Just a word about copyright.

Since it's so easy to copy things from the web, an awful lot of people are doing it. Folks have used my work for everything from stuff on their websites to artwork used for a plaque to sell on Ebay, without ever seeking permission from me.

In fact, a fair number of those people don't even know that the work they are using is mine, because someone else took it for his site, and another person grabbed it from there for hers, and then somebody downloaded a bunch of things onto a disk to give to a friend, and so on and so on.

People, everything on the web was made by someone. And, in my experience, all of the artists who have their own site, even those who let people use their work freely, ask if the user will post a line crediting them, and usually a link back to their site too. Even people who sell disks of clip-art ask for a credit.

Which means that anything that is not credited to someone is probably stolen.

Please, please don't use stolen work. It hurts all of us, because if artists can't earn a living from the things they create they will be forced to work someplace else; and then there won't be any new art.

See, even most artists who are giving stuff away hope to make something to support themselves from it. I let you use my piece on your site, and you link back to me, and maybe someone will wander over who wants to buy a print. Or you credit my work, and maybe in a few years someone will be looking for an artist, and my name will sound familiar. That's how it works.

If you don't know who created something that you want to use, I suggest one of a couple of things. You can try searching on the graphic name on AltaVista. (I did this for Symbolism using GreatRite.JPEG, and found 12 hits, including my own site. Of those, 3 had my name and copyright information listed in the first line, so it showed up without looking any further. Thanks, all of you!)

You can also go to Digimarc, and download their free watermark reader, ReadMarc 1.5. Then see if the piece in question has a watermark embedded in it. (If you are an artist yourself, the basic watermark registration is not expensive. All of my stuff is now watermarked, and I suggest that you get one too!) If there is a watermark, ReadMarc will give you a link back to their site, where you can get the artist's name and contact information. Since the watermarks have to be renewed yearly, it's likely to be up to date.

If neither of these things work, then you can try searching for graphics about the same thing (for instance, search for "frog" to find pictures of frogs) and just hope that the piece you want will show up attached to the artist's name, or at least that something else appropriate will.

If none of this works, please don't use the piece! If you didn't create it, then it isn't yours.

I did create everything on this site, and I own all the copyrights, and have reserved all the rights. Please don't use anything here without my permission. If you want to use something, write to me and ask if you can. I almost always say yes, and I almost never charge any money if you are not expecting to make wads of money off the use. (If you are, please write to me anyway. I could use a small share of wads of money! <g>)

You may not know this, but the way the current copyright law is written (at least, as it's been explained to me) if you use an artist's work, and that artist finds out about it and takes no action it becomes public domain!

That's right. If the person you've ripped off doesn't prosecute, they could lose all rights to their own work themselves. Forever.

Which kind of forces our hands, huh?

Prosecuting is messy and expensive for everybody, and doesn't do anyone except the lawyers any good. So let's avoid the whole thing. If you want to use some of my work in something; as a wedding invitation, on your business card, or as part of a design you have made (to name just a few of the things I have been asked about, and given permission for; with no fee or a very small one) PLEASE ASK ME!

Thank you.