Ever discover a website or magazine has reproduced one of your images without your permission?

Websites and magazines frequently infringe upon photographers rights and too often they get away with it. For most pro and semi-pro photographers and illustrators finding all of the unlicensed reproductions of your images in print and online is a daunting task – not to mention an unpleasant one. Modern web based search tools are making it much easier to search the millions of images online and in print in an instant, enabling you to catch infringers red handed.

ONLINE: TinEye.com is a reverse image search. In other words, it does for images what Google does for text. Now photographers, illustrators, and fine artists of all kinds can search through over a billion images in an instant. Below is a video explaining more.

IN PRINT: Other valuable search tools for photography agencies is PixID. This automated image monitoring service uses advanced image identification algorithms to identify where your images are being used in print publications. Using such a service enables photography agencies to discover unauthorized reproductions of their images.

WHAT NOW?
If you find an unlicensed reproduction of your work take a screen capture and save it in a safe place – this could prove to be critical evidence should you decide to enforce your rights. Contact an attorney with experience in intellectual property right away to discuss your options. I can be reached at ian@ianhgibson.com and may be able to help.

I have mixed feelings about a brutal piece recently written by Mat Gleason for the HuffPo entitled Ten Most Overrated Los Angeles Art World Stars.  What bothered me most was that Gleason took his critical tongue beyond the art and directs his attacks on a personal level.  Being overrated (or underrated, for that matter) is not within the control of the artist.  Their level of success and presence in the public space is often shaped by the words of critics like Gleason.

Ultimately, though, I am pleased to see that the art at issue is causing a conversation – albeit a scathing one-sided bashing.  To me, creating a thought provoking debate is as great of a success as any artist could hope for.  That being said, I would much rather see an article covering the 10 Most Underrated Artists in Los Angeles.

What Motivates Us?

A captivating animation of Dan Pink’s discussion of motivation in which he explains why money alone is not a sufficient motivator for more cerebral. as opposed to manual, tasks.  While Pink fails to include artists in his discussion – relying instead upon highly skilled/educated programmers and the like - I believe artists clearly fall into this category.  This explains why so many creatives remain true to their art even in the face of financial ruin.  Therefore, money alone is insufficient to drive an artist for any extended period of time; a greater purpose of some sort must exist to truly motivate a creative.

What’s your motivator?

Too often creative-minded people focus 100% of their attention on their craft and forget to safeguard themselves from crippling legal and business issues that prevent financial success. IanHGibson.com is designed to provide artists of all mediums (canvas, music, film, stage, word, etc.) with critical legal knowledge and business concepts to further their creative careers by protecting both their work and themselves from potential legal pitfalls and business failures.

In order to provide you – the creative – with relevant content, I am going to need your help. Ideally, each post will serve as a prompt for conversation. If I discuss an issue in a way that’s helpful to you, please let me know. If you would like more information or clarification, leave a comment. In addition, please contact me at any time with questions, suggestions, or ideas as to what topics would be most helpful and interesting.

I am sincerely looking forward to building a community around this site and making an significant impact in the lives of artists. Thank you in advance for your participation, attention, and interest in serving the creative class with me.

All good things,

Ian