I have been doing a series of cartoons for my blog. Recently someone asked if they could copy, paste, and send one to her friend without violating my copyrights. I reassured her that I WANTED her to do just that.
Feel free to send my cartoons around the globe.
The copyrights are there to prevent someone from stealing my work and posting it under their own name.
Because people do steal your art.
They steal everybody’s art.
And words and thoughts.
That’s what cheaters with no imagination do.
I am not talking about learning how to paint lovely hands by studying John Singer Sergeant’s art. That’s what I did. I don’t think anyone would look at the hands I paint and see much similarity between my painted hands and John’s incredible painted hands.
It was a learning experience. I often study photos to learn how a musical instrument or sports equipment is held by the musician or player. Or I consider how hands and bodies look in a formal dance pose. But most of the time I take my own photos. And then take liberties when I finally paint.
A Quick Copyrights Story
When I worked as a newsroom illustrator my job was to create visuals to accompany stories written by our journalists or others. One was about gay marriage. The time frame was the mid-1980s. I wanted to sketch two male hands joined -one wearing a wedding ring. This was long before digital cameras. And I did not have the time to have a photo taken, processed, printed, and then use it as my reference material. So I asked around to find anyone willing to pose for me for a couple of minutes.
No one would help me so I presented my idea to the photo department head who turned to a young photographer and told him to come over and hold his hand. He was visibly unhappy but did as directed. Then, I had several minutes to draw a quick sketch. Mission accomplished.
Cell phones now make life so much easier for artists.
AI and Copyrights
There are recent stories about AI and intellectual theft. Well, it was bound to happen eventually. Now lawsuits are starting, and we are playing catch up to find solutions that should have been explored years ago.
When you are employed by a company, they usually own the copyright. Artists working for themselves own the copyright unless they agree to allow its use or they sell it.
Worth Fighting For?
Of course, no one can prevent others from using your work without your permission. However, how does one sue a government?
This explains why most artists post their art online using a low-resolution image. But if you let yourself get upset about the possibility of the theft of your art you should probably hang up your brushes. Someone already has stolen it and he lives far, far away.
Years ago I found my art for sale on coffee mugs online. It was a Chinese company, and I was perturbed. You really must choose your battles wisely and then settle down before your blood pressure skyrockets.
I guess what I am saying is that if you let yourself be totally bothered by the possibility of someone plagiarizing your work (especially if it is used for profit), then what you really are doing is stifling your creative energies in a lost cause. Who knows? Right now, there may be young children in a far-off country diligently copying your copyrighted work for sale. They don’t get paid either.
I sold a lot of work at a gallery whose owners took the money and then left town without paying their creditors including me. I could have pursued a lawsuit with other artists and tried to recoup my losses. Sadly, it would probably only have been $.10 on the dollar. Plus I would’ve had to appear in court. Which would include traveling hours at my own expense and time.
I chose just to let it go.
You can’t kick yourself too much for not preparing for that eventuality because you cannot predict it will happen.
Businesses do go bankrupt.
Owners do skip town.
Hopefully, you are left with the art that is still in the building if you are lucky enough to have someone to rescue it before it is impounded. A gracious young woman rescued my remaining 6 paintings.
No, it is not fair. Since when has life ever been fair?
