I’ve been going through a slight creative block. Not because I don’t have anything to create but I’m fighting with the fact that in 2025, things are getting more blasphemous when it comes to stealing and copying other people’s work.
I literally found out that one of my favorite font designers Jen Wagner has her work copied and even posted for sell on Creative Market. Then a few months ago, Shein (again) took designs from Actively Black.
From names, images, fonts, artwork, designs, we’re fighting to keep things custom and original now.
Copying isn’t flattery or even a freaking compliment. It’s disrespectful.
Growing up and until now, I’ve always been threatened by others that they will literally print out and sell my artwork and prints. Lucky for me, I have all my work and likeness trademarked and copyrighted.
It is super disheartening and frustrating when I see a lot of my artist friends, smaller businesses, and designers have their work copied and stolen and this has nothing to do with AI (that a whole different discussion)
This is the reason I don’t post on Pinterest, that I’m not a creator to sell digital assets on the Creative Market, and that I don’t post all my creations because it might be stolen from me. A lot come from the “freedom to create creative assets” sites – (that’s what I call them).
You can’t create something meaningful and still try to make a profit or even just make an impact but copying someone’s work. Period. Yeah, you may get the likes, the views, the follows but it will fade just as fast you received them.
For us artists, creatives and designers, this is our passion and dream and love what we do. The real path is so much slower (with a whole lot of struggle and hustle).
How you feel about this? Let me know your thoughts.
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