank you for explaining this so clearly!
This is a great video Holly, I have had my work stollen in the past by overseas companies and nothing was resolved in the end. But at least I know what to do if it happens again. Thank you and I love your channel, it’s so inspiring.
You have honestly the calmest voice. Thank you for this video these tips are so helpful for me.
Thank you so much for your help & insight. It truly means so much. It's a blessing to us Artists of every type. Please continue to look out for us & post more about such topics when you learn more. Thank you again so much. It was so helpful. God Bless & Happy New Year!
Thank you so much for sharing your insight and knowledge. I’m sure there are followers amongst this group who will benefit from such valuable info. I can’t imagine how stressful it must be to go through this kind of theft. I know a photographer in my writing group had to take a large company to court over theft of copyright where the company sold the rights of the image (that they didn’t have) on to other firms! It was really stressful for him. But he won, and it really shone a light on this issue which is really common, but a lot of artists done know how to get their images/artworks back.
Oh gosh, this is such an informative video. Thanks so much, Holly! 💙
Thank you, Holly! This is such a helpful video with so much great advice! The dreaded watermark.... I do usually include it even though my work has been stolen and watermarks erased or even used with the watermark but it is one thing that makes it a little bit harder. At least, this is my conclusion. Those tips on mailing yourself or creating a secret account are brilliant! I had never thought of that before! Last but not least, your detailed description on how to file a complaint with Google is very helpful indeed! Thanks again for taking the time and trouble to help all of us! 😘🤗🧡❤💜💙🎨
Thank you! This thankfully hasn’t happened to me, but now I know that I am prepared if the event dose arise. Your videos are very helpful♥️
Thank you for making this video Holly! Found it super informative
Thank you so so much for sharing. Love your content, LOVE your style and Love your work!!
Thank you for going to all this trouble on our behalf Holly. It's good of you.
Thanks for this video!!! Being a self employed art is hard enough.
It is good that somebody talk about that.
Thank you
Thank you for your good and measured advice. Your videos are really helpful.
Hi Holly, great video, thanks for sharing your thoughts on such a sensitive subject!
Ever since I started following many artists on Instagram I started to learn that there is a continuous art theft going on behind the scenes that is never ending, once something becomes "on trend" or generally popular. It is a bit heartbreaking to see multiple stories by Quibe, the amazing minimal artist, and how his work gets ripped off on a monthly (if not weekly?) basis by clothing brands, book publishers and many others. In the modern age I think it is essential to keep up with checking were your artwork is used, shared and if it's treated properly. Especially if you create personal work and share it online frequently. I started using Pixsy a while ago and it finds visually similar images to everything I upload to Instagram, tumblr and my portfolio website, this way I can at least trace back to some of them used without my permission. I really hope there will be a more permanent solution to this problem in the future.
By the way, are you planning on creating a new piece for "Women who own it" series this year?
Anna Farba thank you for your comment Anna- isn’t it so depressing how vast the problem is, I also hope for better solutions in the future. Currently I have no plans for another Woman Who Owns It, I’m focusing on finishing the cookbook I’m working on first. I always love suggestions though! I would like to celebrate a woman of colour perhaps, and outside of the art world...
Great Topic, Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge!
Thank you Holly! This was a great informative video.
Some great advice Holly. Thank you very much.
Thanks so much for this video! Really helpful!
Oh my god, I know the owner of that shop… I’ve spoken with her on numerous occasions. She always gives the impression that she creates all of her own artwork to sell. I’m so sorry this happened to you, and I’m so sad to see someone I thought was a friend is an art thief…..
Very sound advice thank you!
Epic epic video, absolutely useful! Thank you! And also, I think the one who got stolen from by Zara should serisouly consider taking this to court, time to make these companies accountable for what they steal. I even saw once that a brand stole a diy project crochet design.
Thanks for this video. I am artist who was looking for advice on posting on Insta...I think I will try not posting super high res images, but the biggest take away for me is how you recognize promoting your art includes some risk. It's about being responsible and knowing the right information to use when you see someone walking around with your art on their shirt.
Amazing subject!Your Vlogs are very helpful.Thank you!Hugs!
Very interesting! Thankfully I haven’t had to worry about having my artwork stolen yet but it’s good to be prepared for something like that since I also prefer not to watermark my work.
I think this seems to be more of a problem with stylized work, not so much realistic artwork if I’m not mistaken? At least most cases of art theft I’ve seen are from these types of artists. Either way, I still try not upload high resolution images but I didn’t take into account those small scale items that don’t need high resolution lol good to know!
An interesting topic indeed! Thanks for the video Holly!
I'm wondering if there's anything fair about those high street fashion brands at all... It's common knowledge that they steal styles from big fashion houses, smaller details are picked from independent creators, all stitched together in a sweatshop. Sounds like it's just a calculated business model... Nice to hear that some artists manage to defend their work though!
Great advice, thank you! Shared on Twitter.
Thank you so much for this video!!!!
👏👏👏👏😃 This was great!! Thanks!
Thanks Holly. Very useful.
Many Thx 4 sharing QUEEN!
Hi Holly. Thank you and congratulations on the quality this video (and your work).
I'm migrating from producing paintings and selling them in galleries to digital painting/illustration. I've produced my first batch of better quality pieces and am trying to figure what is a resolution that works both for making a decent impression, but not at a high enough quality that it can be printed/sold by thieves. Could you possibly share some knowledge on what size image works for you when posting to instagram and/or facebook? Cheers :)
So helpful Thanks for sharing
I send pics of my art to fb but take a picture on a angle si someone can't really copy it properly xx
I just had a tattoo studio use a design I did as a tattoo. I sent a friendly message asking them to st least tag me as the artist of the art used. I was a tattoo artist for 11 years and when a client comes in with a design, the shop usually don't research where it came from or ask if they have permission from the artist, to get it tattooed.
Hi! Do u have a video on how u go about finding out that someone has stolen your art? Have u came across your stolen art just randomly or by coincidence? Thanks for your video!
About using *Pixsy* to track infringements: Pixsy operates by *tracking web infringements* and issues demand letters to unlicensed users, hoping they settle quickly, so Pixsy can move on to the next infringer.
For its business model to work, Pixsy has to settle LOTS of infringements and relatively quickly; they’re not really setup to litigate.
*I’m betting that if you have a timely registered copyright in-hand, your US-based copyright litigator could get you MUCH, MUCH larger settlements when going after American infringers.*
What do you think about doing screen recordings of your work in-progress and keeping on a cloud service instead of posting it on social media? Would this be a good solution?
Do you think it's still possible to file a DMCA if your legal name is different to the name you work under?
I want to start my fashion designs but im scared it will be stolen. In highschool my ideas were used from my fashion show and many stores had my designs
Hello, thank you very much for this informations. They are very valuable. How do I find out, if my art is stolen? How did you find out, especially when it is in Asia and not in Europe? How do you come across a theft?
Thank you for a Very informative, but quick question. Would it be viable to record a video of yourself showing the original/physical piece in your hands? That would be sufficient proof right? (Excluding illustrations via computer, or apps.) I feel that this would discontinue any argument that the work isn't yours. Thoughts?
My album art work was stolen I have no idea what to do
Hi in 2016, My 4 paintings mural paintings were stolen in Nairobi Kenya till now I haven't found them! I need your piece of advice!
What about image upscaler? Am an artist as well and worried.
Oh! I forgot about my question. Since you advised to put low resolution photos online, what low resolution would be okay to use without making the image look blurry or anything?
Good question! I'm unsure about thi, too!
Low resolution is that has lower image sized, for example 500 x 500 px or 250 x 250 px, even though these are very very small, and might not show all the details due to pixelation, but they are not possible to be printed in bigger sized. So low resolution is technically as big as you need it to appear onlne, it doesnt need to be zoomed in, so maybe four fingers width on a screen, its not supposed to cover an entire computer screen, and the smaller details might consist out of a few pixels (low resolution is considered 100 - 800 px imagesize, but I think 800 px is enough for buttons and phonecases). Highresolution is already achievable from 1200 px and above, usually the images used legally are bigger than 2000px.
In order to print stolen images, the stolen images need to be good enough to be printed, since its not possible to scale pixelimages up, because they will appear pixelated and disotrted. The thing is.... we all want our followers and clients to admire our artwork in good quality and nice resolution, but that also makes the images better for theft. Same as with watermarking, its a choice to be made and a risk to be taken in consideration when we upload.
how do you guys find your work that has been stolen though? Is there a way to search certain things that would lead you to find the stolen pieces?
Yes! Linked in the description is the site Pixsy - where you can upload your images and see if they've been used elsewhere.
holly exley perfect! Thanks Holly ❤️ this video/all your videos are so so helpful xx
Good advices! What size do you use for your pictures online?
I try to keep my online images at below 1,000 pixels wide, or I screenshot an image at the size I want it, and upload that.
Hi, can I ask is your artwork all made digitally on a tablet? Thanks Sean
Hello. I recently started doing digital art and uploading it on my store and social media. How do I find out if my work has been stolen?
Do periodic reverse images searches using TinEye or Google Images. These services let you upload a copy of a digital artwork and they will tell you if any matches were found in their vast database. If someone has stolen and reuploaded your art, then you may find that your artwork is appearing on random websites without your knowledge or permission.
I would also recommend using hidden digital watermarking or fingerprinting techniques. Free open source software like OpenStego exists that does this kind of stuff. This won't prevent your art from being stolen, but it will prove your ownership (so that someone can't falsely claim that it's actually their art). Another option would be only make lower resolution versions freely available on your social media accounts and the previews in your store. People can still buy the full high resolution version, but art thieves generally won't bother with stealing low resolution previews because they prefer to scrape the Web for "free" high resolution quality art.
I hope this helped and I wish you all the best!
Great tips, but just to point out...why would I send the private photos of the process to the thief so they can see my only proof? Only so they can have it too..
Oh no, good get em Holly💕
you are so beautiful and talented ... I love you from Jordan ♥
*WATERMARKS* At approx. the 5:10 mark of the video:
*My comments are based on USA copyright law:*
I get it that many find watermarks detracting. Alternatively, create a cool-looking artistic business *LOGO* that includes a small copyright logo (©), your name, and your URL or social media handle. Affix it discretely to your images; this will allow fans and licensees to contact you, especially if your image (contact info) isn’t showing up on a reverse image search.
Affixing watermarks *LOGOs* , copyright attribution, EXIF, your name, your URL and/or social media handle, ROBUST metadata, image name jpeg title, licensing information, and other *“Copyright Management Information” (CMI)* to your posted creative works *REINFORCES(!)* your creative rights.
US-based infringers who *use Photoshop or other editing software to knowingly remove, change, or cover up a watermark* (LOGO), metadata, and other CMI to hide their copyright infringements or to further induce infringements can be financially liable from $2,500 to $25,000 PLUS the artist’s attorney fees PLUS legal costs, AND other remedies (at the court’s discretion). The GREAT news here is that a timely registered copyright is NOT required to pursue CMI violators located in the US. See 17 USC §§ 1202-1203 or visit the following copyright attorney-authored links:
1) Seven Reasons to Add Watermarks: www.photoattorney.com/7-reasons-add-watermark-photos/
2) The Value of Watermarks: thecopyrightzone.com/?p=1351
3) Including CMI to Photographs: www.photoattorney.com/options-recovering-infringement-damages/
If your artwork has ALSO been timely registered with the US Copyright Office, modifying or removing CMI can result in a *“willful”* copyright infringement decision against the defendant infringer, where s/he can be subject to enhanced statutory damages from $30,000 to $150,000 AND attorney fees AND legal costs (at the court’s discretion).
Those artists who choose NOT to timely register their photo copyright claims, should, at the very least, include *robust* CMI to provide them with some legal options when enforcing their creative rights against American infringers.
I know this is 2 years old. But do you know a way to find out if it has been stolen if no one points it out to you?
There might be an easier way, but you can use Google reverse image and put in your own work, and it'll show where its been used across the internet. So if someone is stealing your work to sell online, it may show up. It's also a good idea to look on sites that are well known for stealing artists work. I can't think of them off the top of my head, but maybe someone in your community will know? Usually the big online retailers.
@@hollyexley tysm 🙏
There are many companies (more like manufacturers than brand names), and don't care if you approach or name them. I'm disappointed in Zara. I don't feel like shopping there now.
At approx. the 4:25 mark of the video ( *PROVING your authorship* ). Question: *Could I not take Holly Exley’s illustrations and post them to my social media and websites and claim those works to be my original creation?*
*My comments are based on USA copyright law:*
Timely completing a US copyright registration application and receiving its copyright *Certificate of Registration* is very much a vetting process: It helps ensure to a federal judge that the creative work belongs to the author and that the author has legal standing to file a copyright infringement action.
Mailing your artwork in a SASE back to you will neither prove your creation nor be binding in a US federal court. This *“Poor Man’s Copyright” (MYTH)* procedure ONLY proves that the US Post Office can mail a letter back to you.
Directly from the US Copyright Office: “The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called a ‘poor man’s copyright.’ There is *no* provision in the copyright law regarding any such type of protection, and it is *not* a substitute for registration. (see www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html)
In the US, the way you *PROVE* your creation and corresponding copyright ownership is by *timely* registering your work with the US Copyright Office, either BEFORE publication or WITHIN FIVE-years of first-publication.
This action will provide the artist with “presumptive proof” that s/he has a valid copyright, and the facts stated in his/her copyright registration application (who’s the copyright author, claimant, year of creation, year of first-publication, etc.) will also be deemed valid unless disproved. (see 17 USC § 410: Registration of claim and issuance of certificate).
When filling out a copyright registration application, the author must check a box to “certify” that they are the author, copyright claimant, the owner of exclusive right(s), or authorized agent of the work. Authors and others who knowingly LIE and make FALSE representation of a material fact in the copyright registration application, are subject to a $2,500 FINE. (see 17 USC 506(e): False Representation [Criminal Offenses]).
For photographers, videographers, and illustrators, it’s not about having the RAW/original image file that necessarily proves their copyright authorships, as clients and licensees and others could also have access to those very files.
So, to help prove your creative authorship and corresponding copyright ownership to a federal judge, Google, Etsy, publishers, and others whom you may want to make a US DMCA claim against, you’re encourage to quickly register your copyright claims. If the recipient of your DMCA “take-down notice” *challenges* your copyright authorship (i.e., files a DMCA “counter-notice”), your Certificate of Registration along with its number and effect date of registration can be your *prima facie evidence* that you created the disputed work.
In summary, the US courts really want to see the author’s timely issued copyright Certificate of Registration to authenticate the author’s creative work.
Tiktok really helps w exposing brands that do this especially shien
I wish shien would do this so I could run a big ad about it for tiktok lol
For me personally it's not enough for me when someone steals your art, starting making monkey if it the moment they stole it, to kindly ask them to remove it. Just to remove it?! They already started making money of it! Removal is not enough. They have to pay.
After mailing your work to yourself don't open it! This would void the date and you couldn't prove your work was inside.