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Polyvore.com allows users to swipe copywritten material from anywhere on the web and import it onto the site and then create collages or "sets" from imported images. Polyvore supplies the graphics application which can be used to create derivative works and remove watermarks and copyright information from imported images.
More often than not these images are not credited back to the original creator and in nearly every instance images are swiped without the express permission of their creators.
Here, www.flickr.com/photos/8504507@… Pasha Sadri, owner of the Polyvore website, admits in a response to an artist whose original artwork was stolen and manipulated using Polyvore's graphics application to make illegal derivatives, "polyvore is meant to be a fashion website. people clip product images (from a site like gap.com) and use the images to create fashion layouts. that is why we have the clipping tool. we potentially earn money if someone goes from polyvore to gap to buy that product (eg: gap pays us a commision). we do not directly sell anything, like your images."
This means this service is a partnership with large retailers. This also means there is absolutely no reason why Polyvore should include an ability to clip any and every image from across the net if it is merely a "fashion website".
Polyvore has not actively educated its users on copyright and has not taken any initiative to aid in the protection of intellectual property, rather it has created an atmosphere that not only condones but encourages intellectual property theft. Coupled with the fact that the owner of the website has made his intentions clear, that the website is to be a "fashion website" and nothing more, this gross misuse of intellectual property that is so clearly outside the scope of the website's intent must cease immediately.
Cease and desist letters have been sent by droves of artists whose images were stolen from blogs, personal websites, portfolios, and venues through which work is sold and although images are taken down initially, many of the same images reappear on the site later on. A cease and desist does *not* expire and should not need to be sent more than once.
Images are taken from direct sources in an overwhelming majority of instances where the owner of the original work is easily accessible to reach regarding use of their work on the website. Users do not do this and simply import these images as they are found. Polyvore's system makes this a one click action aiding in the swift theft of intellectual property which is a direct violation of United States Copyright Laws.
Because this problem has persisted for the last year without a solution that satisfies both sides set in place as well as Pasha Sadri's apathy and subsequent income while artists original work become "casualties" of Polyvore's service and ultimate goal, we artists feel we have no other choice than to publicly call for the Polyvore website to be shut down or the removal of all images not owned by companies Polyvore.com is directly affiliated with either through written permission from individual artists or prior and future commitments with retailers.
With the Orphan Bills Act in Congress currently we as artists need to be diligent in enforcing our copyrights now more than ever.
If you would like more information regarding this ongoing issue, please visit the following links to see individual artists take on the matter -
etsynews.com/607/is-polyvore-s…
www.redbubble.com/people/croku… right-theft-at-polyvore-com
www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php…
www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php…
And most recently....
www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php…
We artists need to protect out intellectual property and will not stand idly by while our work is so clearly infringed upon. Thank you for your support.
****
Yes, there is a petition making the rounds. Regardless of your feelings on online petitions and their effectiveness or lack thereof, it's a single place to come together and have one's voice heard, should you find yourself against Polyvore's current practices. www.gopetition.com/petitions/c…
More often than not these images are not credited back to the original creator and in nearly every instance images are swiped without the express permission of their creators.
Here, www.flickr.com/photos/8504507@… Pasha Sadri, owner of the Polyvore website, admits in a response to an artist whose original artwork was stolen and manipulated using Polyvore's graphics application to make illegal derivatives, "polyvore is meant to be a fashion website. people clip product images (from a site like gap.com) and use the images to create fashion layouts. that is why we have the clipping tool. we potentially earn money if someone goes from polyvore to gap to buy that product (eg: gap pays us a commision). we do not directly sell anything, like your images."
This means this service is a partnership with large retailers. This also means there is absolutely no reason why Polyvore should include an ability to clip any and every image from across the net if it is merely a "fashion website".
Polyvore has not actively educated its users on copyright and has not taken any initiative to aid in the protection of intellectual property, rather it has created an atmosphere that not only condones but encourages intellectual property theft. Coupled with the fact that the owner of the website has made his intentions clear, that the website is to be a "fashion website" and nothing more, this gross misuse of intellectual property that is so clearly outside the scope of the website's intent must cease immediately.
Cease and desist letters have been sent by droves of artists whose images were stolen from blogs, personal websites, portfolios, and venues through which work is sold and although images are taken down initially, many of the same images reappear on the site later on. A cease and desist does *not* expire and should not need to be sent more than once.
Images are taken from direct sources in an overwhelming majority of instances where the owner of the original work is easily accessible to reach regarding use of their work on the website. Users do not do this and simply import these images as they are found. Polyvore's system makes this a one click action aiding in the swift theft of intellectual property which is a direct violation of United States Copyright Laws.
Because this problem has persisted for the last year without a solution that satisfies both sides set in place as well as Pasha Sadri's apathy and subsequent income while artists original work become "casualties" of Polyvore's service and ultimate goal, we artists feel we have no other choice than to publicly call for the Polyvore website to be shut down or the removal of all images not owned by companies Polyvore.com is directly affiliated with either through written permission from individual artists or prior and future commitments with retailers.
With the Orphan Bills Act in Congress currently we as artists need to be diligent in enforcing our copyrights now more than ever.
If you would like more information regarding this ongoing issue, please visit the following links to see individual artists take on the matter -
etsynews.com/607/is-polyvore-s…
www.redbubble.com/people/croku… right-theft-at-polyvore-com
www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php…
www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php…
And most recently....
www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php…
We artists need to protect out intellectual property and will not stand idly by while our work is so clearly infringed upon. Thank you for your support.
****
Yes, there is a petition making the rounds. Regardless of your feelings on online petitions and their effectiveness or lack thereof, it's a single place to come together and have one's voice heard, should you find yourself against Polyvore's current practices. www.gopetition.com/petitions/c…
Please Digg the Polyvore issue
Regarding my last journal and Polyvore.com's image theft - http://sagittariusgallery.deviantart.com/journal/22460043/
My husband put it on Digg - pass it around, we could get this on the front page -
http://digg.com/arts_culture/Is_Polyvore_com_stealing_your_images
More people need to be aware of this. This is especially important for artists and the protection of our intellectual property.
Thanks a lot for your support. We hope Polyvore gets the message and changes their practices!
Shut down Polyvore.com for copyright infringement
Guys, this is a petition I put up today in response to my work being illegally pulled from my Etsy.com website after a cease and desist letter was written a year ago and initial images were removed. I wrote up this petition after this thread in the Etsy forums ( http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5982886&page=1 ) alerted me that the problem had not been resolved and Polyvore was being apathetic to the legal rights of copyright holders of images being butchered on their website.
Please take a look. This applies to every artist whether you've been ripped or not. If your images are online, you are in danger. With the Orphan Works B
mARTyr
Lofty censorship of personal opinion and individual contemplation of spiritual, religious, and political beliefs...at the end of the day all that is censored in such a manner is censored based upon more individual opinions and personal beliefs. What it must be like to be "right" eternally...such a heavy burden to prove others wrong because your opinion is the only one that counts.
Subjectivity breeds irony.
Smear some shit on an international icon, crown her with female genitalia and watch the masses label you a modern day heretic. Burn him at the stake that free-thinking heathen, or better yet toss him in the Hudson River with weights tied
Outsider Art - The Great Misunderstanding
The debate on outsider art and the terms usage in auctions and the art world in general is about as interesting as two cars crossing the double yellow lines and careening into one another head on. No lie, I've seen that sort of mess and it's pretty damn ugly for a few minutes and then somebody realizes how stupid they were and sits in the middle of the road with their head in their hands shaking of shock and embrassement, hoping no one noticed their folly.
People get so offended when the term outsider is used - they think of themselves as "true" outsiders and people who have any sort of education pertaining to art certainly can't be "outside
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Comments64
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Oh for crying out load, just stop them from clipping images from your site. It's really quite simple.