I HATE that i have to write this post. But i do.
My art was stolen twice over the holidays. Twice, that i know of.
The first time, a friend found my art on some bottle cap pendants being sold at a local craft fair. My copyright had been conveniently cropped out of the pendant. After some sleuthing, i was able to find the vendor on etsy and confronted her online. She admitted she was doing it and promised to stop immediately after i threatened legal action against her. When i asked where she got the images, she simply said "i found them on the internet".
The second time was bolder. Another friend found all of my FREE printables {Christmas gift tags, lunchbox notes, etc...} being sold by the sheet at a different craft market in my own hometown. I found this vendor actually had posted a picture on her facebook page of my printables for sale in her booth...
i was outraged and confronted her on facebook. She apologized but denied that it was her fault. She claimed it was "a friend" who gave them to her to sell for her because "she was trying to make some extra money for Christmas". Again, i threatened legal action and angrily explained how disgusted i was that an artist would do this to another, let alone in her own hometown. I explained that it was stealing. This woman was actually the organizer of this craft market and claimed they never sold any and that they would never do it again.
I feel angry and sad and frustrated. It makes me want to pack my art up, wipe it clean from the internet and hide it away. But you know that wouldn't be me. It's not what i really want. What i really want is to educate people. I want people to understand that just because they find an image on the internet, it is not theirs for the taking. In both cases, my watermark/copyright was all over my art. In order to print those FREE printables, you have to go to my download page, which has a disclaimer in bold letters at the top stating that they are copyrighted and are for PERSONAL USE ONLY. I know, it's the honor system. But, sheesh, really people? I make those FREE printables and put them out there to share with good folks who support me, read my blog, pin my stuff on pinterest and follow me on FB and twitter. I love doing that. It makes me so happy when people send me messages, emails, tweets, and comments on my blog telling me how much they love them and appreciate them. I appreciate those folks so much and my FREE printables are just a small token of my appreciation.
Print as many as you want, share them, give them away to everyone you know, but do not claim them as your own and sell them. It's as if they put their hand in my purse and took money from my wallet. That's how violated i feel and that's how illegal it is.
I feel the need to explain that my art is my trade. It is how i make my living. Just as a chef sells the food they cook, or a builder sells a house they built, or a plummer sells the service they provide...my art is my product. In this day of pinterest and flickr and the blogosphere, it is out there. I know that. But, i do always have my copyright/watermark on everything that i put out there and hope that you would be honest enough to follow the link back to me and rightfully purchase it from me. Because i am a small, independent business owner. Truth be told, i'm a mom...putting my art out there, hoping you'll like it enough to buy it, so that i can continue to stay home with my kids, contribute to my household expenses and help put my kids through college.
Friends, please pin responsibly...be sure that your images directly link back to the original source. Take inspiration from all that is out there, but don't take images unless they are offered for FREE download by the original artist. I am so thankful for friends who keep an eye out for me and have my back. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for all of your encouragement and love. I won't let a few bad apples stop me from doing what i love.
Thanks for hearing me out. Sorry for the negative post but it was necessary. I'll bring back the happy stuff tomorrow! ♥
