Artists Using Doll Likenesses without Crediting [Mijn Schatje discussion]

Well, not completely off topic but...Does anyone know if she has an art degree/ from where? Addressing the art masters/majors here, what generally happens if it's proven that the art you submitted to obtain said degree was copied? Can they (the college/ university) do anything after a person graduates?

How much talent does she actually have if she traces and copies everything? It's been shown that her material is copied, so why not the composition/ layout?

 

Colleges and universities can not do anything after the fact. A degree only states that you completed required courses with an acceptable grade (understanding) level.

They can't take it away... unless they find out the degree was not earned. ie. found out to have cheated on tests/exams.

 

I am under the impression that Minj has no degree, IE she is self-taught. If you can call it that.

 

Mijn went to an art school in France. I do not know the name, but it may be buried here in this thread. It was mentioned in a bio.

 

Sorry if it's a repost, I found this link on her facebook page http://www.mijnschatjeart.com/ This is going on too long now.

 

I posted some info. about her on my Facebook Page this week. Maybe we all can? I sent out a general warning and linked to the RadioTrash page. If we all do the same more people will know.

 

In case you haven't done a recent Google search, that website now has a new URL:

http://everytomorrow.net/mijn/

By the way, these earrings have a face that looks like they came from those Unoa photos posted on the Blastmilk.com site.

http://boutiquelesfleurs.typepad.co...boucles-doreille-boucle-dor-mijn-schatje.html

So much for Mijn Schatje's previous announcement that she had withdrawn all of her artwork from public circulation that was derived from the Blastmilk.com photos due to a "misunderstanding" and her "poor English".

 

To ask a slightly OT question, is there a GIMP filter I can use to watermark my images when I start photographic dolls? One that embosses a copyright text within the colours of the image, if you get what I mean...

Make it harder for the likes of Minge, erm Mijn, to steal my images.

Phil.

 

Even if you splash a watermark across the face it sounds like if she wants too she'll trace your picture and use it X< Making your doll very unique and immediately recognizable might be a step.

It looks like she's stealing images from manufacturers and well known sites, I've been to Blastmilk in my travels, so there's no knowing where she could go next. In many ways it's silly because many companies will grant permission for you to use your pictures of dolls you own if you ask. Even the guy who did Barbie in a blender won his case, but he had bought the Barbies first.

Anyone think of laying a trap with images that look like the kind she'd snatch up?

 

Hmmm a unique faceup shouldn't be that hard to do.

I guess I will have to be inventive with my stuff so that I would know if something of mine got ripped off by her or others.

But a watermark on the original with "(C) All Rights Reserved" in it might be good for suing purposes...

Phil.

 

You don't need to write anything on your pictures to retain your copyright - it's automatic. Every time you draw something, or photograph it, or write it, it's automatically copyright to yourself. Watermarking can help in identifying pictures as your own, and marking them as rights reserved may help in demonstrating that you don't want to share, but unless you specifically release copyright through something like Flickr permissions, it's yours, and adding anything wouldn't really help in any hypothetical suing process. Patents and designs are a whole 'nother process.

What I find most bizarre in all this is the accolades apparently given to her art. Blatant plagiarism and ickiness aside, it looks to me like the kind of "art" you get on two dollar pencil cases and exercise books marketed at little girls.

 

Oh being an author I am well aware of copyright laws under the Berne Conventions, but it never hurts to make your intent clear on your work.

Phil.

 

That is the genre of "lowbrow" art... it is more like illustration and comic style art. I would like some of her work if she was really pulling her 'vision' out of her head like she originally asserted, rather than off of other people's websites.

I don't know what can be done about that new fan site... it has published a lot of the stolen 'art' listed on the radiotrash site, and from the wording on the site, it seems like that person is fully aware of the controversy and doesn't care.

I think the owners of the original artwork (Kallisti, etc.) would have to ask her to take down the pictures.

 

Oh, that really grates me. You know, I wouldn't be surprised if it was Mijn herself who made the site It really IS going on too long now, I agree. This whole case sits at the back of my mind and makes me really grit my teeth

 

From the contact page of the MS' site:
- at the bottom of the page that the site was setup by http://www.lillibugdesign.com/ and
- from the Twitter link, the person is 'Rachel Lillibridge', and here's her blog: http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414500727373223715
The site she created shows she is so taken in, is it worth alerting her to the hard, cold truth about MS?

 

YES.

If she chooses to ignore the evidence after she has been presented with it, then that's her lookout. But unless she is told, she may never know...

Phil.

 

Here I am saying it has to stop and all, but I don't dare alerting the site owner caus I hate hurting people's feelings ><" That site looks like it was a lot of work. But I agree she should be alerted.

 

GIMP?...eh, i use that too sometimes...anyway...i didn't watermark it using gim, but using faststone BUT i did make my watermark using GIMP...so, i just make a pic using gimp then, i use faststone when bacth editing my picture; in advance option, i choose to watermark my pics/photos whenever I need to...

If you don't want to use 'pics' as the watermarker, you can just type it...faststone provide that...

I created a watermarking picture by making a pics with transparent layer...
I didn't edit my each pic in GIMP...too long...

 

Well, Deviant Art has an automatic watermarking service and helps to prevent downloading of pictures (you can choose if you will allow people to right click and save as), although the second option is not foolproof.

I might just post up a stupid picture and test the watermark feature...

Phil.

 

Woot! I've found someone who wants to do a youtube video Blog about Mijn Schatje's 'work' in stealing doll photos.
They had already asked me if they could use my my video.

I am not sure when they will be posting up the videos as I am helping to gather up source information and more images/videos for them to use.

They are called: " controversialBJDs " on youtube and looks promising, (I want to suggest to them making a video about the lolidoll company as well.)

Once the video is done I will post it up here, meanwhile, I'm looking thorught this thread for links and such to subbmitt.

Oh, if you wish to send helpful links to the blogger for this video, the email address is: [email protected]

Links to other bloggs and such would be mightly helpful too. As well as Screencaps of the "Prices" that She is selling her art work on various art-sites.