Another Day, Another Copyright Violation…
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Any day of the week I can do a Google image search and discover a new violation of my copyrights by someone using my images without payment or permission. People think that if it's on the internet and they can "right-click, save-as" it, they are free to use it for whatever they want. Even WITH my copyright watermark right on the image! Then there are the ones that contact me directly...
An email I got from, let's call him... Martin van Trierum this morning:
I fount a great cartoon on your website. I would like to use it for my scription as a information and edit the text in the balloon. It is for a non commercial use. Can I use it please?
My Response:
Sure Martin! How does $25 sound?
Martin's Response:
No thanks, I was just tying to be polite... Is the honor not enough? we'll mention ur name It's non commercial use. later
My Response:
It doesn't matter if it's commercial use or not, it's my property and you do not have legal right to use it without payment of $25.
FYI: for full disclosure, my lawyer has been cc'd on this email...
Martin's Response:
Too bad, Don't even wanna use it anymore Already found an image way funnier wich we are allowed to use. that artist did think it was a honor. Really man, too bad.....
Oh the pain... Best of luck to you in your future endeavors Martin.
wait a minute. you turned down the chance to have your image displayed for free on a web site run by THE MARTIN VAN TRIERUM?!!! you must be insane. most people would pay HIM for the honor.
you, my friend, have blown a potential career changing opportunity.
What?? Nobody said anyhing about it being *THE* Martin van Trierum!
Oh good Lord what have I done? Maybe it’s not too late…
WWJLD?
Brad,
Don’t know if you’ve heard about STAY TOONED! Magazine – the premiere issue will be out in December – but I’d love to share this “copyright violation story. What a hoot! Do you mind?
Hi John,
I’d be “honored”! I haven’t heard of StayTooned yet but that doesn’t mean anything because I live inside a box. I see you got some great contributors over at your site. Is there a list I can sign up to to be notified when the subscription order form is ready? :)
*ahem* that’ll be $25 please. ;)
How nerdy is this??? Get a life…!!
Since Brad likes to post emails on line I will save him the effort by posting it myself.
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Hey Brad,
Thank you for the honor putting me on your website.
To set things right, I never did want to violate your copyrigh, that is why I asked your permission to use it. (Logical) Since I don’t want to pay $25 I reacted that I won’t use it. (No copyright violation)
That means I don’t even violate your copyright, because I don’t use it. (Again)
Maybe it is an idea to read an email carefully next time so u can see what a person means instead of thinking he want to violate you.
Your reactie to all this, posting it on your website like this, is very childish in my opinion. But when I see the picture along with your email you look at least twice that age. Where did you lost the line?
Good luck with your drawings. I hope you make good money!!
“Nerdy” would be correcting the guy’s broken English. I think the word(s) you were looking for here Faith, is “Way-Cool”
Yeah of course
Martin, thank you for your comment and the clarification of your position, I know all 10 of my readers will appreciate your efforts.
I am very happy to know that you do not want to violate me.
What do you mean your trying to collect $25 for your art? Don’t you know all artists are rich and greedy? ;-)
A fellow artist overheard the comment about rich, greedy artists while shopping in a big box home improvement store. She loudly said to her hubby that even prostitutes are more appreciated for their work….
Love your sense of humor with this joker.
Hey, Martin,
Are you hoping to be taken seriously?! The only thing childish going on here is your inabilty to write proper English! We’re not addressing your copyright violation, pal, we’re laughing at your belief that Brad should be honored to have you use his work for free!
John, well said my friend. Although not knowing proper English isn’t a crime, moronic behavior sometimes can be. ;)
Regina, that’s pretty funny… in a sad way. I’ve never been directly compared to a prostitute before but I do think I can sometimes empathize with their, um, er.. position.
BTW, your jewelry designs are very impressive! How do you like Etsy?
Fitz-
Errrr, hope you weren’t offended. You had to hear my friend tell the story.
Today I read an article in the New York Times about how much some art sold for at Sotherbys. Of course, it wasn’t the artists pulling in the big bucks!
Thanks for looking at my sites & your kind words.
As for Etsy, I haven’t given it much of a chance so far. I need to add listings on a regular basis to help generate more interest which I plan to do after the show I’m doing this weekend.
BTW – I found your blog while googling for penguin images and one of your posts came up. I like to look at all kinds of images of a subject and then do my own thing.
I just looked at a few posts, but this is a fun blog & I bookmarked you.
I’m concerned about your original response to Martin. What does he get for his $25.00? A license to use your copyrighted work? An autograph? An audience with the Pope? Your initial reply was curt, unprofessional, and ambiguous and perhaps you should rethink it.
Hello Martin’s Attorney, thanks very much for commenting.
I have taken your suggestion and have re-thunk my initial response to Martin. I have decided that I will not go back in time to change it.
Please say hi to Martin for me and let him know that since he has come into enough money to hire you to comment on my blog, his quote has increased to $35. (today only)
[PS: Add $50 for the autograph, and $25 for the meeting with the Pope.]
This entire conversation is hilarious. It is good to see $25 is grounds for legal action these days.