Firstly, I must just thank ALL of you who left a comment on the last blog post or wrote to me personally with your words of comfort and advice about my migraine attacks. It's been so helpful for me to hear your experiences, and when I get back to the UK I'm going to investigate the cause of the attacks and try to get the help I need to hopefully prevent them - or at least stop getting so many. This particular one has dragged on (on and off) for two weeks and I think I'm almost completely over it now, but it has been truly horrendous. There were times when I was in tears and fretting that I would never feel well and be like "my old self" again. When it's bad it's completely debilitating, and effects my mental as well as physical well-being, so your help has been invaluable.
Secondly, I'm going to pepper this blog post with some Instagram photos I've been taking with my iPad this week.
Self portrait in the apartment. 17.01.12.
Cute shop in the Pigalle district of Paris.
Thirdly - before I tell you the main story - I've been getting mightily pissed off over the past couple of weeks with the amount of people making work that is uncomfortably similar to mine. I'll come up with a new idea that I haven't - to my knowledge - seen anywhere before, I'll post the new piece(s) on the blog or Etsy, and then a few weeks later I'll start seeing other Etsians making 'copycat' pieces. I'm not going to name any names, but my boyfriend actually came up to me the other day after receiving the Etsy Finds daily newsletter in his inbox, asking me whether I'd seen a certain item they'd featured because it was so similar to my work he actually thought it was mine! It's a strange feeling and has happened numerous times, but I try not to let this kind of copying play on my mind too much. I have actually contacted people in the past when I feel they are ripping off my work too closely and I'll politely ask them to stop, but often I just shrug it off and try to stay one step ahead in my own work. After all, they can try to copy my work but it will never be my work. Also, we're all influenced by the images we see and it's normal if you like the work of another artist to be inspired to try your hand at reproducing the same subject matter, colour palette, or whatever - some people just take it too far.
However, this week I've been dealing with copying at an entirely new level. This particular problem isn't just someone taking my ideas and making uncomfortably similar work, this person had the gall to take this image, claim it as their own work, and make money from it too! This is a case of blatant copyright infringement.
The only reason I found out about it is because I was contacted by a Twitter friend telling me she'd seen work that looked very similar to mine in a shop in Yorkshire. She became curious and looked at the reverse of the work, only to see the name 'Natalie'. She and her boyfriend took a photograph for me and then asked the shop assistant some questions relating to the work. I won't go into the details here, but when she emailed the image to me, it was an exact copy of the piece I've linked to above, called Try To Sing Your Own Song (ironic, huh?). I sent my friend the same link to the Flickr image so I could show her it was actually my work (I'd uploaded the image to Flickr about three and a half years ago, so there's obviously no question the image is mine) and she couldn't believe the audacity of this Natalie person.
To cut a long story short, I've since contacted the shop to tell them what is happening, and provided them with evidence that the copyright to the image belongs to me. I received a reply this morning telling me that they had no idea the work wasn't Natalie's, and that they've removed the work from the shop and informed Natalie. They've also asked her to contact me, so we'll see if she does.
It's a very odd feeling to know that this has been happening. I have no idea how long it's been going on, and I'd still be in the dark about it if my friend hadn't happened to visit that particular shop. Thank goodness I have people out there who are looking out for me! I'm very grateful to her (and her boyfriend!) and also another Twitter friend in the area who went back to the shop to investigate further.
I'll keep you updated on this story...
In the meantime, enjoy a few more photos of Paris and have a good week! x
Photos taken in and around Montmartre on Sunday afternoon.
© Natasha Newton 2012
I feel that I'm staring at the classical time of Paris.
Posted by: Reylan | Labor Posters | January 18, 2012 at 03:58 AM
Paris looks pretty. I'm new to to blog so forgive my ignorance not knowing why you're there. I'm in Germany at the moment, are you getting the cold frosts? Everything here sparkles with ice :) Hope your migranes improve. I find that aspirin or panadol helps me mentally when I get sick like that, because if I get a fever, I tend to get a little disorientated. But it doesn't always help the pain. Viel Gluck, und Bis SpaSS. Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | January 18, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Glad to read that the gallery have withdrawn the item/s.
Have you considered watermarking your images? Or perhaps uploading low resolution ones?
It's a bit of a dilemma isn't it - one wants one's work presented in the best manner, which makes it easy for the image to be copied and used without one's permission (or knowledge). This is the downside of using the internet to showcase one's portfolio.
Posted by: Nicky Scholnick | Cennini Muse | January 18, 2012 at 11:41 AM
It seems like almost every other artists' blog I come across these days has a similar story. I really feel like Etsy should be doing more about it. Although they probably have a bajillion lawyers telling them not to get involved.
About the migraines, I've never had one but I learnt some interesting things about painkillers after a recent kidney infection. Did you know that it's really important to take painkillers before the pain becomes too bad and to continue taking them regularly after that? Apparently pain killers aren't as effective once the pain is really bad. Anyway, just thought I'd mention that.
Posted by: Katherine | January 18, 2012 at 02:55 PM
I feel for you regarding the copying. I have had my designs copied several times, and it is a sick feeling to see your work stolen.
The design is more than half the job. How long does one spend dreaming up new ideas? For me, a very long time. So it is real theft when someone comes along and steals those ideas.
I cringe when someone post on the Etsy boards about having their designs stolen, and the majority of responses are to live with it, that copying is the highest form of flattery (!), etc. No. I don't accept that at all.
When it has happened to me, I immediately contact the person and explain that my designs are copyrighted, that using them is stealing, that they are breaking the law, and to please dream up their own designs. So far, everyone has immediately pulled their listings. That said, I am talking about clear and direct copying. A few people seem to have taken my ideas and played with them, coming up with designs that are far enough away from my own that I leave them alone. I'm not exactly thrilled even about those.
Good to read you got an excellent response from the shop. I'll be surprised if you hear from the rip-off artist.
Posted by: Tim Kline | January 18, 2012 at 04:35 PM
Hello again,
I can imagine how heart-broken and angry you are about this copy-catting. I would really be gutted. But there is only a limited amount you can do in that situation and you did what you could. I agree with Tim Kline; you need to stand up to it and well done for doing so. The best thing I would advise a friend to do now is to keep making fantastic work and don't let them stunt your creativity. Also with your migraines you should really try to look after yourself, this includes stress and lifestyle as well as diet. I hope you have a great time in Paris and are inspired by the beautiful city.
Oh p.s. I don't know if this is of any help and you have probably had similar advice, but My mum and I have a couple of migraines a year, I don't know if it is a hereditary thing, but mine seem to be bought on by wisdom teeth growing through, excessive exposure to t.v./computer screens, when I strain my eyes by not wearing sunglasses when it's really sunny and the fact that I recently worked out that must have an allergy to a certain type of sweetener called Aspartamine. This is in a huge amount of foods and drinks, e.g. Diet coke and once I cut it out of my diet I have migraines a lot less frequently. Hope this helps!
Posted by: Pigeon | January 19, 2012 at 12:17 PM
They say that immitation is the sincerest form of flattery BUT downright copying is just not on. It's a fine line between influence and actually copying. I make wet felted work and jewellery and am at pains to try to develop my own style. Of course I look at what other people do but I want to be me. Hopefully you can get this resolved.
I am so sorry you suffer with migraines. Let's hope they go away with the warm spring weather -when it comes.
Posted by: Fiona | January 19, 2012 at 01:30 PM
Migraines...cut out...all citrus, chocolate, caffeine. It's tough...but it helps!
I've also been down the copy cat road...what helped me is to realize that there are visionaries and people who aren't. You will always be one step ahead with others attempting to keep up....
Trust....you are very talented!
Posted by: Sheri Gaynor | January 22, 2012 at 04:34 PM