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Posted

If you've been around long enough, you've seen or experienced someone purporting your work or that of someone you know as their own.  Or you have seen blatant copies of another persons work.  For example, Richard Bourne has an instagram account with many people's work, including mine, displayed.  On my recent Popeye piece, he gives a thumbs up to a comment of nice work, implying it was his without actually saying so.  Then  further down, he receives a lot of compliments and actually says thanks!  

My question is WHY?  Attention?  Generating business?  I don't get it.  If he could carve that popeye, he wouldn't need to steal mine, and if he can't, how does he expect to fill an order?  As for attention, the leather community is incredibly tight knit and all he'll get now is negative attention, so thats a loss.

Perhaps I should just say thank you for the publicity??  What do you think?

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Learnleather.com

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  • Contributing Member
Posted

Or perhaps just plain "hussliing"?  

One of our houses --- we listed for sale, and within hours the pics were on Craigslist as a home for rent.. $700 per month plus $700 deposit.  People take money from trusting "renters".  When these people show up to move in, those who took their money are nowhere to be found.

I contacted craigslist (had to figure out how to do that) and let them know that I don't know whose ad that is, but I own that house and can assure you it is not available for rent.

I would imagine these people are doing something similar.  Doesn't matter if they can or they can't carve that (which is lookin' purdy durn good, by the way) since they have no intention of actually producing the goods.

Oh, the reverse is sometimes true, too.  You've heard that a copyright or trademark is only good to the extent it is enforced.  Well, some apparently think that if you 'enforce" your work that is your copyright.  I met a kid, got a letter from one 'maker' on here.. to please stop using "his" design.  Every project I've ever seen from this "maker" was quite basic construction (looked a bit like maybe done by a blacksmith?) with light brown in the middle and dark brown around the edges (you know, like children would do :rofl: ).  Kid was a bit upset about it, though, so I told him long as you ain't using that guy's logo.. have at it.  

JLS  "Observation is 9/10 of the law."

IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.

5 leather patterns

  • Members
Posted

Mike, I think that you should do as eposcustom has and call them out on the actual post. 

Perhaps they mean no harm and are only sharing things they love.  I would want to know if they are selling leather goods and try to find out whatever I could about their intentions.

Check out my Unique Marketing Strategy and see if it might also work for you to get paid for your art.

  • Moderator
Posted
1 hour ago, JLSleather said:

Or perhaps just plain "hussliing"?  

One of our houses --- we listed for sale, and within hours the pics were on Craigslist as a home for rent.. $700 per month plus $700 deposit.  People take money from trusting "renters".  When these people show up to move in, those who took their money are nowhere to be found.

I contacted craigslist (had to figure out how to do that) and let them know that I don't know whose ad that is, but I own that house and can assure you it is not available for rent.

I would imagine these people are doing something similar.  Doesn't matter if they can or they can't carve that (which is lookin' purdy durn good, by the way) since they have no intention of actually producing the goods.

Oh, the reverse is sometimes true, too.  You've heard that a copyright or trademark is only good to the extent it is enforced.  Well, some apparently think that if you 'enforce" your work that is your copyright.  I met a kid, got a letter from one 'maker' on here.. to please stop using "his" design.  Every project I've ever seen from this "maker" was quite basic construction (looked a bit like maybe done by a blacksmith?) with light brown in the middle and dark brown around the edges (you know, like children would do :rofl: ).  Kid was a bit upset about it, though, so I told him long as you ain't using that guy's logo.. have at it.  

Hey Jeff, thats pretty insane.  But there are scammers everywhere!  Pretty ballsy to take rent money on an occupied house!!  As for copyright, its intellectual property and I do have a few lawyer friends after 20 years in LE.  They'd be happy to do me the favor but hopefully it wont go that far.  

 

4 minutes ago, cjartist said:

Mike, I think that you should do as eposcustom has and call them out on the actual post. 

Perhaps they mean no harm and are only sharing things they love.  I would want to know if they are selling leather goods and try to find out whatever I could about their intentions.

cj, he clearly says thank you for the compliments on the popeye piece.  Its not "Stating" its his but the implication is clear by accepting praise for the work.  He has a website and says he's been at it for 10 years and that he can design or make anything.  Seems like a shady move to me.

 

 

Learnleather.com

  • Contributing Member
Posted
16 minutes ago, cjartist said:

Mike, I think that you should do as eposcustom has and call them out on the actual post. 

Perhaps they mean no harm and are only sharing things they love.  I would want to know if they are selling leather goods and try to find out whatever I could about their intentions.

Epos Custom Leather IS Mike & Natalie.

 

One of the notable aspects of posting stolen photos is that the whole piece is rarely shown.  For example:  On the Popeye art, if the whole thing was shown....you'd see Michael's signature on the work.

 

Mike DeLoach

Esse Quam Videri (Be rather than Seem)

"Don't learn the tricks of the trade.....Learn the trade."

"Teach what you know......Learn what you don't."

LEATHER ARTISAN'S DIGITAL GUILD on Facebook.

  • Moderator
Posted

Thanks, Mike.  It didn't occur to me that folks wouldn't know.  My bad.  

 

Learnleather.com

Posted

Checked out the Twitter feed for the culprit noted above and found that this guy is big on using other peoples stuff and has no clue as to what is and is not acceptable; he has posted several images that have been taken from the works of Al Stohlman that are prohibited to be used in this manner (just check with Tandy's legal department and you will find that you CANNOT use any images from his works in any fashion to advertise your works, techniques, etc. and they DO NOT give you any wiggle room on this; you can use his patterns to create works that you sell but you cannot reproduce the content of his writings in any fashion).  It appears that this guy is more interested in drawing attention to himself through the use of other peoples artistic talents yet the items that he makes are clearly nowhere near the quality and level of artistic beauty of those who he has "borrowed" to promote himself.  Almost reminds you of a false advertising system: let me suck you in with all of this beautiful artwork and then sell you a copy of a magazine article from 50 years ago.  These types need to be called out within our trade community and schooled on what is and is not acceptable practice.  In fact, Tandy has been notified about his use of Mr. Stohlman's writings already.

  • Moderator
Posted

Yep he's been banned from here, Twitter and Instagram have been notified as well.  He has been sent a few emails for cease and desist purposes and as far as I know he has removed many of the photos already.  People like this are a blight on our community and should be called out in every way possible.

 

Learnleather.com

  • Members
Posted

The only time I ever borrow other peoples pictures is to put in my inspiration folder on my PC. But would never use them as my own work as I know I am not as good as, and probably will never be as good as a lot of people on here. Thats why I have an inspiration folder to dream of what I may be able to one achieve in this chosen hobby business.

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