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JESSICA’S STORY OF STOLEN ART
Jessica Roux, of Nashville, is an illustrator and plant and animal enthusiast. Like many artists, she posted samples on her website. In 2016, Jessica’s fans sent her screenshots of ads selling her art on more than 20 products.
“Many of them are in other languages since they were sent to me by fans across the world,” Roux said. “I would never find this stuff without them.”
To her surprise, Jessica discovered an Amazon storefront called Weeya offered her art on pillows and totebags, among other unauthorized items. She reported the copyright infringement in 2016, with limited success. She said stores often change their names and sell the items on a new storefront.
Roux said copyright infringements are increasing in frequency. “I just filed a DMCA* for a shop on Aliexpress selling tote bags with my book cover on them. All of these have been removed, thankfully.
She encouraged other artists to protect their work. “This is something we all need to be aware of; and we, as artists, have to bear the brunt of filing the copyright infringement reports.”
Jessica said each incident is disturbing. “Once I report it, I try to forget about it, since it can be traumatizing to dwell on. It feels very personal.”
Left: Jessica’s original artwork “Magnolias” Right:A screenshot of Jessica’s artwork being reproduced without her permission.
*Author’s Note: The DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) is the United States copyright law implemented to protect copyrighted material from being downloaded, uploaded or streamed illegally. It was passed in 1998 to counteract waves of digital and virtual infringement of copyrights. Under this act, an artist or company can issue a takedown notice to corporations like Google, when they see their work being reproduced without permission.
Today, Jessica Roux is still creating beautiful work. In 2020, Jessica published a book of her floral illustrations, Floriography:An Illustrated Guide to theVictorian Language of Flowers.
IN CONCLUSION
Remember it is up to you to protect your own work. Each step you take will help assure your ownership is clearly stated. But if someone still elects to use your art for their own gain, legal action may be your only option for reclaiming your art and being compensated for its use.
About the Author
Susan Armstrong is a contributing author for The Decorative Painter magazine with more than 40 years’ experience as a journalist and award–winning copywriter.This article is an introductory guide to copyrights and should not be considered legal advice. Please contact your local Intellectual Property attorney for specific guidance appropriate to your geographic region and personal situation.
18 TheDecorativePainter • SPRING 2022