Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The Truth about Watermarking My Works

I never thought one day it would come to this but it did the past weekend.

I was informed by a soap group on FaceBook that one of my soap photos I published on my blog in July, 2011 had been digitally 'stolen'.  It had been watermarked with someone else business name and being used on Etsy to promote and sell her own products.

I had been resisting to recognize the need to watermark my works to protect my intellectual property.  Watermarking to me is compromising the integrity of my soap photos and very distracting in my opinion.  All I want is to provide a simple undisturbed little spot online where I can share my interest and passion without drama, without advertisement, just a good read with eye candies.  I had been acting like an ostrich hiding it's head in the sand thinking if I can't see it, must not happen to me.  But guess what, it finally found its way to kick me on my butt!

Look at this photo she took from my blog post Happy Birthday Honey:
 And she dare put her watermark on my photo?!

I was disturbed and shocked more than angry.  The funny thing is the photo she stole from me wasn't even the finish product, but a progress photo only.  My solution?  I wrote a brief Etsy message to the shop owner that it is my soap photo she stole.  Just because you download it from the web and put your watermark on it doesn't make it yours.  And if you don't take it down ASAP I will proceed to report you through the Etsy proper channel.  Oh yeah, no hi, no hello how are you, no my name is blah blah blah...  just simple and straight to the point.

I have no problem showing you how to make certain style of soap, but don't take my work, make your own!  Where is your artist dignity?!  Or do you have any?

Sure enough she replied in no time claiming that she MADE the soap and it's HER PHOTO and she's not backing down.  And further trying to explain to me that maybe our kitchens have very similar decorating style and materials, and also maybe we have very similar taste in photographing soap.  REALLY?!  That's the excuse you are giving me?!  Is that the best you can do?!  Oh she even tried to tell me how she made that soap cake (my soap cake) step by step.  Well, except her story does not hold up, not even matching the photo.  So I wrote her back and told her I still have the exact equipment I used to make the soap cakes and I have proof that I published my blog post last July.

Oh yeah, she took it down alright, together with the other cupcake soap photos she stole from some other soapers.  And her last struggle was writing me another 2 LONG messages about she was doing this for good measure because she had absolutely no idea why there's a mix up.  She said she makes bakery soap but she's old and not good with online social networking, and that her nephew was the one taking the photos and posting them on Etsy and FaceBook for her.  She also said she will get down to the bottom of this mess by talking to her nephew and MAKE THINGS RIGHT AGAIN.  I don't know what disturbed me more, the fact that she's such a great writer and smooth talker (she almost made me feel bad that I was accusing her for stealing my photo), or that on the last message she was using her religion to duck out!  (She told me she's a true Christian and she's not allowed to lie and cheat... etc.)

 
The conclusion is, from now on I have no choice but to put watermark on every single photo ever going public on the web!  And this watermark has to be right at a spot on the photo where it cannot be cropped out without damaging the focal point.  I will do my best to put it in a way that would make the least impact on the photo composition and integrity.  This means it will take more time for me to publish each post, I'm not liking it, I would rather spend time creating than protecting.  But you do what you have to do to make it work!
The question is, which one do you like?  Logo or name spelled out straight?

23 comments:

  1. Gosh, that's awful of her and what a spin she put on her story!

    Anyway, I'd go with the logo - not too distracting but it still serves its purpose!

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  2. Oh I know what it's like. You feel so disappointed and it seems if there is no respect at all. I had this 'problem' with some of my sculptures, it really hurts. Your logo is beautiful just as your soap.

    Marga

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  3. This is scary to know that someone out there is so dishonest that they'd go this far to steal something already done and mark it as their own, rather than do their own leg work and post their own photos. It's not that hard to do, but these sorts of people make it harder for we honest ones by forcing us to watermark our work retroactively and in future now. Some people!

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  4. I read the last half with my mouth wide open. I like the smoother logo that you added on FB. I think it goes perfectly with your designs. Good luck to you and much success

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  5. That lady is ridiculous! Obviously she knew you would be able to do something about it so she made sure to take it down, but then making it look like she was such a good person for doing that. You would most certainly know what pictures you have taken and I don't care how hard anyone tries you can never replicate a picture completely even when you are trying to. I think what disturbs me more is the fact that she was displaying other peoples' work and selling a product that she didn't have. So... what were those people getting from her?

    Anyways, so sorry that happened! I like the logo because you can still see the colors of the soap through it. I also feel like someone might be able to manipulate your name straight out a little easier in photo-shop if they are really hell bent on trying to take your work. Good luck!

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  6. Never let people from the internet get you down. Some people are just filled with hate and venom. She is upset that she got caught and the way you handled it was very appropriate. You did the right thing; don't let her bother you for one more second! She isn't worth your energy or attention. Also, she is hiding behind her religion. What she did was wrong, and deep down, she knows it!

    That being said, I like both watermarks. The soap photos still look amazing!

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  7. I like the logo look!

    My grandmama used to say that it takes all kinds of people to make a world but we don't have to like it. Good job standing up for your soap. Funny thing is, eventually everyone who steals gets caught! Either in this plane of existence or the next. Never underestimate the power of Karma!

    Now. I need to figure out how to do watermarks!

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  8. I like your name spelled out because later when I am wondering where I saw a certain soap, the name comes back to me as well as the picture of the soap. Your photos and soaps are scrumptious.

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  9. I like the logo, its not too distracting. On that note, I better start watermarking also.

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  10. Wow that is crazy. My favorite part is that she said maybe your kitchens have similar decorating styles. I like the logo as well. Your photos are still gorgeous.

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  11. I have downloaded some pictures of your soaps to my phone because I love their design and I love to look at them time to time,tempting myself to create such a perfection. Not by look,but by delicate style and grace.
    I'm proud enough to keep them where they are now- in my phone!
    I have no fb page,no blog,no any internet presentation,none of my soaps have been publicly published,and everyone whose soaps I like, can live in peace.

    Your logo looks perfect,so go ahead protect what is yours!

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    Replies
    1. Maja, I have no problem having people downloading my photos, I created my blog to share, and happy to inspire anyone who sees fit. But using my photo to make money is just out of line. So enjoy my photos as much as you want!

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  12. Hi Emily! I believe that all of the real soap lovers and are unfortunately, bound to deal with these kind of low lives at one point or another. I am sorry that it happen to you too. On the other hand, I am glad that there is a true friendship within the international soap community and that they were alarmed and acted quickly to inform everyone when seeing your photo misused in such a way.
    Having said all that, I must admit that I prefer the logo watermark. I believe that using a logo in every visual presentation of your product brings a cohesion to your business and a wider visibility. It's also graphically speaking, easier to memorize.

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  13. I really like the logo watermark the best and I think that's a huge bummer that someone was stealing your photos, but I'm glad you are getting it all figured out!

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  14. Hi there, i know exactly how you feel i also had my photos stolen by this awful liar, she sent me page after page of lies telling me the very same thing,she told me that she doesnt see the soap photos as her 15 yr old nephew does all that, and tried to fob the blame off onto him, she is the owner of that etsy shop and as such takes all responsibility, she said she thought the photos were hers, how could you not know your own soaps i was alerted by an anoynomus person that recognised my soaps now if stranger recognises knows my work imdeiately youd think a soap maker could tell they were not her own soaps...i was disgusted, i also saw there were others too, i have managed to contact another person she stole from an reported her.

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    1. She had only stolen one from me and it was only a progress photo so I'm not as mad. But I can totally feel you, she literally took so many of your photos! It's so disturbing that she wrote the same messages to each and everyone of us who she stole photos from. I'm just sad that we have to spend so much time to defend ourselves now where we can spend creating instead... I guess the bright side is it proves that you do make gorgeous soap cupcakes!

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  15. Dang, some people...

    I like the logo watermark the best. I'm sorry that this happened to you! I haven't watermarked my photos yet either, but I don't think they're pretty enough to steal anyway!

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  16. This is so sad and now I'm wondering if anyone has stolen my photos as their own as I don't watermark either. I don't have time to go back and watermark everything I've done but will try to do it in the future after reading this scary email. I can't believe this lady was arguing with you and glad you were able to get her to stop.

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  17. Thieves are everywhere but I agree, what would make me the most angry is the hiding behind her religion. Those people make me so angry!
    I like the LOGO best. It looks very classy.

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  18. Good grief! I'm appalled and freaked out all at the same time! I've never watermarked -guess I had better learn. Maybe you or Michelle could post a "how to"? I really have no clue how to do it...

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    Replies
    1. This is a good tutorial to do watermark using photoshop program (which is what I use to design and print all my labels and cards):
      http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/watermark-images-photoshop/

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  19. I think that it's laughable that all of a sudden she was able to blame her nephew for something she vehemently said was hers. A liar and a thief. Not someone I would ever want to do business with.

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