What do you guys think of it? The covers I made are being "sold" without my permisson...

[kami]

Well if you've clicked the links in my sig, then you know about my LOTR covers. I just found out a printing service is selling them: link. They did this without my permission, even though it says "With permission by Adam Koebel"...they also modified one of my covers.

For one, it's a compliment that they'd actually sell them (members of their forum requested it), but on the other hand I am kinda peeved they didn't ask my permission. They sell the printouts for $1.95 which probably just covers the materials and cost of business...I am not interested in any kind of financial compensation here!!!

Should I email them or just forget about it?

 

[apoppin]

If you are not interested in compensation - first chastise them and then give your permission.

 

[The Stigenator]

email them its your intellectual property right.

By the way did you put a water mark on them or some sort of copyright on teh print image?

You got to email them.. if they are going to sell it ask them for 25cents per sale... or they will have to give in and take those images off.

Remember have proof that you did it.. or they can always refute that.. and contact frenchie.. he can give you some legal stuff.

 

[kami]

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
email them its your intellectual property right.

By the way did you put a water mark on them or some sort of copyright on teh print image?

You got to email them.. if they are going to sell it ask them for 25cents per sale... or they will have to give in and take those images off.

Remember have proof that you did it.. or they can always refute that.. and contact frenchie.. he can give you some legal stuff.

Well, I put a copyright notice on my site...not on the images because that would spoil them.

I don't really want the money like I said...it's not like they'll be selling hundreds of these covers or anything either!! Just some REAL credit would be nice :| Maybe at least an email link for chrissakes.

 

[RossMAN]

I would use this as opportunity to get some free exposure to your site. Create something like http://www.adamkoebel.com/lotr and track all the hits you're getting from dv-depot.com

Make sure they include a hyperlink with your name.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: apoppin
If you are not interested in compensation - first chastise them and then give your permission.

what he said Just let them know that it's not cool to try to get away with that stuff on the net.

 

[Stark]

Did you get permission from the owners of the images and LOTR franchise to make your covers?

If you're stealing someone's intellectual property and selling it online, you don't have much of a claim against someone who steals the same material from you and sells it themselves.

If you really want to get them, report them to the movie studio.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: kami

I don't really want the money like I said...it's not like they'll be selling hundreds of these covers or anything either!! Just some REAL credit would be nice :| Maybe at least an email link for chrissakes.

Email them - NOW! You are in the driver's seat since they 'stole' from you. You can negotiate any deal you want with "real" credit and links (and even a future stake in the sales if they take-off).

I imagine they will aquiesce since they already spent some money on the printing masters. At the very least it will be a "lesson" for them.

 

[The Stigenator]

this is a hard ball game. You should have had a watermark on it. a digital watermark that could have been tracked back to you.

First email them.. saying you would like credit for your work .. if not your going to sue for it.. (you dont have to really sue but it will be a good idea to give them the thought).. ask frenchie on how to go around that legal stand point.

True a copyright thing would have spoiled the image but that's the least you can do for an image that good. One thing I learnt in this industry is that copyright everything. You never know who will steal your work and call it theirs. The only way to get back at them is to really get them to acknowledge the fact that your the creator of an art form.

No matter if its a digital art form or a canvas art form the creator has to be given credit. They legally have to get your permission to put something on teh web to make profit and if they didnt ask for your permission then you have right to compensation based on the fact that they havent done so in the beginning.. which in case is set it at 25cents per image (or 19 cents per image 10%). Either way they have to give in.. either they pay you for those images or give you proper credit.. and remember they cant modify your art work and call it theirs..that's plagarism..

 

[kami]

Originally posted by: Stark
Did you get permission from the owners of the images and LOTR franchise to make your covers?

If you're stealing someone's intellectual property and selling it online, you don't have much of a claim against someone who steals the same material from you and sells it themselves.

If you really want to get them, report them to the movie studio.

I'm not selling anything...I made these for fun. I think they can get away with selling it because they are just selling the service (i.e. paper and ink)

 

[apoppin]

Did you get permission from the owners of the images and LOTR franchise to make your covers?

I don't think that is the 'issue" here. kami is not selling his images. The people who stole them are.

However, there is a valid point that you may get into trouble with the LOTR franchise IF you give permission for someone else to sell these images. Better check into it.

 

[Nemesis77]

Whoa! Those covers are AWESOME :Q!

You should mail them and tell that they should at least give you the credit for the covers!

EDIT: Their discussion regarding the covers.

 

[The Stigenator]

kami.. .if you use LOTR images for private use the IP should protect you.. however if your going to make profit out of it then they can sue you for IP. However if they didnt ask for your permission you can email LOTR saying they are using your work without any permission and trying to make profit out of your art work.

Mention that your art work was not for profit but for personal use.

But first email the company that is selling for your IP .. remember they arent allowed to sell an art work without your permission or without permission of LOTR.. (do mention that).

 

[Ornery]

With Permission Courtesy: [url]www.dvdcoverart.com / Adam Koebel[/url]

Beautiful work!

 

[Nemesis77]

Originally posted by: Ornery
With Permission Courtesy: [url]www.dvdcoverart.com / Adam Koebel[/url]

But obviously his permission was not asked!

 

[Nemesis77]

I could post a message in their messageboard about this in about 10 seconds. What do you say?

 

[kami]

Nemesis, don't bother. I don't want to stir up anything. I just emailed them this:

Hi,

I?m the guy who created those four Lord of the Rings covers you added to your print out service. Well, you credit my name but no one ever asked me if they could be put up there for sale. I?m not after money or anything, I?d just like you to link to my site where the covers are from:

http://www.adamkoebel.com/lotrcovers

I?m flattered you thought they were good enough to offer in your printout service, but I wish you had asked my permission via email. My email address is on the website as well as www.dvdcoverart.com if that is the place you got them from.

Thanks,


Adam Koebel

 

[bmacd]

your email sounds simple enough...i'm sure you'll get a letter of apology or something.

-=bmacd=-

 

[Nemesis77]

Originally posted by: kami
Nemesis, don't bother. I don't want to stir up anything.

Damn, I already had the message ready ! I think it would have been good for the other people there to also know the situation.

 

[Balt]

I'm not sure, but it's possible that by submitting your work to DVDcoverart.com you opened yourself up to this. The site may be able to claim as its property anything that is submitted.

I imagine there is some sort of TOS on that site that will let you know. It does seem like you are getting the shaft, though.

 

[Azraele]

Well written e-mail kami, keep us posted on further developments.

 

[kami]

Originally posted by: Balt
I'm not sure, but it's possible that by submitting your work to DVDcoverart.com you opened yourself up to this.

I imagine there is some sort of TOS on that site that will let you know. It does seem like you are getting the shaft, though.

That's what I thought at first, but nothing on dvdcoverart.com is mentioned. No TOS or anything I could find. dvdcoverart.com is just run by one guy in his spare time, it's nothing serious. He just provides a place to find all the custom covers.

 

[ultimatebob]

These covers are nice, but I wouldn't be suprised if someone from AOL-Time Warner threatened YOU with a lawsuit for posting them. Did you get permission from New Line Cinema to use their fonts and artwork in your images?

Anyway, they probably won't go after you, but they might go after the people who are trying to sell them without a prior licensing agreement. Sure, I'm not a lawyer, but it's food for thought.

 

[Nemesis77]

dvdcoverart has recently teamed up with DV-Depot to offer you printed covers

Found here

 

[kami]

These covers are nice, but I wouldn't be suprised if someone from AOL-Time Warner threatened YOU with a lawsuit for posting them. Did you get permission from New Line Cinema to use their fonts and artwork in your images?

Anyway, they probably won't go after you, but they might go after the people who are trying to sell them without a prior licensing. Sure, I'm not a lawyer, but it's food for thought.

Of course I didn't get permission to use their images and fonts. If everyone had to do this, there would be no fan sites on the internet! All I did was make files available for people to download, no profit made, no harm to new line! Besides, DV-Depot has been selling printouts for a while now...look at all the covers they sell. You'd think at least one studio would've slapped them with a lawsuit if they were a threat...