Ways Creators Are Having Their Art Stolen Online: Part 1/6
- Marc Morgenstern
- Dec 18, 2025
- 3 min read
Unauthorized Resale & Print Copying
As an Artist, you struggle with the knowledge that every click, share, and repost can become a gateway for theft.
From AI scraping to print resale, this six part series will be covering the most common ways creatives are losing control of their art, what they can do to protect themselves, and why protections can’t wait.
While trying to find their Customers, Artists are finding they have lost the rights to their own creations. During the series we’ll be talking to Artists, looking at case studies, and sharing ways that Artists can protect themselves – and how buyers can help support the Creatives in our communities.
The Hidden Epidemic of Digital Theft
Every minute of every day, Artists are posting new content online; and someone, somewhere is downloading, reposting or even replicating that art without the Artist’s permission. Some netizens don’t even realizing they are breaking copyright law or stealing from the Artist. Worse yet are those that know they are stealing, and they don’t care.From unauthorized resales to AI scraping, creators are watching their livelihoods erode one stolen file at a time. Here’s how it’s happening and why awareness is only the first step toward protection.
Unauthorized Resale & Print Copying
Platforms like Temu, AliExpress, and Redbubble are rife with unauthorized reproductions. In one reported case, an Australian Artist found her $25 print sold for $4 on a discount marketplace — copied without permission.
Unauthorized Resale: The Hidden Cost of “Cheaper” Art
As a netizen who’s lived online for nearly half my life, I’ve always admired other people’s art -the dedication, the skill, and the generosity it takes to share creative work with the world. I’ve saved more videos of artists showcasing their process than anything else on my feed. I’ve been a loyal buyer on sites like Etsy, and I’ve purchased patterns and merchandise directly from designers’ own websites.
But I’ll be honest: there have also been times when I’ve admired a designer’s look and style, only to hesitate at the checkout - because of cost, shipping fees, or the expense of investing in something handmade. And yes, I’ve occasionally looked for “similar” designs on discount sites. I’ve even bought a few.
Did I pay for it in the long run? Absolutely.
Not only did those cheaper products fall apart almost immediately, but the guilt hit, too, because I knew deep down that the original artist’s work had been copied. Eventually, I went back and bought directly from the real designer, because quality and authenticity always outlast imitation.
Still, it was the case study below that truly opened my eyes to the scale of this problem, an epidemic of stolen designs being mass-produced and sold on discount platforms. I recognized the artwork instantly. It was adorable. But I’d never heard of the artist behind it, because their name had been stripped away.
When this story broke on a national news broadcast, I finally saw the truth: creative theft isn’t just something that happens to “someone else.”
It’s happening all around us.
Every “cheap copy” comes at a real cost to the creators who make the world more beautiful.
Case Study:Shop Owner & Artist Mia Foster noticed her signature “lavender whale” design appearing on tote bags and mugs shipped from overseas. None were hers. After six months of legal letters and takedown notices, she managed to have 30 listings removed — but dozens more popped up weeks later.
“Every takedown feels like playing whack-a-mole with my own work.”
The Artist Armor Approach
Artist Armor is building proactive protection into the creative process.We’re developing tools to:
Verify authorship and timestamp creation
Track art across the web (coming soon!)
Offer licensing choices that fit how you want your work shared
Educate creators about their digital rights
Because Artists deserve armor — not after the battle, but before it even begins.
Protect your art. Claim your proof. Own your power.
Suggested Reading Links
Want more tips and tricks?
Buy on Amazon: “The Beginner’s Guide to Protection York Art Online” by Marc Morgenstern https://tinyurl.com/ProtectYourArtOnline
If you’ve seen your work reposted, resold, or imitated — you’re not alone.Artist Armor exists to stop creative theft before it happens.
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