Artists Using Doll Likenesses without Crediting [Mijn Schatje discussion]

Well, i'm an art student, and for me she is quite famous. She's doing exhibitions all around the world, that's why i said this.

 

You sound as though you know her very well.

 

I know some people who have admitted to tracing/copying but have changed, it was a change for the better. But they weren't making the money like she was.
I wonder if she threw away her morals for fame and money.

I can actually say, this thread has left my heart feel heavy. I feel so bad for the people and companies that got cheated. And for the people who buy the prints expecting they were getting something unique, they too are victims.

 

I'm a graduated art student, and I've never heard of her until 2 days ago. She's semi-famous, but certainly not world-wide-mega-big. Many artists do exhibitions all over the world, and still aren't very famous for it.

 

And every one of the images she "pulled" from her site was from a sold out edition. It costs her exactly nothing to pull the images, she has already made her money.

Mijn is so far up Denial we should rename her "Cleopatra".

 

I'm french, she's too. I know her work. That's all.

 

Can we call shenanigans again?

 

Would you be willing to contact the magazines she has had coverage in, and French newspapers, with this story? Fraud is fraud, in any language. As an art student, you have added credibility.

Or is this yet another "friend/fan of Mijn" account created solely in order to try and discredit a legitmate expose?

 

You aren't "drunk" too are you?

 

Please.

I do think it's legitimate.
Maybe I did something that could prove you i'm a kind of spy or whatever ?...
Ok, you don't know me. I'm just interested in this case of copyright infringement, cause I knew her work before discovering your investigation.
But if you think I'm some kind of enemy, that's alright, I'll quit. Do what you want. What else can I say ?...

 

The main things that irk me about this woman (other than the obvious):

1. Blaming the fact that she "assumed" one okay for one photo from one person meant that all BJD photos were fair game on "bad english"

2. At least 90% of the images are not original... what is original (hair I'm assuming) looks... lame at best. I want to see something she can honestly call a 100% original piece before I accept anybody calling her an artist.

 

Just because she has contacted them doesn't mean she got their permission or that they have replied. I could write a letter to the President and say I contacted him as well.

edit: just to clear up i'm not targeting you by my comment, RP :3

 

I am curious to hear what people think she could do to make this right. Do you think that ackonowledging her inspiration and refusing to use any stolen images would be sufficient? Do you think that she needs to stop using BJDs altogether? Do you think she needs the consent of the companies to use their sculpt in her artwork? Do you think that she can use her own dolls image however she wants provided she took the photo and it is only of a doll she owns? I see a lot of indignation in this thread and I was just wondering what most people think she could do to rectify the situation and be correct in moving forward and continuing her art.

 

Personally I think she should stop using doll images unless with the permission of the companies because she is using their faces. And I also think she owes the companies and photographers compensation.

She also ought to apologise publicly to the particular photographers(supposing she even remembers who they are).

 

I'm thinking compensation to those she ripped off might be a good start. Then public acknowledgement of her "inspirations" since she seems set on continuing to use other peoples images. And proper payments to the rights holders of the images she continues to use, along with their consent for continued use.

 

Publicly acknowledging what she did and having the offending images pulled from all merchandise. Provide monetary compensation to those wronged. Provide proof that she can create original artwork.

If she bought her own dolls and created tracings based off her own photos, so long as she has permission to sell the merchandise from the one who created the sculpt, I doubt there would be so much fuss over this.

 

Personally? Be sued everything she's deceitfully made off these images for starters...

Then if she were to continue using BJDs, they should be from her own BJD, she should have permission from the doll co and faceup artist if she paints the faceup, and pay heavy royalties to both....

Though I'm hoping her career under the name Mijn Shatje is smashed so she has to start from the ground up all over again under a new pseudonym...

Yes I'm harsh, but it's the only thing I can think that would take away what she's wrongly come by.

 

Personally I do think she could make this "right". I think to stop the use and display of all the stolen works is a nice first step. I do think that paying some money to those she stole from is something should do to help "fix" this.

After that I have no issue with her using BJD's for her art. I think she should name those who she used the pictures of, I think she should only use pictures she's gotten full on permission to use. Be it from her own dolls or or fans sending her pictures.
I don't have a problem with her doing doll art. I think it'd be better is she had the okay from the doll makers, face up artists and doll owner but just doll owner would do it for me personally. Not sure about the legal area of that but just personal taste.
I also think if she's using other stock art she should be saying as much! Just like saying who owns the dolls.
I wouldn't care what she did if that were the case. I still wouldn't like her art but that's personal taste and has nothing to do with if it's stolen or not. It's neat, I can give her that but I wouldn't be any more or less interested then I was before this came up. When I had no freaking clue who she was.

 

Personally I think she should admit to having traced the pictures, and admit to having traced other peoples art without their knowledge or permission. At least pretend to feel sorry about what she's done. Pay a share of what she's earned on the plagiarised items (prints, skins, clothes, you name it) to the owners of the pictures and the companies she used dolls from (especially Volks, considering how the life size doll probably is based on one of their dolls).

But since this isn't Nirvana, I would at least like to see her stop coping dolls for a month or two. I must admit I was very taken aback that she's released two new traced images during these last few days.

 

Taking responsibility is the only way to make it right.

A fabulous first step would be coming clean and openly admitting that the "allegations" are true: she traces and she took images without permission while knowing at the time that it was wrong. She should contact every magazine that has featured her and tell them that she lied about making up the faces.

She could actually admit that what she did was wrong and say that she's sorry.

She could stop tracing pictures (not just BJD, but the other elements as well) and try to create something that actually is original from her own imagination rather than just regurgitating other people's work.

She could also update her website to credit the sculptors and photographers whose work she stole. She could include the original image that she traced for reference.

She could contact Sony and Fornarnia to have the images credited to her AND Kallisti. And Volks, LUTS, and DIM.

She could pay some royalties.

The first step, though, is not trying to downplay the allegations as being untrue. It is not saving face. It is not blaming misleading others on "poor English."