Artists Using Doll Likenesses without Crediting [Mijn Schatje discussion]

I agree about volks. The have a tendency to bring the wrath of god down on the heads of people who copy their property. I told my friend that she had used volks dolls, too, and he just got this horrified "God help her" face.

I really hope they decide this is serious enough. Volks seems to care very deeply for their fans, and the stealing of images deals a blow to both company and collector.

 

I have an e-mail from Mijn talking about her permission from DIM.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/aurons_girl/arttheft3.jpg
She said she talked to them and it was okay to use their images if she gave credit, but she took them down because she didn't have time to credit them.

 

How shameful. I'd heard she was using company and owner photos without permission but I just learned she's also turning a good profit of her "work". She could have used that money to buy her own dolls instead of stealing art from others. Let's hope she does if she wants to continue on with this style she has going on. I feel terrible for those she's stolen from. I know I personally would have granted her permission had she bothered to ask to use my photos. I'm sure I would be flattered. I liked what she does but now I'm too disgusted to appreciate.

 

It's fine. I would much rather everyone bombard me with emails/PMs then the companies. ^_^

Also email/PM me any more overlays you make/find and the source of the original photo. (Just the URLs to Mjins photo and the original photo if you can't do an overlay.)

 

Excellent! Do you perhaps have the screenshot of the email in your inbox? I find that all proof, no matter how tedious it seems, is helpful.

*high five*

 

Inspiration is one thing.
Using references is another.
But outright tracing? = NO
ESPECIALLY for something that you're selling!

This whole thing just makes me ill. It's so many shades of wrong. As an artist myself, art thieves fill me with fury and indignation. Did she honestly think nobody was going to figure out that she copies, pastes and traces a great deal of her 'art'? It seems like the more we look at her 'artwork', the more things we're finding that have been outright stolen from somebody else. She's spending maybe a couple of hours, patching together things stolen from other people who have poured their heart and soul into what they've created- and profiting from it. My heart goes out to every victim of this plagiarist.

What REALLY makes me ill, is hearing that people have had her 'artwork' tattooed on their bodies. These poor people... how are they going to feel after they find out just what they've paid to have permanently etched onto their bodies?

THAT, and how much MONEY she's making from all this. I don't think I would have cared too much if she was just posting her 'artwork' up for people to look at for free... but... $1000 per print?! Not to mention the companies who have paid her for her 'work'.

Eventually, this is all going to come down on her head. She's going to be ruined. Nobody is going to want to associate themselves with an art thief, there are probably going to be lawsuits, and her credibility is going to go down the toilet. She's not going to be able to create a single piece of art without somebody looking at it and saying, "it's probably stolen."

My main question however, is; has anybody contacted the companies that she's sold this 'art' to? I can't imagine they'd be too happy to find out that they've paid XXXXX amount of dollars to her for cut and paste stolen 'artwork'.

 

/facepalm

nice try, but we heard directly from DIM telling her NOT to use them.
we have this thread to prove it

has anyone else made any progress on finding other original images?
i am working on the shoe, guitar, and i thought about doing the rainbows because i SWEAR i have seen them before, but not sure if it would be worth it because i am not sure about how easy it is to do something like that in photoshop...

 

I'm pretty sure she's using adobe illustrator or its equivilant. I'm not sure, but I have a few friends who use illustrator, and that seems like something that would take only a beginning working knowledge of the program to create. (Don't quote me on that. It's only speculation from what I've seen friends do) That is, if the rainbows aren't just peiced together stolen clip art, too.

 

haha, she's in trouble! Volks will unleash their army of killer BJDs. might want to take cover when the cavalry arrive.

i don't know why but i have the very distinct feeling that she might get away with this. at first, i thought "yeah, she's going down" but now, things are looking a bit grim to me. that might just be because some of the companies haven't taken any action yet...

 

I'm so relieved to hear Denny's reply!

sadistic_x_blood: Having to use it everyday for work, I can support your opinion that illustrator is mad easy to use for tracing @_@

Prysm: The list of contacted companies can be found near the bottom of radiotrash's site.

 

i found the shoe
not a lisa frank shoe.
i KNEW it looked exactly like a pair of shoes this girl at my old school had.
i have PM'd radiotrash

 

Show us the shoe, Oh Mighty Shoe Finder! *bow*

Yes, there is actually a feature on Adobe Illustrator called "Live Trace". I don't think that's exactly what she used, but it still gives you an idea of what this program allows you to do.

 

Her's is the top e-mail:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/aurons_girl/arttheft4.jpg

 

There is an unfortunate general feeling of powerlessness... I feel like she might get away with it too. But then, with her copying Audrey Kawasaki in relation to Sony, she's bringing together two fairly big names.

It's easy to get frustrated because nothing seems to be happening right now.... but it's important to remember that the real extent of this controversy was only brought to light within the last week. It takes awhile.

It may also be that if something happens, it could come in the form of companies and magazines quietly withdrawing their endorsements and galleries declining her work. It probably won't be a big shocking news expose or a wide-scale public shaming. We might just realize one day in a couple months or years that we haven't heard anything about her in awhile.

 

the shoe is a hot pink reebok.
i am not sure if the picture lines up, but i am positive that it is the shoe by the shape/"laces"/and color.
not to mention the white logo strip on the side
i am working on finding the EXACT picture now.
however, if someone who can do overlays is willing to try one of these, it would be extremely helpful.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/chububbas/reebok2.jpg
http://media.timeoutnewyork.com/resizeImage/htdocs/export_images/624/624.x600.out.b-girl.07.silo.jpg

 

I agree. It's not like we want her sued to the end of her wits and thrown in jail (well maybe some of us do). Just having to deal with the repercussions of what she has done would be enough at this point. Also, I don't want to see another traced doll ever again.

PS: That is definately the shoe!!

 

Keep in mind also that if the companies have consulted their lawyers, they may have specifically been instructed not to say anything else. I would think especially since Volks has not said anything that might be the case with them. Certainly they are aware of the situation, and my feeling from issues in the past is that they would absolutely NOT have ever given her permission to use any of their images or dolls. They may be doing legal research, etc., before they come out with a statement.

 

that is very true. i think you're right; the backlash will probably be slow and quiet. to be honest, i hadn't even heard of her before this controversy began. i have the feeling that even this kind of publicity might turn out to be good publicity for her.

 

ah yes, you're right about that. i guess it's just because it's taking so long; long slogs always begin to seem hopeless until the end

is it true that a lot of the companies had never even heard of her?

 

OMG, the shoe is just...wtf!!!

I THOUGHT it looked like a style of shoe I'd had before! The ventilation holes in the toe of the shoe and all the other "reebok" stylings were familiar to me because I used to ALWAYS buy Reebok "Princess" tennis shoes, which are low-tops and have the same look to them! Now I feel silly for not noticing that. And I want a new pair of Reeboks. o_O I miss those old tennis shoes.