As artists when people steal your ideas how you deal with unfair?

Question

I think as an artists I make an enormous impact on fashion in my country. I started drawing illustrations that went viral. People with money started selling clothes based on my ideas and some of them even copied my designs. Now I see how people in my country wear clothes and jewellery I popularised through my illustrations. But nobody knows that it was me. Like if you become popular singer everyone knows you, but nobody care about artists. And I don’t make any money from it, but people who were able to realise my ideas into life yes. I would happy if people at least will know that it was me. If I start to talk about it they will hate me and gaslight that it’s not true but I know I’m right and I will not care that much if I wasn’t.
And I’m shocked how people in my country not creative at all and just steal almost every your idea and use your illustrations without permission

DoggyDude · Accepted Answer

Sorry, but welcome to life. So, regarding original ideas, all ideas are copied off others, litterally everything. Consider that your brought up and taught by parents who where themselves exposed to particular ideas and expressions, most things we do in life are re-treading existing ideas.

Now, to copying your work. Let me assume here that its precisely your work to the extent you have some original source material which is a 100% match. This comes down to copyright law; In most civilised nations copyright is automatic, but it also doesn't lend you much protection without a suite of evidences. As soon as you show your idea publically, if you don't have witnessed, dated, recorded copies which have been noterised, predating your first public sharing of your work (which includes even wearing some outfit) you have no protectiion at all because you've commited your work into the public domain.

Fair and unfair is meaningless (https://doggydude96a. blogspot. com/2012/09/the-concept-of-fair-is-unfair-no-really. html) everyone is both at unfair advantage and disadvanage in all respects (though unethical is a thing).

So, what you do, is before you go public with anything, assert your copyright. Make sure you legally record your work (it is technically possible to just paint something, date the painting and make sure an impartial person can say it was your work, but better to get it properly noterised). Then, if you see copies (and I mean litteral copies, not someone else doing a similar thing) of what you created you can persue it leagally as copyright infringement.

Now, most things are not copyrightable, because they are simply ideas. Many people try to copyright ideas because they are short thinkers feeling "this is specially my ideas" and some people force that idea in the media making younger people feel that Microsoft, or Apple where particularly 'clever' and 'original' when they ripped off most of their ideas from other people who either never tried or failed to make them a business success (see Xerox Park).

So there you go. Use copyright to aid you but realise that this will always happen and your only course is to partner with people who have the reach to make your work spread under your name and the money to protect it even when its indefensible.

Yeah, it sucks... one good way to 'stick it" to corporations is to basically give your work away but with full attribution such that others pick it up greatfully and want to credit who they got it from. This is the "Open Source" movement in computing and being the bigger person can be quite profitable if done right.

Best of luck!

normalice · Accepted Answer

If you aren't open handed with your ideas as an artist that's usually just a symptom of not having the confidence that you'll be able to produce more quality art. But it's also true that if you are going to be an artist then that has to be how you make money, and things like copywrites come into play.

In any case, I don't know how it works where you are but in the US if someone had time stamped records of them coming up with an original design and then then those designs started getting mass produced under no contract with the designer, you could probably sue for millions. It's worth a consultation fee to talk to a copyright lawyer or something.

Of course, you don't really need to sue for millions, either. What is far more valuable to an artist is recognition. Suing to put your name on the tag plus a few thousand for attorney fees and backpack on what a contracted designer would have been paid is probably the better route if you want to portray yourself as an artist whom is making their way instead of a one hit wonder trying to cash in on the one good idea. And it's not unreasonable to believe you are in the latter category - art is hard, fashion doubly so. You can't just understand it and be good at it like a doctor or engineer. There is an element of uncertainty where even if you understood absolutely everyone's fashion sense, exactly one second later someone is going to care less about fashion and someone else is going to care for the first time and someone else is going to change their mood and so on and so on..

dustybiker2 · Accepted Answer

You can thank MySpace, facebook, instagram, and the like for this. Giving people permission to five-finger-discount images that are otherwise copyrighted to their owners "Oh it's viral now. Nothing you can do."

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

this is why you copyright and get a lawyer. can't do anything about it now because, barely any proof. but in the future, you should do that. asap.

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

Sounds like you have two options. Both start with not releasing your drawings anymore.

Next you can either make your designs a reality in your country or go someplace else, take some sample clothes with you and go from there.

But if I were you, I would look for someone who knows how to put together clothes, and sell your designs. Sell them for a lot too.

Find attractive people, especially people who are popular or respected or personable. People who you think are cool. Take pictures of them wearing your outfits, even if you mix your designs with other people's.

At the end of the day, you're the source. Nobody is going to do these ideas more authentically than you, at least not for a long time.

You have a window of opportunity.

What country are you in?

andreasderjuengere · Answer

First of all: a stolen idea is a reason to feel proud. It confirms your skills and talents.
"Protection" is one other thing:
When you go public, there WILL be people trying at least to imitate you.
You could leave out essential details in your presentations that make it hard or impossible to replicate;
one other way I can think of - to first make sure that you as the initiator are known as well, and the product has an association with yourself.

The present lack of creativity mainly comes from greed capitalism that avoids risks for (financial) failure. You may have noticed that i. e. mainstream car designs all look alike...
This century is mostly lost (for now)

LonerInLife · Answer

Always pay to copyright your work. This can help prevent people stealing your work. Without the copyright, anyone can legally take your ideas.

Regarding your question. I would be deeply hurt and furious.

TommyMountainFigure · Answer

If you can prove your ideas were stolen, get a lawyer and sue them !

laly520 · Answer

I dont remember getting any of my own piano pieces taken but if it happens then imma make sure to get credit for it

strateguy632 · Answer

prepare by getting copyright privilege for your idea. if not can't prove who was first.

JacobJordan · Answer

I sue them into homelessness if they steal my wife's work. Have only had to do that once.

OddBeMe · Answer

Firstly having a clear self awareness is needed. You have an “enormous impact on fashion in your country?” Not sure a kardashian could say tht.

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

This is why I don't show anyone my art anymore.

jahaims · Answer

Sounds like you are delusional

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