Good responses to this post on copyright infringement. Especially if
someone is going to spread around hi-res images that could be printed,
passing them off as their own work, or using them illegally for advertising,
we should all go after them with both barrels.
That being said, permit me to play devil's advocate for a moment...
The world has changed, as hard as it is for some of us to accept. If we are
going to use the internet/smartphones/facebook et al to advertise our work,
perhaps it is not in our own best interests to jump down the throat of
anyone who passes it along, whether through facebook, blogs, or texting it
to friends. I believe most people, most young people especially, just like
the stuff and want to share it. Our cyberculture today is viral-- that is
how it is supposed to work. Can't we just roll with that sometimes and use
it to our own best sales advantage? Yes, most people are ignorant of
copyright laws and issues. So it is our job to politely educate them, not
to immediately jump to the conclusion that they are stealing something from
us.
At every show I see big signs in booths (usually photographers) saying "NO
PHOTOGRAPHY" etc. I understand the reason why, but I think it looks
unfriendly and off-putting. A couple of years ago, I noticed that my work
started showing up on people's blogs. These are people who had seen my work
at shows and did a blog post, then someone else who had seen their blog,
then it shows up on Facebook. I have had hundreds of $s of website sales
from people who have only seen my work on blogs or have found my site
through facebook, who haven't even seen my work in person. Why would I want
to chase them away?
So now, if I see someone in my booth with a camera phone, I hand them a card
and say "please! Put me on your blog!" (I usually stand next to the piece
with a cheesy smile and point to it, making sure part of my body is covering
part of the piece.) If my work shows up somewhere uncredited (unless it's
advertising, that's different!), I usually just send them a message thanking
them for showing interest in my work and asking them to add a link to my
website. I've never had anyone refuse, and I only had one person who didn't
respond at all, they just quietly removed it. Usually they are excited that
I have visited their blog/page/whatever.
My mom always taught me to "assume positive intent." OK so I've been
cheated a time or two, but I have had so much more business that has come to
me that it's been worth giving people the benefit of the doubt.
I'm assuming that Josh's experience *was* someone with nefarious intent.
But that doesn't mean that everyone who snaps a pic in your booth or posts
something on Facebook is trying to steal your work.
Sorry about the lengthy rant - Alison Armstrong
http://artshowphoto.com/support.htm
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