Photo by Corryne Wooten on Unsplash

Copyright infringement of your artwork can leave you feeling helpless. Find out what you tin can do about information technology.

You sit down at the computer, open your email, and click on one from your best friend. Your heart immediately drops into your tum as you read, "Isn't this the painting y'all did concluding yr? Someone else is selling information technology online!" Daze, anger, and frustration fire through your veins one time you realize your artwork has basically been stolen.

It can exist a helpless feeling, but in that location are steps you can take toward restitution. So, what do yous do side by side? Take a wait:

Step i: Do Some Digging

Outset, ask yourself: what is the bodily offense? This volition aid y'all determine what path to have next.

Did someone copy your exact piece, or was it only something similar? Remember, you can't copyright a certain manner or subject area, just a final piece of art clarifies creative person Suzanne Day in "What To Practise About Online Art Theft and Plagiarism." And, equally much as we become attached to our creative piece of work, like ideas tin can come to different people at the same fourth dimension. Just look what happened to writer Nir Eyol.

Merely, if someone has copied your piece of work exactly, is printing your images on commercial goods, or passing work off as their own ... you should start digging a niggling more into this theft.

Information technology might exist difficult to tell by just looking at a website, but attempt to become some details similar when they beginning started using your art, how many pieces they have ripped off, and how much turn a profit they have made. This will all come in handy for the adjacent pace.

Step ii: Determine What Activeness is Necessary

Later on you've gotten the facts directly, determine what type of action is proportional. If the criminal offense is as simple as using an image of your painting in a personal blog, there'southward probably no need to summon a federal judge. You can either ask that it be taken downwards or linked to your Artwork Archive Public Page in a caption.

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

Step 3: Empathize the Law*

Yes, all of your work is copyrighted as presently equally information technology's created, but actually registering for copyright protection with the Usa Copyright Function is a whole other story, explains consultant Alan Bamberger.

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

For instance, Alan explains that if y'all haven't registered your artwork for copyright protection earlier information technology gets ripped off, y'all are only entitled to collect the amount of turn a profit the offender made from your fine art. Only, if it was registered beforehand, you are entitled to "statutory amercement" that could be total much more than the profit.

Registering your art likewise makes it easy for officials to tell when your work was created, leaving your offenders in a lurch trying to bear witness when and where they got the art. Without this registration, the brunt shifts back to y'all, making it much more difficult to prove it was your artwork first.

Even if yous haven't previously registered your artwork for copyright, you have to register information technology earlier bringing a copyright infringement to courtroom.

Pace 4: Turn to a Lawyer

If you lot've decided you want to move forward with legal activity, the next step is to talk to an chaser about sending your offenders an official terminate and desist letter of the alphabet to terminate their use of your artwork and about getting reimbursed for the profit and potentially the damages yous are owed.

Step 5: Try to Prevent It

As the erstwhile maxim goes, the best defense is a skillful offense. Be proactive in keeping your art safe from online thieves past trying a few of these tricks:

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

  • Place a discover on your website that all images are copyright protected, including the copyright symbol (c), the year, and your name.

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

  • Follow these crediting tips from Art Biz Coach Alyson Stanfield.

While these actions are not 100 per centum foolproof, it does evidence potential thieves that you are serious about the matter and helps you gather proof if y'all ever demand to settle a copyright matter in court.

What'due south the lesser line?

Realizing your art was taken without permission tin can leave you feeling sick to your stomach. You spent and then much time creating your work and trying to share it with the world, yous 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 head and determine what the best course of action is for the offense. Just don't be afraid to need what y'all deserve.

*Legal Disclaimer: Delight note that this article should not be construed as legal advice, and Artwork Archive will non be held responsible for any legal action resulting from reading this commodity. If you take whatever legal questions, please consult an attorney.