While I was traveling last week I got an email from Jerry Gonzalez, a Freelance Illustrator, telling me about an interesting video he found on YouTube that he thought my blog readers (that’s you!) would be interested in. He thought it really stressed the point of how important it is to copyright ones art and photos – I agree.
It’s not a short video but it’s fascinating – I really encourage you to take 10 minutes and watch the whole thing.
I would love to know what you think and if you ever considered that a photo you put on Flickr could have this ripple effect around the world… leave comments!
[youtube A5lEMIf7_FM]
You can learn more about it at TheStolenScream.com
So RUN don’t walk to the copyright.gov and protect your work on a regular basis!
Here’s to your creative success (and being compensated for it!)
– Tara Reed
P.S. To learn more about the copyright process, take a look at the eBook Copyrights for Artists* by Attorney Sarah M Feingold, Esq
It was a great video, but I don’t see why you’re using it as a flagship for registering copyright. The artist was torn as to the distribution of his photo, he thought it was cool that it was all over the world.
From his account it also looks like he only sent a few emails, no cease and desist letters or DMCA takedown notices, so registering his copyright wouldn’t have helped.
A registered copyright is added protection that can award statutory damages in a court case. Otherwise, your work is copyrighted automatically, and he could have claimed basic damages at any time.
Anise – Since this blog focuses on artists wanting to make money from their art – it’s important to see how sites like Flickrr can be use by others to ‘borrow’ images. It’s just another example of why watching your work and registering copyrights so you can go to court if desired, is important.
Thanks for posting this Tara.
This is so disturbing in so many ways.Some of those companies and people knew exactly that they were stealing! I think the reason why he isn’t more upset is that he is young and really not informed on copyright laws (and his young ego still thinks it’s cool). And not to the point in his life where he is relying on his art to make a living. Thank God for the honesty of National Geographic!
My question is, as long as he can prove the date he created it, could he still go register it now in order to sue for damages? (Assuming he is in the USA)
I believe your protection with the copyright office – which allows you to get attorney fees and more damages than without – begins when you register and not when you create the art. That’s why it’s REALLY important to get ina regular habit of registering your art!
As for the guy in the video – I’m not sure what he does but I’m guessing he doesn’t make a living with art so it wasn’t as big of a deal as it would be for any of us. Like if your sister is an accountant, takes photos and someone wants to use one – it’s flattering. But if she’s an artist, she’d be flattered but also want to be compensated.
Hi Tara,
Thanks so much for posting this video to your site. It demonstrates the dynamic times that we live in. Is it really possible to control how images are used virally worldwide for unpredictable purposes?
It’s an extreme example of a image that is so powerful, simple and primal that it cannot be contained.
I don’t think that it will happen to most of us–but it’s thought provoking.
If I created something that powerful and it was used to instigate political change from oppression, I expect that I would feel similar ambivalence about financial and artistic recognition that Noam Golai expresses in the video.
There is no way to control everything but understanding how to express your desires is always good! People will come to different conclusions on this but that’s why there are different colored lollipops so we are all free to make our choices.
Wow.. thanks for posting this. Not going to make many comments as there are a lot. But he seems a really nice guy and shame shame on those people who made money out of his image. I do wish he had the name and website of the lady in netherlands who sold his work as her own……..