Copyright infringement is a sensitive topic – and understandably so.
As independent artists, it often feels like a David and Goliath battle when we’re faced with large corporations using our work without permission. The emotional toll is real, and the power imbalance can be overwhelming. I felt compelled to write this post to remind you that you do have clout, your rights matter, and your art deserves fair compensation – no matter how big the company is.
When I experienced my first major incident of copyright infringement, I was pretty devastated. A large company had used my artwork in a mass-produced product without my permission – and without compensation. I was still early in my art journey and had absolutely no experience in dealing with a situation like this.
Thankfully, my husband is level-headed and pragmatic. He reminded me over and over again that I had every right to protect my work, that they were in the wrong, and that fair compensation wasn’t a favour – it was a legal and ethical obligation.
That helped me stay focused and not let them intimidate me. From the start, they tried to downplay the incident and offered me a token payment – a laughable amount considering how much revenue my artwork had helped them generate.
Unfortunately, I’ve since learned this kind of behaviour is all too common.
Many large corporations use their size and perceived authority to intimidate independent artists. If they’re not offering a meagre amount as a payout, they’re claiming they didn’t fully understand the licence terms, as if ignorance is a valid excuse.
Let’s be clear, that’s utter nonsense! A company whose business model relies on using artwork should absolutely understand licensing and copyright laws. Claiming otherwise is not only disingenuous, it’s insulting.
These companies often treat artists as if we’re insignificant, assuming we have no real power. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. I want to remind you that you DO have leverage. You have the legal right to control how your work is used, and to demand fair compensation when your rights are violated.
And they know this. That’s why it’s so important to stand your ground. Be calm, professional, and assertive – not aggressive. It is personal, and it can feel deeply violating, but don’t let your emotions derail your case. Keep a level head and make it clear you won’t be brushed aside.
In my case, after many back-and-forth emails and refusing to give in, I was finally offered a much more reasonable settlement. Later, I found out that several other artists involved in the same incident had accepted far less. Reading their correspondence with the company was heartbreaking. The company had clearly used a bullying tone to pressure them into settling quickly – and it unfortunately worked. Instead of doing the right thing, the CEO chose to manipulate and intimidate them.
Here’s the reality: companies can make thousands from our work. And although they might only be using one or two of your pieces, those pieces represent years of honing your craft – your time, skill development, style evolution, medium exploration and of course our heart and soul expression. Don’t forget that. And don’t let anyone diminish it.
Whether you’re negotiating a licensing deal or dealing with outright infringement, stand firm. Ask for what’s fair.
Hi Lisa, your article really hit home to me. Although I am no where near as skilled and talented as you, I also, some years ago experienced being copied for someone else’s monitory gains. .
In my case my images sketched and then reproduced in a different format ( here where I live in Australia ) were sold across Europe ( where my distributor lives ) In one case the copy was so exacting if you took my detailed outline and placed it over the copy it matched perfectly.
The distributor, in Denmark mentioned numerous times how sad it was seeing my designs reproduced and being sold at wholesale shows. To take legal action would have been too expensive.
I felt so angry, sad, violated as if someone had stolen from me what had amounted to many hours fine tuning to the best of my ability on many drawings. Adding on to the actual drawings, due to the form this was going on there were further time consuming requirements to work through. The fact these ( personal choices ) were also copied further confirmed the stealings.
I am glad for you if you found the right words to call them out and gain at least some compensation. It isn’t right and thinking of just what sort of people would do this makes me feel angry all over again.
I am now retired in my late 70’s and often see this happening in people’s work. So sad.
Hi Terri!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I can absolutely commiserate with what you’ve been through, it’s heartbreaking and incredibly frustrating when your work is copied, especially when it’s done so maliciously for someone else’s gain. I’ve experienced this more times than I care to count, and it’s never easy to deal with the emotional impact it leaves behind.
I can imagine how violated and angry you must have felt seeing your hours of hard work stolen and sold as someone else’s. It’s such a difficult situation, and I understand why legal action was not a viable option, the financial and emotional toll it takes can be overwhelming.
It’s also really disheartening to know that many artist are experiencing the same thing, it’s heartbreaking that this continues to happen. I hope, in time, the world begins to recognise the value of true creativity and the hard work behind it!
Thank you again for sharing your story, it’s comforting to know there are others who truly understand the frustration and the emotions we all experience ❤️
Thank you very much Lisa for taking the time to respond to my wafflings regarding my own experience with the subject your article above is about.
For me now being older and my husband having health issues ( that limit his physical ability ) we have turned our doings into making things we donate to the kids ward of a hospital. Using 3D printers plus other mediums we keep coming up with ideas which we hope will brighten kids time in hospital.
This has been wonderful to do and certainly helps keep the old brain cells thinking !
No need to spend time answering this email. I just wanted to share the fact it keeps giving even when you are old if you have a desire to create for ever.
It’s very hard when it’s done by larger businesses because we expect them to be acting in a more ethical manner and be industry leaders. This is not always the case. I’ve had my work copied from people even just sitting right next to me. I’ve had people use my ideas and work to make larger campaigns that I presented first at those large firms. They have legal teams, pr execs and money to boot. It devastated me but then I began to realize how much I was worth and that is what it taught me. I continued on to better things and things that are more satisfying. Would I do it for free? Yes, I would. But I do need to eat.
Rather than think about things in terms of money (and I know we all need to make a living), just remember that your work is useful. It’s being used and it’s still valuable. It’s not ethical but it means someone thinks of you highly but they have a distorted way of acting and viewing things but you are worth a lot. I was copied so many times I started realize that it had to mean something. Maybe it meant that I was in demand and that is a good place to be. It means you are reaching them and it’s up to them to either behave or become criminals, that is their choice. It’s hard to put a price on your work and then get people to pay that price. It’s hard to get credit from your work all the time.
But what I’m going to say is if you have a unique style, people will recognize you. I recognize Lisa Glanz’s work all the time and I have no idea who is using it on products publicly but I’d still recognize it. It still stinks and as long as you can still make a profit, it can be ok. You will always have more ideas and the copiers will always be stuck in a moment in time that is in the past. You will always be here. Remember that. It caused me to stop working and to stop making for a time but never stop. Keep filling the world with joy.
I also realized something. Look at the high fashion brands like Chanel. They are ripped off constantly. But do I think of them any differently, no. I still know their brand name and what they do. I feel maybe it’s like a weird sort of like backwards promotion.
Teri and Lisa, The copyright issue has been one that has loomed over me in another way. I have written and illustrated, three children’s books, but not published them because I am afraid of infringing on someone’s copyright. I too, am now in my 80’s and do not want to risk money to defend my work. I don’t have the time to make back money lost trying to defend my crafts. I have turned to giving away my artwork to Veterans and Seniors in nursing homes, just to keep my mind and hands busy. I love the appreciation I receive from others who do not have the means, time, or availability to support a hobby such as mine.
Hi Mary, I loved reading your email to Lisa in response to the copyright issues and the way you have worked around it.
As Lisa said, it is beyond hurtful to have this done to you. I wish there was a chat sight where like minded people creating all sorts of things could chat.
Sorry Lisa, as this is now the third response I have made on this discussion.
Unfortunately, some large companies are complicit in this theft.
For example, a very popular European e-commerce site allows accounts to report other accounts’ content as their own and have said content removed. If it is removed, the original poster has the option to re-post the content. The reporter would then need to provide the e-commerce company with a letter from a lawyer to have the content removed again.
As you can gather, this means that if someone steals your content on this site, and you report it, the thief can re-post your content and you would need a lawyer to make them stop. This happened to me a few years ago during the pandemic and I was not in a financial position to do anything about it. It was extremely frustrating and upsetting, and I stopped creating for awhile because I felt so bothered by it all.
I agree that you should 100% stand up for your rights and do whatever you can to protect your work – but importantly, don’t let it stop you creating! Dishonest people and companies don’t have any right to steal your work, but they also don’t have any right to steal your joy! So don’t let them.
Hi Alice,
I completely agree with you, many large companies and online marketplaces seem complicit in this kind of theft, making it incredibly difficult for copyright owners to prove their ownership. The situation you described is a perfect example of how broken the system can be. It almost feels like these platforms are more protective of the thieves than the original creators, which is incredibly frustrating.
Your story, unfortunately, resonates with me. So sorry you had to go through that! It’s disheartening when you pour so much time and effort into your work only to have it stolen, and the lack of support from these platforms makes it even worse.
I love your reminder not to let these dishonest people steal our joy. We shouldn’t let their actions take away our love for creating.
Thank you for sharing your experience xx Keep creating your beautiful work!!
I’m sorry this happened to you, I always tell you how much I love your work!!! Debbie
Your art is worth standing up for. It feels so violating when you find that someone has outright stolen from you. That’s for the ones you actually find. You are 100% correct when you say it even stops you from creating or sharing. I’ve had that happen to me too. Do you have some tips about how you can approach the companies or individuals that have done this to you? I’m just starting out with products and designs that I need to put online in order to get sales and would appreciate some help in preparing myself before I do, to avoid lawyers fees. I don’t think I’m in the financial space to handle law suits yet.
Hi Reesha, I’m so sorry that it happened to you too! I completely understand, hiring a lawyer can be incredibly expensive, and to be honest, it’s something I’ve avoided myself up to now!
My advice would be to contact the company or person who’s infringing on your rights directly. Try to reach someone senior or in their legal department. Don’t waste time with “support” unless that’s the only contact info available. Then, send a well-prepared email. I recommend having a template ready to go – something you can adapt when needed.
Many years ago, I took a course by Von Glitschka (I think it was on Udemy, though I can’t seem to find it anymore). It included really helpful templates for cease and desist letters, DMCA takedown notices, and even requests for compensation. I still use those templates today, with a few personal tweaks I’ve added over time. I can’t share them, as they’re his intellectual property, but I highly recommend doing a bit of research online to find reliable templates you can legally use. It’s well worth having something ready for when infringement strikes.
In your letter, clearly state your copyrights and how they’ve been violated. Keep the tone professional and assertive. Give them a deadline for a response and any action you expect. If they don’t reply, follow up. Keep at it. If you still get no response, you can let them know you’ve contacted a lawyer and legal proceedings are underway, that usually gets their attention.
That said, sadly, you won’t win every battle. I’ve had to walk away from many infringement cases over the years for a variety of reasons. It’s incredibly frustrating, I know. But sometimes you have to weigh up the emotional toll of constantly chasing a company that refuses to engage.
If hiring a lawyer isn’t an option, it might be necessary to let some cases go. But one thing I want to emphasise: please don’t let this stop you from creating art. Yes, there are people out there lurking in the dark who steal our work. But I like to think of us as creators who bring light, don’t let the darkness of these people destroy your light!
I hope that helps! Wishing you the best of luck with your products – and keep making your beautiful art x
Lisa,
this is a great article and you have given such wonderful support and tips in the comments.. Shortly after reading this comment I happened to join a virtual summit for Adobe Illustrator that has just started, and the 2nd webinar of the summit is from Von Glitschka! He has his website linked and there you can find a whole lot of courses of his, as well as the copyright course which is on LinkedIn, and if you don’t already have LinkedIn Learning, there is a 1 month free trial. I think his course would be super useful to us creatives, wherever we are on our journey!
Bless you.
❤️
Thank you for your words, I live in a country full of injustice and all about illustrating and doing art is realy hard. Just two months ago I found out an editor re-printed my book whithout any permit and it is ilegal, I get no payment. They are selling it in many book stores. At least he did not errase my name. I still get to be the “illustrator”.
May God bless our talent and grant us the joy of doing it for the right reasons. And let’s hope we get to see the rewards in life for making beautifull things.
(Sorry for my english)
Thank you so much for sharing your story, and please don’t worry, your English is great! Gosh, that is just a terrible situation! I’m truly sorry to hear that you’ve had to go through such an unfair ordeal. You deserve the recognition and payment for your talent, and I hope you find a way to make things right.
I love your positive outlook, though! I agree, may we all continue creating art for the right reasons and finding joy in what we do, no matter the struggles!
Wishing you strength and many more beautiful projects ahead xx
Hi Lisa,
I’m starting my own illustrations/designs and I haven’t released them yet for the same reasons of infringement of copyright. What can we do to protect ourselves from even getting to that point? Get a trademark? which is expensive for someone who is just starting. How do you prove that someone stole your design idea? They can redesign the illustration and call it their idea.
So frustrating!
Hi Cristi,
I completely understand your frustration, it’s tough to feel like your work is at risk of being stolen, especially when you’re just starting out. But don’t let the fear of infringement rob you of the joy of sharing your work and making a living from it. You absolutely deserve to protect your creations and enjoy the rewards of your talent!
As for copyright protection, the good news is that by default, as the creator of your work, you are already the copyright owner by law. However, registering your work can provide additional legal protection. Some artists I’ve read about create a “volume” of their work, including hundreds of their drawings, and then copyright that entire collection. The cost is usually the same as registering one piece, so it’s a more efficient option.
Personally, I’ve only registered some of my work in the early days. These days, I keep all my original sketches as proof of creation. In my experience, this has been enough to protect my work. When I’m asked to prove copyright, I remind them that as the creator, I am automatically the copyright owner, and I back it up with my original sketches. Of course, the “asshole level” (sorry for the strong language!) of the company or individual involved will determine how much they accept this, but it’s usually sufficient.
I know it’s frustrating, but you do have legal rights, and there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Keep creating and don’t let these challenges take away from your passion ❤️
♥️
It’s encouraging to see someone with a platform like yours addressing such an important, relevant topic. Thank you for sharing!
It’s a great pleasure Carrie! I wish this topic was discussed more regularly as it’s such a big issue for us all!
Wouldn’t it be great for to be an artist collective with affordable legal representation and then letters could be sent from an attorney since the companies play hard ball.
Is there a resource among artists to warn others about these predatory practices? Just wondering.
Hi Cheryl,
I completely agree, having a collective of artists with affordable legal representation would be incredibly beneficial, especially when companies are difficult to deal with. It’s definitely something I’ve thought about as well.
I actually started a Facebook group some time ago where people could share contact info for infringers and other important details. I even included a spreadsheet for artists to add to, but unfortunately, it became a challenge to sift through all the spam and unnecessary information. If I had more time, I’d love to try doing something like that again, but sadly, I just don’t have the bandwidth right now.
As artists we should connect and support each other where we can, and if we come across any resources or groups that might help, it’s always worth sharing. The more we work together, the stronger we become.
Lisa, I appreciate your excellent advice and building our awareness about the issue of infringement! I may be legally naive, but if you’re quite sure of the infringement on your artwork copyright and the offender will not make it right by compensation or other agreed upon course of action, then can you call them out publicly on their practice in your case—a news story or social media posting? You would certainly want to be certain of the infringement, but it seems like sometimes the bullies don’t stop if their practices remain hidden. What are your thoughts on that or have you been advised to avoid such a practice?
Thanks for your great question! While I totally get the temptation to publicly call out companies for infringement, I don’t think it’s the best approach. It can leave you legally vulnerable, and often it doesn’t achieve much. Instead, I’d recommend sticking to legal channels like sending a cease-and-desist letter or consulting with a lawyer.
I know it’s tempting to expose them, but I think it can often make things worse.
I’ve received Shutterfly cards that are copies of artists’ work – artists I recognize, some I don’t …. and I always wonder how people get away with this.
A large company like Shutterfly should obviously be aware of copyright issues.
It’s so frustrating isn’t it! Unfortunately, many large companies don’t take enough steps to ensure that the work being uploaded and sold isn’t infringing upon someone else’s rights or just plain stolen. I personally think these large platforms don’t prioritise or properly enforce copyright protection enough.
Unfortunately too many artists get intimidated by companies that steal their work, it happened to me a few years back. The company was not super large, but made plenty off of my design. They pretended to not know that they were infringing, even after I had previously contacted them to let them know. They continued to sell my design so I contacted a lawyer. I want all artists to know that if you have a good case there are lawyers that will take your case on contingency, meaning they do not charge you unless you win a settlement. My lawyer let me know if I had not filed for copyright with the US office I would not be able to be financially compensated so keep that in mind. My case was easy as they had exposure to my design and I could prove it. Long story short, I won a very sizable compensation. That was a bonus, but to me it was the principal of it all. They clearly felt empowered to just rip me off and I probably was not the first. But hopefully the last. I hope this helps others to not be intimidated. The laws are on your side.
Yes! I was thinking this! Thanks for the insight
I’m so sorry all of you guys have dealt with this. I actually found Lisa through someone who copied her work years ago (it was a bear with a hat). This Spanish artist who was in a street market copied Lisa’s digital piece and made it in watercolor (she only made one). I remember thinking “wow, I wonder how she designed that bear” and I bought it (it was cheap). Later on, I found Lisa’s bear on Pinterest and realized this other artist had stolen Lisa’s design. Now I’m wondering if her other pieces that I bought were actually designed by her. Thanks to that experience I was introduced to digital art and bought several of Lisa’s products. Sadly this stuff happens but I’m glad you were able to persevere 🙂
Honestly so many people are selfish and thoughtless and have no concern for others and their story! Yours is beautiful and I’m so grateful to have followed it x your art has made so many children happy over the years x you blessed my life in more ways than I care to count x don’t let anyone steal your sunshine x so much love x
Your work is lovely and it is a shame anyone would steal your designs. I don’t know if it comes from an inability to create, laziness or envy, but I am sorry it happened to you. I find it the most disappointing even large companies like Ikea have “procured work” And I wonder if they don’t vet their vendors or just don’t care. Hope you are able to find a way to stop the the theft.
Thank you so much for sharing!! Hopefully this helps bring awareness to these human rights!
You an also find a copyright lawyer, which is what my sister and friend did after having their work stolen so much (and they’re smaller artists). They pay nothing up front but it’s their responsibility to find the infractions and present them to the lawyers. Then the lawyers take care of it from there, the sending of the letters and the correspondence, and receiving the payments. The lawyer gets 40% and the artist gets 60%, not bad for all of the work they do.