So people copy my pieces very frequently and use them as backdrops for MySpace and Facebook, and sometimes they contact me and sometimes they don't. I am very flattered by this and have no problems with it at all. I have even been asked, on numerous occasions, if using my design for a tatoo was cool, and again I was very, very flattered and now these people are walking around with my art in their skin. This is all cool by me.
However, I've recently been contacted about an online clothing company that was selling my Jimi Hendrix design on a hoodie.
I have never given anyone permission to do this, so I emailed them and asked who gave them permission. After proving to them that I was indeed the creator of the piece, they stated a customer wanted a custom hoodie and sent them the file and they printed it, and they were given permission by this person to resell it.
I asked them to remove the item from thier catalog, and they said okay. But they didn't. What they did do was list the item as 'Out of Stock'. Well what is to prevent them from selling it to people who email them and ask to be notified of the item when it again becomes available?
What is a person suppose to do? Getting a lawyer and sueing is hugely expensive. But an artist should have some rights and somehow be able to protect his work.
I just don't understand how people can have no respect for the work that other people do.