My Work is Famous – but stolen!
I’m furious & really sad… I am losing faith in mankind. Yup, I stumbled on the fact that many ‘stores’ are apparently selling my product! They are scamming buyers by using my stolen pictures! It seems my work is famous – but stolen! ‘How dare you! (New updates)
My Precious Ghoul and Witch
Remember these?! They are one of my favourite concrete projects that I made & it must have proliferated the internet. Those are my photos, my steps and my watermark, but that has not stopped the thieves. A recent count (2024) has shown that there are 0ver 220 stores selling what looks like my sculptures!
If you are on the internet you have probably been scammed or at least been tempted to buy something. There are ads everywhere, and google plans to show you what you searched for, it’s not a coincidence. I do shop on the ‘net, quite often so yes, I too have been scammed.
I have been quite sad lately since my lil pup passed away so I have lost a bit of my usual drive and that leads to some mindless surfing on the net. When I googled ‘witch ghoul light‘. I just about fell out of my chair… (And that could be a problem for those new knees that I’ll be getting!)
It looks like I am selling millions of my sculptures all over, Amazon, eEbay, individual sites and even Walmart!
Third Party sellers
How can this happen??? You need to be careful… All the major selling sites have third party sellers. That means that the site owner is at the mercy of the third party seller to be honest in their product. There’s a lot of odd stuff going on under the surface. Also a company can have many stores/names all over the ‘net. It’s impossible to find contacts that work or get a reply. You need to check who the seller is & where they are shipping from. Individual sites are even riskier since they are not trying to keep their reputation clean.
Yes, there are ways to complain, to file ‘Amazon Infringement reports’, or Walmart Intellectual property violations for the use of my stolen pictures.
Spend your time filling in product numbers, contacts for hours… and hours. Then you get some form-letter email replies. What happens? Well, they may take the page down and then wait to see of there is more complaints… I’d have to hire a bunch of people to police this. Just like the ‘5 Minute Crafts’ they eventually sneak some new infringements like we sneak cookies out of the pantry when no one is looking.
No where on this site does it show what you will actually get. All the pictures are my sculptures, not depicting their product.
They even have the nerve to remove my watermark, albeit badly!
One of the most notorious places that these fakes are peddled is through Facebook ads. Check out this story from Buzzfeed. The one thing I will note; is that the scammers do like to pick the best stuff; so I suppose I should feel flattered. ‘But the proper way would have been to ask permission to make them, permission to use my design, let alone MY PHOTOS!
So many artists are upset that there is now a Facebook group: Facebook Ad Scambusters! It ‘outs’ the scam ads alerting would-be buyers.
I’ll admit that my concrete work is all my own unique designs and not some regurgitation from the ‘net since I foremost pride myself as an artist. I also teach in an art college and know that inspiration & reference comes from the internet so easily. ‘But I draw the line on blatant exact use of others images! I am so shocked that these companies believe that using my unique pictures as their own is acceptable.
I know it’s pretty easy to snipe images off of the web, screen shot them. ‘They’ even cut them out of my picture and place them in different backgrounds.
There are only one of each of sculptures that exist, as I am looking at them right now. They are HUGE, about 18″ tall, made of concrete & quite heavy. The details are fine from the handy-work of the dipped fabric.
So what do you get?
There were a few sellers who actually included a ‘real’ picture of what would arrive by mail (if it does). Read closely; these are ‘fit-in-your-hand’ tiny! Mine are concrete, and their’s are resin (or plastic). There may be some battery light inside.
One of my readers informed me of all this a while back since they were fooled that it was actually my designs being sold… I reassured that I could not make these to ship, especially for the prices stated. It was confusing since they used my stolen pictures.
Once they arrived they looked like this. (thanks, not everyone likes to admit that they got scammed) Maybe they are worth the little money. I try to imagine someone somewhere trying to copy exactly from my pictures… and I’d say they lack the true character that mine have.
Such sad little imitations! I am sure it’s not the first and surely won’t be the last, however it leaves a really bad taste in the mouth for future projects. I share my projects freely – which I am starting to question.
Come on, give me some faith in mankind.
UPDATE: Copyrights have been filed and I am patiently waiting to see what the outcome will be to a new process to stop further use of my images, wish me luck! ‘And please do not buy what you thought was my ghoul or witch!
I am very angry on your behalf Barb. I haven’t had a chance to make any of your items, but have enjoyed many hours looking at your crafts and reading about your techniques. I appreciate your generosity and willingness to share your artistry. I will add a comment if I see these items on fb.
Thanks, I try to leave comments and they are wiped right away or commenting is disabled. The more awareness the better.
Argh! What a mix of feelings. Its quite alright to stop at anger for a bit – let that cleanse and motivate. No need to jump to flattery and stuff the anger. Go get ’em!
As Charlotte/Mother owl says- copy is an old profession. All the old masters had their copy cats, it used to be a skill in itself. Some great painters started that way.
You are not the first artist I’ve heard this from- I’m a freelance writer. The web brings all the thieves out of the woodwork.
Your generosity is your true gift- thank you so much and don’t let the scumbags steal that from you.
Thankfully I can’t stay mad for too long, it’s useless & wasteful. I’d rather use energy for other stuff. I’ve often wondered how a writer protects their work. Good luck.
What an injustice! I’m so sorry to hear about this. Your creations are amazing and the fact that you share with us shows what a generous spirit you are. Thanks for keepin it real and letting us know this happened and for warning us!
That’s a good way of putting it; ‘Keeping real!’ At least mine are real!
Desde Bogotá , Colombia. Un saludo especial ! Siento mucho lo que está pasando con sus obras . Eso se da en todos los campos artísticos y creativos, pero es duro saber que le pasa a una persona tan generosa en compartir sus conocimientos. Un abrazo!!
“From Bogotá, Colombia. A special greeting! I am very sorry about what is happening with your works. That occurs in all artistic and creative fields, but it is hard to know what happens to a person so generous in sharing their knowledge. A hug!!”
__________________
I does, but now it seems so much easier as they have the whole world to steal from!
I also add my rage that your work has been usurped. I appreciate your creativity and willingness to share your processes online. I agree with what others have said so well about you and your work and the unscrupulous copying of your lovely works.
It might be that I just dove into making a site and have learnt much along the way… by experience. And ‘hoping to spread the word.
I’d be plastering my watermark everywhere on the photos. I’m so sorry this is happening. I know it doesn’t mean much coming from a stranger but I love your creativity and then using it as a jumping off point to see what’s my hubby and I can create!
Dear Barb,
This is Linda who lives beside your daughter. I am so sorry and sad to hear about your little dog passing, my heart goes out to you. It’s so difficult to lose a pet that you grow to love and enjoy spending time with. I am appalled at what people are doing regarding your beautiful, talented art work !! I cannot believe the nerve of some people!! I wish there was a way for you to be able to make them pay for what they are doing! It is very scary what people can steal and do to others these days!! I will say a prayer for you that your surgery goes smoothly and I will have more leaves for you soon. Take care, Linda.
Hi Linda; my favourite ‘leaf-supply-lady’!!! Now you won’t be seeing me with my sweet pup in tow as usual… I had quite the arguments with ‘5 Minute Crafts’ about the huge moneys they were reaping from stealing my designs in their videos. They count on the fact that we get tired of constant infringement filing, as they have countless staff to replicate over many stores/posts and even languages. Hopefully that new knee will allow an even better kick in the butt 🤪!
That’s sickening and I do hope you’ll get some kind of justice. I was shopping on a clothing sight and saw my favorite clothes being sold on the internet and cheap. I ordered, like a fool, and received absolute trash garments. It was a seller out of China who had scammed the pictures from the designer. Ethics are out the window these days. I’m so sorry this happened to you…. I LOVE your work and have dreamed of being as talented!
Isn’t it sad as now we can’t believe anything that we see. There’s something about being able to ‘touch’ what we want to buy! It’s too bad that a business/artist is not reputable until they have a large social media following but in the same mindset it’s all stolen. Oh what to do?!
So sorry. Losing something is tough; having something stolen is tougher still but having your creativity ripped off has got to be the toughest cut of all! As the young kids instinctively say, “Not fair!”
I agree! I just hope it does not become acceptable practice… Here’s to keeping it from happening!
It made me feel sick when I saw that you’ve been a victim of theft in this shocking manner. I know this is happening. I believe, in many cases, that the purchase is not going to be anything like your originals. They use your photographs but they don’t take the time to have a real artist make the molds. I’ve seen this over and over again coming from China on sites like Wish before I knew what it was.. I bought an embroidered denim maxi dress on Wish and received a completly different design printed polyester mumu. I looked into Wish and learned that they make more money from postage to the USA than they do on the item. What is making matters worse, is that our postage is getting higher and higher so we can hardly mail any package. We’ve stopped sending Christmas package after rates reached in the 100.00 bracket for one box while the Chinese pay pennies to ship here. I am extrodinarily angry on your behalf. Internet companies like Pinterest share these photos and advertise for fakers everytime someone innocently pins your original photograph and then it is pinned by countless others who think it is really cool. Even huge conglamerants can’t do anything about Amazon selling fakes which is becoming more and more prevalent. I’m going to write to my senator about your experience and we should start a petition to congress. You propably don’t feel, right now, like doing that. I don’t know what that intails as far as getting the word out to poiliticians. They have to know this is going on. I would like to strangle NAFTA. This isn’t a one-party problem, this is about protecting American original thinkers and creators from low-life, cheating, stealing people. I’m mad! (I didn’t check my spelling. I’ve got to go calm down.)
Ginene
Oh yes, I have been scammed by buying from some odd store. I ordered linen sheets and I got a tiny ring. Even Paypal did not honour as they said I needed to ship the item back. I did, had a return tracking number and they said it did not prove that I returned it so I was out the original purchase and also the expensive return shipping. Lesson learned! I am in Canada so I would have to deall wth it up here. One thing for sure; the more awareness is definitely good!!!
All these years and I didn’t know you lived in Canada!
I agree, the stuff coming out of China is cheaply made BUT their prices aren’t that cheap anymore. They are getting higher all the time.