Anyone seen these TIN SIGNS? My artwork traced & mass-marketed.Copyright Infringement

[Hamish-TSG]

Hi all.....first post here...some of you may be familiar with me from my illustrated car t-shirts on eBay - although that's in stasis pretty much due to the following very understated series of events:

Basic gist of this post is that I've been having a "bit of an issue" with an AU company who have commissioned a very well established US "artist" to trace my work & sell it as tin signs & clocks.
All my work available on web is clearly marked with copyright protection.
They're getting manufactured by a large US company with licensing deals with some of the biggest names in the motoring industry.
After a bit of to-&-fro, AU company finally offered a pittance as royalties. I wasn't impressed.
I contacted Big US company to ask them to cease production due to copyright infringement of my work.
Big US Co ignored me & continue to manufacture/export the signs & clocks (12 months on!).
As a result of contacting Big US Company & "the artist", AU Company pretty much tell me FU to any deal & continue to sell.
I then put in an objection notice into Australian Customs & Border Control.
Custom seizure occurs, proving flagrant & willing copyright infringement of goods already conceded to have been based on my work.
AU Company's aggression level rises.


Well...needless to say, I'm somewhat miffed. Each of my illustrations take a crapload of time to complete.

I have researched & know who the the online suppliers are. After contacting one of them I was "seriously warned off" by AU Company.
AU Company now tell me they'll force me to pay 20-30K in a copyright dispute case if I want to prove ownership over my own work.

Take a look at the pics below & judge for yourself.

What I'm hoping is that forum users may recognise the signs/clocks & please let me know any of the following info:
Whether you've bought any of the signs or clocks?
Whether you know where they may be being sold?
(probably best sent via a PM as I don't want to affect any business' reputation via this post, particularly as most will be completely unaware of the scenario)

Cheers, Hamish

compiled_infringements2012-600px.jpg
colour-variation-examples-600px.jpg
Sandman-detail-comparison-700px.jpg

[Gaddy]

Man that sucks arse!! It happens all over the world and over many products no doubt!
Not sure if you have had any legal advice, but someone like Slater n Gordon are big bangers and might be of help.
In the mean time I'll keep my eyes peeled for any out there that aren't yours!!
BTW, where can we view/buy yours??
Good luck mate!!

[Hamish-TSG]

Cheers...
Yeah...I've had several small players ripping me off in one way or another before. (in a pretty amateurish way)
Little did I expect to find professionally manufactured copies of my stuff on DealsDirect & all over the country & even in NZ.
The US company has a licensing deal with H*t R*d magazine in which they get $700K worth of advertising annually...amongst other things.
I'm apparently too small to warrant credit or responses to emails....well....I matter enough for them get their AU distributors to up the aggro & bullying factor....I didn't mention that the AU crew appear to be 'fringe motorcycle enthusiasts'....joy factor x100

Thanks for the Slaters tip....in unfinalised chats with other lawyers.....but it'll cost a fortune...... Slaters weren't interested 12 months ago but might be worth another try....

...& availability my tees? ....Thanks for asking!
At the moment my production equipment isn't set up..but I do have a few limited colour options on http://www.redbubble.com/people/tshirtgarage/portfolio
The Redbubble tees have the image printed directly onto the garment (as opposed to transfers which is what I usually sell on eBay).
There's only a few colour options up on redbubble.....but if someone really wants a customised colour scheme, let me know & I'll upload one.
The Sandman illustration can be changed from white to black & any colour inbetween....likewise the stripes/logo....
Here's an example of the Supermint Green HZ from Redbubble:
redbubble_supermint_sandman_tee_IMG_8584.jpg
Redbubble uses American Apparel tees in various numerous choices.

...& while I'm at it, heres a detail of my HT illustration & its cheap copy:
HT-Monaro-Infringement-Detail-2a.jpg

[hainzy]

Mate thats horrible. In the world of art, as in the world of fashion, its very hard to prove copyright, intellectual or otherwise, but you should have enough to work with there as they are blatant and obvious rip offs! It really sucks that you do all the hard work and someone else profits big time from your work. But any law firm will be able to see that. Its just that it would be a shitfight of a case. I hope someone helps you out though. Good luck, and by the way your sandman tshirts look great. Im gunna order one!

[Hamish-TSG]

Good luck, and by the way your sandman tshirts look great. Im gunna order one!

Thanks very much!
That makes for some feelgood emotions after a pretty stressful 12 months!
It's also a bloody good feeling getting the info out there after holding it in for so long....
I told AU Company in October last year that I would go public if it wasn't sorted....
Their response was along the lines of "Yeah?..& we'll go you as hard as we f***en' can" & "We'll f***en' do you"
So...I'm setting myself up for a response of sorts.

[thatotherguy]

i have a tin sign with the blue monaro on it ,bought it from the national holden museum in echuca .

[RodneyHZ253]

I purchased this watch of the Internet

[Hamish-TSG]

Not sure if you have had any legal advice, but someone like Slater n Gordon are big bangers and might be of help.

Cheers Gaddy - I tried them last year & at that point they weren't interested.
You inspired me to give them another call today & it seems 12 months on, it's much more compelling to them.
Discussed the situation with them & they're going to call me back with an appointment time to chat to one of their lawyers.
It'll cost, but it's just within my realms of affordability...Thanks very much for the push back in that direction!
I finally feel like I'm gaining some ground

i have a tin sign with the blue monaro on it ,bought it from the national holden museum in echuca .

Thanks heaps - That's one reseller I was completely unaware of.
(Please remember that they'll also be completely unaware of the copyright crapfight that their wholesaler is engaging in - I really don't want any negative flak falling back onto innocent parties)

I purchased this watch of the Internet

Thanks Rodney - but I can categorically state that that is someone else's work...so I've no issue with that at all.

[playwme]

Is the red bubble website your own online shop or is that a reseller? (ie, is there a way to buy the t-shirts off you where you get all the cash). Fathers day is rapidly approaching and I for one have already made some non-too-subtle hints about the red HZ t-shirt ( as well as a matching one for my 2 year old girl).

[Alien DNA]

Sorry to hear Hamish......your work really is great!!! I too must get a shirt where all the proceeds go to you!! Let us know how we can order one

I'm not sure how its measured in terms of infringement, but does the original artwork have to be altered to a certain percentage? I'm sure i heard for pics on google if you use them, they have to be altered 15% from the original to be legal in terms of reproduction...even if its blatantly obvious its being ripped off.

Best of luck and hope you kick their butts!!