Rip Offs, Copies, Stolen Art...It's all about your Perspective!

I think everyone has their thoughts on art that is taken from an original source, copied exactly or modified and then reproduced under a different name. From an artist perspective, especially when it's an indie artist and their design has been reproduced by a larger corporation there seems to be several key arguments

1)They're rich, they should not make money off struggling indie artists.

2)They're stealing original thoughts and creativity and not giving credit

3)The copy is inferior and compromises the original artistic integrity.

Then there are the feelings that go along... anger, frustration, hurt.

Solutions?

Sue them, watermark everything, remove yourself completely from the internet.

My thought process does a huge 360

This rip off, copy, stolen thing recently happened to me and I have to say my feelings were of happiness, pride and self satisfaction!

My original design on the left and the re-design on the right
(photo courtesy from the lovely sick for cute website!)

I first noticed the Blythe shirt on the Sick For Cute facebook page, being a BIG fan of the site Sick for Cute and knowing it's lovely owner Lindsay, I wrote her an email. She was obviously unaware that the tee, she had purchased was a copy of my design. I said in my email there was no need to take them down, she thanked me and offered to put in her description that the design was based off mine. I told her how I thought the shirt was actually really cute, especially with it's bow addition and Lindsay being the lovely lass that she is offered to send me one!

it felt like Christmas when I received the package in the mail!

So I'm thinking....

How awesome that someone thought my art to be worthy of being printed onto a tee. How rad that my artwork has gone on to live another life through someone modifying it :)

The only thing I see as a bummer and I kind of suspect is the reason people get so upset, is the money side. For myself, I could die tomorrow but tonight I go to sleep thinking there could be several peeps out there (hopefully more) wearing a shirt that started off with my design and that makes me extremely happy!

So does this mean I want people to use my designs for commercial pursuits? In an ideal World it would be nice to be paid, money provides essentials :P Failing that it would be nice to be credited, failing that I think it's nicer for people to take designs and put their own spin on them! How amazing is the internet that allows people to become known. I think it's only natural then that with this ability opens up the flood ways for people to copy/rip off and steal.

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

Loving my shirt and the fact that my original drawing has gone on to live another life!

What are your thoughts?

By the way the company who made the shirts e-klah, are from LA. It was impossible for me to find an email address via the internet to send an email through to them. Ending up calling their office to get an email address directly. The girl I spoke to was slightly rude, but eventually gave me the email. It was either the wrong email or they haven't bothered to reply because I've heard no word back. I thought my email was nicely put and mentioned that it would be great to work with them in the future!

We should all work together :) And get more art into this World, life is too short!