It Happens More Than You Think
Imitation is not always the sincerest form of flattery. Such is the case when I find copies of my artwork - poorly done, no less - for sale on eBay and similar venues. It's been a constant battle for me and my colleagues for years.
Even more disheartening, the problem just seems to be getting worse. Especially when they see how fast this junk is moving...
It's truly shocking when I see a rip-off of my images...it really is. Imagine spending months writing an book, only to learn that someone had plagiarized it after the fact. Not only did they outright copy your work, but completely butchered it in the process, then slapped their name on it and sold the piece for a profit. Not a good feeling, huh?
What's just as shocking is the persistence of some forged goods sellers. We (the Equine Arts Protection League) have shut down one eBay/CafePress seller over 20 times, but she keeps coming back. Another seller is pumping out horrible "original" paintings, most likely from a factory in China. Some people don't mind making a profit off of the hard work of others.
I'm posting this partially to rant, but mostly to make you aware. Many people are already somewhat wary of eBay, but few know about the forged art being sold left and right. If you're considering a piece of art from an online dealer, always ask if the work comes with a certificate of authenticity.
My copied imagery - 3 recent examples:
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