It seems once a year I'm dealing with copyright theft.

[moonvoice]

ETA: A lot of things have been removed, and I've been given a form response which sounds like it may have been issued before to other artists. That said, the items have been removed. I just need to double check a couple of others and go back through, but we have progress.

This 'gentleman' username Richardariton over at Ebay has been thefting my images for profit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Elephant-Seal-Apple-iPhone-4-4G-Hard-Case-Back-Cover-/150572266904?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item230ece7598

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cassowary-Apple-iPhone-4-4G-Hard-Case-Back-Cover-/150572266564?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item230ece7444

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cockatoo-Apple-iPhone-4-4G-Hard-Case-Back-Cover-/150572266700?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item230ece74cc

http://cgi.ebay.com/Eagle-cartoon-Apple-iPhone-4-4G-Hard-Case-Back-Cover-/150572266866?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item230ece7572

http://cgi.ebay.com/Goat-cartoon-Apple-iPhone-4-4G-Hard-Case-Back-Cover-/150572266987?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item230ece75eb

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ravens-breath-Apple-iPhone-4-4G-Hard-Case-Back-Cover-/150572267700?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item230ece78b4

http://cgi.ebay.com/Snake-Python-Apple-iPhone-4-4G-Hard-Case-Back-Cover-/150572264808?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item230ece6d68

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vultures-Apple-iPhone-4-4G-Hard-Case-Back-Cover-/150572264857?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item230ece6d99

http://cgi.ebay.com/Beluga-Whale-Apple-iPhone-4-4G-Hard-Case-Back-Cover-/150572266493?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item230ece73fd

http://cgi.ebay.com/Forest-Animal-Apple-iPhone-4-4G-Hard-Case-Back-Cover-/150572266443?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item230ece73cb (this one is also the cover page of DIY Totemism by Lupa).

I've sent him and am still sending him some messages (since Ebay encourages this first if you're a member, before going through their VERO system), but I don't like my chances. I've also spotted another DA artist he's infringing the copyright of too. Asshole.

Comments

[jensurvivor]

kick his ass.

[moonvoice]

I hope to. I'm also contacting the other artists I recognise (two so far) who he's using the images of. I doubt he got their permission either.

[gone_fishing]

Oh man, people who do that piss me off so much. D:

[moonvoice]

Oh yeah. This is probably the worst it's been for me. D:

[silverjackal]

So what is the process for this when (there is no if) he ignores your messages?

[moonvoice]

If he ignores the message, it's possible to go through Ebay's VERO system, which is a Infringement Notification system that is quite tedious on my end (seriously, it's not just the art he's taking, but my time in getting him to stop it) which mostly involves listing the items, providing an electronic signature and proving provenance and then waiting for the items to be de-listed by Ebay themselves. I've never had to go through that channel before with Etsy; so no idea how long that process takes.

[outlineofash]

Grrr, art thieves. I hope he doesn't act like more of an asshole by fighting you over it.

[moonvoice]

I hope so too. Not holding my breath though. D:

[skyfiery]

Yups. He definitely needs his ass kicked.

[moonvoice]

Huzzah!

[goddess_incarnate]

I'll never understand art theft. Ever. What a flaming asshat.

Any money he makes he should give to you once ebay steps in. >:o

[moonvoice]

Ah, I'll never understand art theft either. Nor will I ever have much patience for it. D:

[drgnhlr]

Do you want to know of any others listed? I did notice that these are coming out of Hong Kong. I wonder if that can be traced back and the manufacturer made to desist. That's probably an awful lot of work though...

It is worth it though. I wish you luck!

[moonvoice]

Yeah, I did find some others of mine (including a photo-rip).

If he doesn't reply (and in all honesty, I'm not expecting him to), I'll go through Ebay, which means it doesn't matter where he's from; they'll take them down if I can prove the artworks are legally mine.

[darakat]

Bastard! Hope you kick his ass hard.

[moonvoice]

*polishes steel-capped theft-preventing boots*

[spider_fox]

Omg he called them cartoons even D:

[peaceful_two_eyes]

Firstly I hope this guy meets his karmic end in a truly unique and wonderfully descriptive way.

Second, this sucks for you, but might I suggest (as much as I hate to), putting a watermark across the main "area" of the portraits you upload? It would at least make it a LOT harder for folks like this to rip you off :/

[moonvoice]

I've thought about watermarking before; and I'll probably have to if this starts happening more than about once a year. But I personally loathe watermarks, since I believe they ruin the viewing aesthetic of an artwork online, and hate depriving the vast majority of that viewing pleasure for the sake of one or two knobs on the internet.

I'd also be inclined to watermark the most popular images but; actually, this douche has (probably deliberately) chosen my least well-known items.

[earthspirits]

That's appalling! I hope you also reported this guy to eBay for the theft of your art?

[moonvoice]

Ebay prefers you contact the seller first; but I'll contact Ebay directly after about 48 hours.

[tangledaxon]

WHAT. I hope he gets his ass handed to him by eBay.

In Store for Some Trouble

[perzephone]

Makes me wonder if Muse has allowed the company he's buying his mousepads from to use their image? Or that woman who wrote the Twilight books, for that matter.

If you go to his actual 'storefront', he's got looooaaaadddss of copyrighted images, from an iconic photo of Neil Armstrong to Davy Jones from PotC.

What an asshat reseller.

[herlander_refugee]

Those are very awesome designs....I hope the thief gets a necessarily nasty comeuppance.

Am I correct to assume there is a place where someone like me could legally obtain such beautiful things? I only have an old 3G i-phone, but the males of the house have the new ones.

[starstrider]

UGRGGH.

There needs to be a special island for art thieves. Without internet. Or something.

I hope he gets what's coming to him promptly, and without too much trouble to you!

[ariestess]

Is it wrong that I want to go in on every single one of these and leave this fucktard a question of "What's your policy on copyright infringement and art theft?" Or something along those lines...

[burningbright]

Ew. What. That is ridiculous. D: I hope he's dealt with swiftly and without too much hassle on your part.

[ex_wolfborn415]

My god. What an asshat he is.

May you be able to fix this swiftly.

[amalnahurriyeh]

*shakes my fist*

Go get 'im, girl.

[paleo]

*hands you a Can of Whoop-Ass to use on him*

[white_rabbit]

Oh, hell no. It's one thing to yoink artwork for icons or personal use without asking, but someone trying to make a PROFIT off another artist's work is just so much rage. >:| I hope if he doesn't get back to you that eBay will do something about it.

Ugh, give him the broken face.

[psychrobia149]

I'm about to send you an email on this one. Hopefully I can help a little.

*offers hugs*

[mirrorred_star]

Give him hell.

[elialshadowpine]

Would it help if other people report the theft to eBay as well?

[sidheblessed]

Grr, so angry on your behalf. *kicks him in the goolies*