brokenhearted and discouraged

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! ♥

Comments

[Jan]

awww ... chin up, hon.
I know how frustrating this is. I'd like to think that karma will come back on those people, but who knows.
It's the nature of the internet, unfortunately. You take a chance every time you post.
I'm glad you found these people and confronted them though. Yay! Pretty ballsy of them, in your own hometown, if you ask me.

Funnily enough, just yesterday I spotted a holiday print on pinterest and knew IMMEDIATELY that it was yours :) So I took the extra ten minutes it took me to finally locate the source and make sure it went back to you, and it did. To flickr, actually. See, I think it's just as important for all of us to have each other's back.

I have mixed feelings about Pinterest, but that's another post ;)

[Jen B]

Lori, I'm so, so sorry that this happened to you! You are such a warm, wonderful, giving person I'm sure if these people actually *knew* you they wouldn't even think of doing something so blatant and reprehensible. I'm seeing a growing number of blog posts relating to Pinterest and pinning responsibly, hopefully awareness is being raised--I know mine is. Keep moving forward, you and your art are a wonderful gift :-)

[Jeanne Lobsinger]

I am so sorry that happened to you. I really appreciate your freebies, I printed them out at Christmas and put them on the gifts. Everyone who got one of your labels made a comment! Thank you for sharing and not taking them down.

[Miss Paula]

Whenever I see your art on Pinterest with nothing or Flickr etc., I put your name in because I know that is protocol and you r my friend!! Looking out for u from CA

[Camille]

I'm so sorry! I found you because I was tracing back the source of a pretty drawing I saw on Pinterest! I was actually planning to share it on my blog when I realized it was someone's copyrighted work! So take heart - there are good people out in cyberland who are not stealing your handiwork! I've actually started making sure to actually type in the source of Pins on Pinterest because it's so easy to rabbit trail and lose the real source of something. It is the biggest negative of Pinterest, in my opinion.

[WordsRimportant]

Oh my Goodness! Don't be brokenhearted!! THEY should be ashamed of themselves!!! Your work is awesome and I swear if I ever post it anywhere you will get full, glowing, admiring credit. :-) Besides, it's YOUR creativity and YOUR imagination and talent and they can never steal that.

[Carolyn@Sweet Chaos]

I hate to hear that, Lori! I can't believe someone stole it and had the nerve to sell it around here. From the picture, it looks like that person had a hodge podge of things for sale. Makes you wonder if it was all stolen. Argh!

[Cindi]

I just found you today PLEASE don't go away!! ♥ Cindi

[Andi Butler]

I will never understand why this happens. Whenever I find printables or cards or whatever, that an artist is generously making available, you POST THE LINK!! You don't take it as your own, hack! I'm so sorry to hear this Lori, I wish I could tell you it would be the last time...chin up, don't hide your creativity away because of some jerks...

a : )

[Cyndi J]

I can not believe that people would blatantly sell your stuff as their own right under your nose like that!! I am SO SO SO sorry that people have done this to you!! I love all your printables and I hope that you won't stop sharing. I hope that you won't let a couple of people ruin what 99.5% of us enjoy :-) THANK YOU for all your work!!

[Km]

Offering heartfelt hugs and sympathy!! I am very sorry you had to deal with during the holidays and the new year. You offer so much inspiration, hope and encourgrment to others!!!!

[Karin R]

Thank you for posting this. I had pinned a couple of your favorite prints on my pinterest board but wasn't sure whether or not that was okay; they linked back to your etsy store so that people can go buy them if they want to. I can't imagine deliberately taking someone's creativity and using it to make money. Sorry that you have had to deal with this. You are such an encouraging, cheerful person, and I smile every time I see your work!

[April W]

Wow I'm so sorry this happened to you. :( I totally understand why you're so upset and frustrated, as you have every right to be! Good for you for speaking up and putting this out there...
- April

[Heather]

I came over from Kerry's blog. I can't belive someone would do that. I appreciate bloggers who give clipart away for free because I enjoy using them for crafts to give to people and a lot of times it saves me time. Thank you. I am going to print your Valentine Cards to give to co-workers!

[Lori]

I also found you through Kerry's Blog and am so happy to have found you. Some people are just disgusting and have no respect for other people. With that in mind, you now have one more person to support you and to catch these thieves!! Your work is awesome!!
Lori

[Jenipher]

aww that makes my heart so sad.
and to say it wasn't her fault?? :(

so terrible!
hope 2012 is treating you well!

smiles,
jenipher