Internet Danger: Stolen Art

Just last week, I was talking to a friend about posting images online and how there is no real way to protect your work from being stolen once you publish it to the world.

As an artist, I mos def want my work to be seen by as many people as possible, but I want to be the one who controls that experience. Unfortunately, I, you, whoever cannot control that because it’s just out there to be manipulated by those with good or ill intentions.

If you want to decrease or eliminate the possibility of your work being stolen, copied, reworked etc, don’t post it online. It’s simply the best option of few.

I gave up on the fight, generally speaking, but I will contact bloggers and or designers who I have busted using some of my art.

The internet is a big cold place like the Atlantic so it is impossible to comb through and be a detective. Not only that, who has the time?

In the case of Noam Galai, it’s totally awesome that he got his work out there, but the unfortunate piece is that he was unknown, hardly credited & to a point unpaid for his “Screaming For Help” image seen above (6,618 views, 33 comments & 50 favorites on Flickr for this colored version).

It seems like he made peace with it all but I can imagine how he may have & must feel. I know I went on a mini rampage when I thought Microsoft used one of my images without my permission for an ad.

This short video tells Noam’s story and how his image was spread across the globe literally before he had a clue about it.

I love Getty Images, but I guess they don’t always know what they are talking about.

Are you an artist? Do you have a general fear that someone may take your work that you posted online? Talk to me…

Video courtesy of FStoppers
Photo courtesy Noam Galai