Found a sight with lots of stolen pictures - please take a look

As I was doing my search to see who was going to steal my veribage this time I found this site - not only stealing my wording but other peoples pictures - please take a look

http://www.dazzlingfaces.org/default.html

The tiger on the upper left on the home page is from here:
http://makemestudio.blogspot.com/2008/10/face-painting.html

I sent the owner a cease and desist email from the website - they don't display any email address but they do display their phone number - will have to call if I do not get a reply within 24 - 48 hours. I can't do anything about the photos - the artists have to do that.

In their slide show, they have the Hello Kitty pic that Bkrvail uses for her avatar here.

I'm also pretty sure I recognized Clash/Anna in one of the slides.

She has "borrowed" photos in her facebook album too!


https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.111534195597926.24722.100002240389630


Ironically she quotes scripture at the bottom of the page on her web site. One would thing she know right from wrong... Not the best way to start a business by stealing other's images...

Oh I recognize that unicorn pic... it belongs to Wendy from Eyesparkle (I was just looking for unicorn ideas the other night so I compiled a folder of different ones - I save them with the artist's name so I know who did what).

Perhaps she doesn't realize that you can't just go on the internet and use photos. I guess after she receives the cease and desist email we will see. Not everyone MEANS someone harm by their bad judgement. Can't we wait and see what she does before we hang her up by her toes!

I beg to differ here -- I have on my website a statement that any all verbiage as well as phots are protected by copyright and they can not be used. She knew what she was doing! I bet her excuse will be "Oh I had a teenager make my website so I did not know" - What to know how many times I have heard this - TONS. We do not live in a cotton candy world -
UGH people will use people!

I do not know if you are aware but on of our own forum members has stolen verbiage from my website as well. See why I am tire of this- facefantasy!

Take a look at: http://www.facefantasyfacepainting.com/default.html

UGH I AM SO UPSET RIGHT NOW

KathyO....here we go again.......until just the other day, I did not know who you were, nor did I know what your face painting business name was. Until the other day, I had not even visited your site. Only after the big fuss over the logo competition did I even know you exsisted!! When I created my website, I did not copy your verbage, nor anyone elses. I do see that some of the words are the same, and the idea is the same, I find that a bit eery, but I do not appreciate your accusation that they came from you. Believe it or not, I do not need your help in promoting my business nor do I need your help with verbage. Seriously, we all use similar words and phrases......its not like you have the market on the English language.

Take the verbiage off. My website has been up for years - I have been find lots of people taking my verbiage and using it on their site

OMG face fantasy used my 'verbiage' as well!!!!!

I am pretty sure that I had the information about removing face paint with soap and water before you...

Find some text elsewhere; copy it; make a few changes, deletions or additions; and then upload it to a website. This is copyright infringement, a violation of the copyright owner's exclusive legal rights under 17 U.S.C. § 106 to make (or to authorize) derivative works.

OMG - I have been using this phrase for many many years. I have seen lots of people use my wording time and time again - She saw it somewhere - maybe not on my site but someone else's that had lifted it from my website - I am not stupid!

Since my website has been publish well before hers - I am asking that she remove the verbiage NOW.

My website was been published in 2005 - I am asking that the verbiage be removed.

Just received and email from dazzling faces and they are going to remove the verbiage. I am not sure about the pictures

I love the distict contrast between the designs she has chosen. Some are clearly very professional looking and others are well -??? Sorry everyone seems to be picking on you Kathy, hope you get it sorted!
pirate face for the "pirating" that goes on!

LOL Suzy, at first I was like......WHAT???? LOL

As for Kathy...."She saw it somewhere - maybe not on my site but someone else's that had lifted it from my website - I am not stupid!" And maybe I read it in a face painting book, saw the words on a product, heard it from someone in the business, Face painting IS MAGICAL, and when you paint a child into a character, they become that character.......thus....it is a "facefantasy". I mean seriously Kathy, the English language has been around for YEARS before your site.

In order to avoid further issues with you, I will agree to modify the wording some what. I would never purposely use anyone's verbage or graphics. I am doing this because, I choose to do it out of respect for the industry we are in, certainly not out of any obligation to you. You have demonstrated NO REASON to respect you by your continued mean spirted accusations. And if you want to know the truth, I did some research on the matter, 1st you have no copyright sign, or date of first publication displayed on your site

Here is some verbage that you might want to actually copy and take to heart, You seem to be so angry all the time, and approach people with rude statements and accusations, why not try some kindness ...I do not mind a bit if you use this...."You get more flies with sugar than vinegar" I am certain that THOSE words are written somewhere on the internet, however I grew up hearing them all my life...so shoot me for using them!!!

If you have further issues with me, might I ask that you do approach me in a PM to spare the forum of all the drama?

Give me a break. You are the one that demeans when someone has an opposing view.
You do not need any statement as once the website is published it is protected by copyright

Excuse me but you are not the ONLY one who is in this business, nor are you the only one who knows anything about copyright laws etc. Common phrases and words are not copyrighted.....meaning "let the magic begin" those words have been around for YEARS before you wrote them on a website, . And with Facepainting we ALL transform faces into ferocius tigers, enchanting faires, and whatnot. AND the phrase.....the possibilities ar endless....of course they are.....again not an orginal phrase that can be dubbed as yours alone I Have heard that one MANY TIMES. There are laws that cover "fair use" . I am so tired of you and your threats. Now you are threatening to have my site removed???? You need to back off.....I don't know what your beef is but I am giving you fair warning you are on the verge of harrassment charges. Wonder how that would look on your resume????

Wow. I am sorry for all concerned to see this happening here. I am wondering (with absolutely no disrespect intended) why there is such a percieved threat on the verbiage though. It's not like PA and KY are in direct and financial competition for work? The verbiage is similar on sites all the way around the world. The choices for verbiage are limited to what we all do. It's the nature of the business being presented.

I do, however, appreciate the heads up about the theft of pictures yet again. It is really obvious to those of us who paint that these are not done by the same artist and are familiar images.

Kathy Oros - you are a well-known FABAIC instructor.

I (being only a one-year old "newbie" in the industry) look up to anyone who is an *instructor* of our art. I would hope that in addition to a love of the art, that our instructors also would teach us patience, kindness, camaraderie, and ethics. I am wondering if your approach over the past week is truly the best example in terms of what you have to offer as an instructor.

In my Guild By-Laws I have spelled out that there are two important aspects of face painting (in our guild, at least) - there is the ART *itself* and also our BEHAVIOUR, and that the two are *equally* important. The latter involves so very, very much: professionalism, attitude, friendly competition, public service... and so on. I SO want to spread the word that this two-fold approach will work wonders for your face painting business - it has for mine.

Lastly, although I believe in God, I use the word "karma" a lot. I believe in good karma. I try to spread it. And by golly, it totally WORKS. I also assume the opposite happens. So I try very, very, very hard to *behave* well (lots of slip-ups, LOL, but I dust myself off and redouble my efforts!). I wish to point out that your behavior has seemed a little unusual recently - I give you the benefit of the doubt that is *not* your normal approach to fellow face painters and the industry. It would break my heart if it was - I *need* to know that my instructors are the ones I truly can look up too! (By the way, I totally agree with your very first post above - no argument there!)

I hope that we can all find some peace. Also, I would welcome if you wish to get to know me on a *personal* level - we might even find that we have a lot in common! In fact, I know we do...

Regards,
Barbie

Well said Barbie....I too am very new to the business, although I joined the forum last June, I did not start with actual parties and gigs until last September. I have learned so very much here on the forum, and have tried very hard not to step on anyone's toes. We all start fresh, and dumb, and if I have offended anyone by words I have posted on my site or on this forum, that really was not the intention, and I apologize. I also apologize for my part in all the drama of the past week or so. I am a person who chooses to look at the good in everyone, and gives people the benefit of the doubt always. But if someone comes at me I am not afraid to stand my ground and say what I think, nor will I allow someone to be unfair to people I care about. But as I think of the events of this past week, I realize that I have no idea what goes on in other people's lives, so I am also going to give Kathy the benefit of the doubt as well. Maybe something more important than a few similar words on a website is contributing to her recent behavior. I do not wish to cause anyone additonal stress by my actions, I would like to be able to come to some kind of peaceful solution and resolve all of this discord and move forward.

Sincerely, Debi

KathyO wrote:Find some text elsewhere; copy it; make a few changes, deletions or additions; and then upload it to a website. This is copyright infringement, a violation of the copyright owner's exclusive legal rights under 17 U.S.C. § 106 to make (or to authorize) derivative works.

Actually, it's not. Copyright is different than ownership and possessive use rights. I took copyright law as part of my business law class rotation. If only 10% of something has been changed, then it is not copyright infringement. That means a simple change to one of every ten words. If you add, delete or alter...then it is not infringement.

Things like instructions for use, removal, common knowledge within an industry and even small promotional phrasing can not hold a copyright.

Because it's on the internet does not mean it holds a copyright. Because we say it has one, does not mean it does. You have to actually file the phrasing and pay to have it hold a copyright. If you hold a copyright that means you've paid the US Copyright Office (or your country of origin) to register your works in order to have them protected by law.

Simply said, creation does not equal copyright and while the theft of images is wrong, unless you've paid for the true copyright, it's nearly impossible to prove ownership.

Oh, and the "poor man's copyright", mailing things to yourself and not opening them, does not hold up in a court of law.

It's been said time and time again, if you don't want your images used, watermark them. It's truly the only way to protect them from being yanked.