Photo past Corryne Wooten on Unsplash

Copyright infringement of your artwork tin get out you feeling helpless. Find out what y'all can practice most information technology.

You sit down downwardly at the computer, open your electronic mail, and click on one from your best friend. Your heart immediately drops into your tummy equally you read, "Isn't this the painting you lot did concluding twelvemonth? Someone else is selling it online!" Shock, acrimony, and frustration burn down through your veins once you lot realize your artwork has basically been stolen.

It can be a helpless feeling, simply at that place are steps you can take toward restitution. So, what do you do next? Take a look:

Step one: Do Some Digging

First, inquire yourself: what is the bodily offense? This will help you lot determine what path to take next.

Did someone copy your exact piece, or was information technology just something similar? Call up, you tin't copyright a sure mode or discipline, only a terminal piece of art clarifies artist Suzanne Day in "What To Do About Online Fine art Theft and Plagiarism." And, equally much as we become fastened to our creative piece of work, similar ideas can come to different people at the same fourth dimension. Just look what happened to writer Nir Eyol.

Merely, if someone has copied your work exactly, is printing your images on commercial appurtenances, or passing piece of work off every bit their ain ... you should start digging a petty more into this theft.

It might be hard to tell by simply looking at a website, but try to get some details like when they starting time started using your art, how many pieces they take ripped off, and how much profit they have made. This volition all come in handy for the next pace.

Footstep 2: Decide What Action is Necessary

Later you've gotten the facts straight, decide what type of action is proportional. If the offense is every bit simple as using an image of your painting in a personal blog, in that location'south probably no need to summon a federal judge. Yous can either enquire that it be taken down or linked to your Artwork Annal Public Folio in a caption.

Just, if someone else is cashing in large time on the artwork you took so much care in creating, it's time to take legal action.

Step 3: Empathize the Law*

Yep, all of your work is copyrighted equally soon equally information technology'due south created, but actually registering for copyright protection with the United States Copyright Office is a whole other story, explains consultant Alan Bamberger.

Whether you file earlier or after your imagery is stolen can affect how much you are entitled to in compensation.

For case, Alan explains that if yous haven't registered your artwork for copyright protection before it gets ripped off, you are but entitled to collect the amount of profit the offender fabricated from your art. But, if information technology was registered beforehand, you are entitled to "statutory damages" that could be total much more than the turn a profit.

Registering your fine art as well makes information technology like shooting fish in a barrel for officials to tell when your piece of work was created, leaving your offenders in a lurch trying to prove when and where they got the fine art. Without this registration, the brunt shifts back to you, making it much more hard to show it was your artwork first.

Fifty-fifty if you haven't previously registered your artwork for copyright, you accept to register it before bringing a copyright infringement to courtroom.

Step four: Plow to a Lawyer

If you lot've decided you want to move forrad with legal action, the next step is to talk to an chaser virtually sending your offenders an official cease and desist letter to finish their employ of your artwork and about getting reimbursed for the profit and potentially the damages you lot are owed.

Step 5: Try to Prevent It

As the old maxim goes, the best defence is a adept offense. Exist proactive in keeping your art rubber from online thieves by trying a few of these tricks:

  • Register your art with the copyright office in your land. U.S. artists can bank check out world wide web.copyright.gov for more information.

  • Identify a detect on your website that all images are copyright protected, including the copyright symbol (c), the year, and your proper noun.

  • Use sites like Artwork Archive that downsize your public-facing images (and proceed your high-res images stored privately for you) to prevent replication.

  • Follow these crediting tips from Fine art Biz Omnibus Alyson Stanfield.

While these actions are non 100 pct foolproof, it does prove potential thieves that y'all are serious about the matter and helps you lot get together proof if you e'er need to settle a copyright affair in court.

What'due south the bottom line?

Realizing your art was taken without permission tin get out y'all feeling sick to your tummy. You lot spent so much time creating your work and trying to share it with the earth, you should exist the one receiving all of the accolades and profit. The key to dealing with copyright infringement of your fine art is to keep a level caput and determine what the best course of action is for the criminal offense. Just don't be afraid to demand what you deserve.

*Legal Disclaimer: Please note that this article should not exist construed as legal advice, and Artwork Archive volition not be held responsible for any legal action resulting from reading this commodity. If yous accept any legal questions, delight consult an attorney.