Ali J Art & Illustration

Grrrr.... artwork stolen again

OK so I know it is the digital age.  It means we can share our artwork, interact with others and get inspiration.  But I am getting a little sick of people stealing my artwork and putting it on products to make money without giving me credit or licensing the image from me.  Don't they know what copyright means?  What happened to integrity and good old traditional values?

image from ASOS one of the stockists (as of 25/9/09 removed from sale due to this copyright infringment)

Publicity image from Killah (the creators of the dress) so bad it makes me cringe. 

The dress is a knitted dress made by Killah.  Killah clothing originates from Italy and is currently sold online/in the UK and Europe.  The dress sells for £75.00.  If only I could celebrate its legitimacy.

PS.... this is what I think was the original image that was 'tweaked'.  This artwork was from all the way back in November 2007 (crap photography skills at the time!)

UPDATE - ASOS, one of the stockists of the dress takes copyright infringement seriously and within a few short hours of being contacted has removed the dress for sale.  They've also contacted the clothing line Killah to advise them of the issue and are in discussions with them of their right to use the dress.  So good news so far!

Personally I tried to contacted Killah already.  Their e-mails bounce back, they speak Italian on the phone, so I've contacted them through their website which kept crashing.  I'll await to hear more about what has happened and let you know when it does.

Polyvore is a pain

I think it's important to have a voice.  I also think it is important to do everything to protect my illustrations, and of course support other illustrators.

One year on and a website called Polyvore is still giving users the ability to trash illustrations, photographs and paintings.  The basis of the site is that you gather images together to make a collage.  Unfortunately some people go overboard changing colours, hacking apart bodies, removing elements of paintings, and expecting illustrators like me to be impressed when we see our works altered.  Do you use the site and have a play?  Think your work looks good?  Think again.  I'm horrified almost everytime I come across the site, but my work is put up on there quicker then I can get it removed.

Previously I talked about Polyvore here.  The site hasn't been running that long, but has angered a great deal of people and is on the verge of multiple lawsuits from creative minds all over the globe due to copyright violation.

Here is just some of my work altered from its original context that I've found on the site so far -



you can find the original link here



you can find the original link here

These images I've shown so far aren't as bad as what people have done to other artists works.   I should be grateful, but I'm not and I really wish that people could think before they act.

Here are some images of what has happened to other artists works.  These images are thanks to ArtnGhosts but just so unfortunate to see them in their altered states.

 

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Above violation of Art n Ghosts work by this Polyvore member..

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Original artwork by A Fanciful Twist, manipulated by this user.
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Blackapple artwork, altered by this user.

The point of this post isn't to depress anyone, or make their blood boil.  If you are a regular user of the site please feel free to continue to use it, but just don't alter the images that we work hard to create, that is all.  My illustrations are a part of me and it hurts to see them altered.

If you are against this site and what it does, please join the petition that has already been signed by the likes of myself, Art N Ghosts and even Stella Hultberg. 

You can sign the petition against them here.