Tuesday, June 1, 2010

I HAVE BEEN COPIED!!!!

I came home this evening to some bad & very annoying news..... A Shutterstock artist has blatantly copied my work!!!!!
The so called COPYCAT is Shutterstock artist 'SASHA YESIK'

I will be taking the relevant action, But I wanted to share this with you to raise general awareness about copying & to hopefully drum up some support too, please leave your comments below! Please feel free to post these images to your own blogs also, I would really appreciate it. This is something that effects all designers also.

Useful sites & organizations such as ACID (anti copying in design) are good to contact if you are concerned about any any copyright issues of your own.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE! you can go to the original at SHUTTERSTOCK! I'm outraged:(

*see images below of my 'Fun Floral 'signature print & the cheap, blatant copy from Sasha Yesik.



Cheap & BLATANT COPY below........


44 comments:

  1. shocking! blatant copy. good luck with getting it sorted out. there's taking inspiration...but that's not what this is...

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  2. You've definitely got a case here. Sometimes people have accused others of copying and it's just not blatant enough to prove. Sometimes I look at it and think REALLY? But this is SOOOO obvious. Keep us posted and we'll keep others aware, too!

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  3. Thanks for bring this to our attention. We're looking into it right now and will respond.
    - Daryl@shutterstock.com

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  4. And an update... We've placed that artist's portfolio on suspension while we investigate the account. - Daryl@shutterstock.com

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  5. Good luck with this. You have been very generous to share your work with us and it is your business so, I find it really sad that people think it is ok to steal other artists' work so blatantly. I don't understand why they can't just come up with their own ideas? Art is about tapping into your own creativity, where is the fun in copying someone else?? I hope shutterstock sort this out!

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  6. This is awful. Never heard of Shutterstock before, but I shall be checking it for my own work - just in case. Plus I shall warn people about this. I hope you get the matter sorted. We are all behind you.

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  7. I prefer sasha's!


    only joking! Thank goodness common sense has prevailed and the artists account is suspended. Why go to so much trouble to copy something!

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  8. Wow...that is a very blatant copy. Even down to the colors. That person should be ashamed! This is what happens when your work is so accessible via the web. It scares me to put my own work out there - but we need to do it. This nonsense has to stop! Good luck with resolving this!

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  9. That is very blatant copying. They did not every bother changing the colors. So sorry this happened to you and hopefully you will be able to get legal justice.

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  10. I am so sorry this has happen Rachael! I know it is so terribly disappointing! On a good note, I just tried to go back to the page, and it seems they have already taken it down. Yay for the power of the twitter community!!

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  11. This is so awful! I can't believe someone would do this?! It really makes me angry! I hope you get it sorted out soon, your work is beautiful its so sad that someone would copy it.Grrrr!

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  12. Absolute blatant copy - this person has no right to call themselves an artist, and I hope you are able to resolve this to your satisfaction. Your work is beautiful, but that doesn't give anyone the right to copy it as their own!

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  13. This is terrible :( I hope you can sort it out asap.

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  14. thank goodness you spotted this! what a blatant copy, same colours, style, layout, shapes. So ridiculous that the creator should think its ok to do this. Good luck with getting it sorted out.

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  15. OMG I'm shocked!! They've not even tried to disguise the fact that it's a total rip-off of your work! Hope you can get some sort of result from Shutterstock and/or the "artist".

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  16. I can't understand why people would spend their time copying so exactly, there really can't be any joy or pleasure in it??

    Thankfully it looks like shutterstock are dealing with it. I hope this mess works itself out quickly for you :)

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  17. Absolutely shocking Rachael, i hope you get it sorted sooN!! some people are sooo sad!

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  18. Glad you were able to find out in such a timely manner. And on a positive note, the PR off this will help propel your designs and put them even more in front of the public.....Mike (Seascape Lamps)

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  19. Awful. It's been removed by the looks. Let us know how you get on.

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  20. Thanks guys.... I appreciate your comments & support. This artist & company have been selling this design! they have took it down but I want to know what they are going to do now to sort this mess. I'm currently seeking legal advice on this.

    I'll keep you updated, still awaiting a proper response from @shutterstock & the legal team...

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  21. Definitely push for a financial settlement for this if they've been making money from your design.

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  22. That's so naughty Rach ! Hope you get it all sorted ! How can they can themselves a designer !!!! People who work in this way always get caught in the end ! x x x

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  23. It’s happening way too much now, designers should respect each others work, we all take inspiration from other peoples designs, but it’s completely unacceptable to blatantly copy a piece & claim it as your own original idea!

    I hope my situation has raised awareness & hopefully it will prevent this happening again to anyone else.

    Thanks for all the support guys x

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  24. I hope everything works out and you get the right compensation. Designers will have to work together and be on the lookout for things like this. Its incredible that someone dares bring out something exactly the same to something so obviously a Rachael Taylor design.

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  25. Shutterstock are currently investigating designer Sasha Yezik. She claims she created the work independently.....

    Funniest thing I've ever heard!

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  26. This is unbelieveable Rachael. I wish you the best of luck in pursuit of her; it will be helpful to us all to see how you go about it. It really stuns me when "designers" do this.
    Hope to meet you at the BCTF if I am accepted as an exhibitor next year - best wishes Gabs- Moobaacluck

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  27. I'm amazed that it's so BLATANT. I'll be following the story. You have my support!

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  28. this is shocking!! hope it all gets sorted out for you x

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  29. O.M.G! That's terrible! Lucky that you found it! Good luck with getting it sorted, but it's a hassle you could do with out eh. Keep us posted & good luck! x

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  30. I hope you can get things sorted out with this-should not be allowed to get way with it! Good luck!

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  31. That's just so wrong - everything's the same, from the colours to the placement, although the detail isn't exact and not quite as flowing, at a first glance the difference is marginal. Totally outrageous. Hope you get it sorted very quickly.

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  32. Wow! That's crazy. Reminds me of a post by an interior designer who found an Orla Kiely type duvet cover and how it ended up being taken off the shelves...it's a good read ;)
    http://smallacornsnz.blogspot.com/2009/11/double-takes.html
    http://smallacornsnz.blogspot.com/2009/11/postscript-orla-kiely-double-takes.html

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  33. Good luck with getting this sorted out properly, it's a total disgrace that someone thinks they have the right to steal from another person. Helz x

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  34. That is an unashamed copy! Action definitely needs to be taken to protect your design. Good luck x

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  35. Absolutely ridiculous - to dare and say that she worked independently is freaking cheeky. Next she will be claiming Astral projection, or perhaps psychic photography.

    I know I absorb a lot from others but that is beyond taking the p*ss,it's deep sea diving in a river of pee pee.
    Come, come now Sasha we know you did it, just

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  36. that is SHOCKING!! completely copied!? how can she be allowed to do this?! I hope the proper action is being taken by shutterstock.

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  37. So sad that a designer thinks it's OK to rip off someone elses work in this way. As designers we should support each other to protect oursleves from such things happening. It's good we have all these social networking sites to pass the word quickly. Good luck Rachael

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  38. Ooo no! The same thing happened to me a year ago. I was livid and immediately contacted the company. Thankfully they took the design/products off their site, however who's to say it wont happen again. So sorry to hear this and hope you're able to sort things out. ACID (anti-copyright in design) may be able to help with this?

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  39. Good grief. That 'Artist' has no right to call herself an Artist- if there a thing in the art world that resembled a medical register she would be struck off! Shame on such a big company for not taking action sooner! xx

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  40. That is scandalous Rachael, good luck with the battle, she should be ashamed.
    xxx

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  41. Thanks everyone, I just hope this has now raised awareness on this issue.

    I just wanted to share this useful link: http://acid.eu.com/

    If you have any copyright concerns of your own you can contact ACID (Anti copying in design)

    Thanks

    Rachael:)

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  42. This is the most blatant copying I have ever seen. Outrage! Good luck with getting it sorted Rachael

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  43. An update from Shutterstock...

    As mentioned previously the design has been removed & pulled back & I've also been recently told that the artist in question 'Sasha Yesik' has been banned from the Shutterstock site completely.

    Shutterstock have been emailing me & have advised that they are still currently investigating where the design has been used from the clients who downloaded it.

    However at this moment in time, I still do not know if my design is out there on any products & for how long... This is the main concern for my my business. I hope to find this out soon as this is what I'm am still finding distressing.

    I will keep the blog updated with the outcome which I hope will be resolved quickly.

    It has been a stressful week, thank you for all your honest comments & support.

    Rachael:)

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  44. I'd just like to add my voice of concern to everyone else's here. This kind of thing is lower than low and we all need to take it very seriously. Good luck with all of this Rachael.

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