Protecting your work online isn’t about paranoia — it’s about safeguarding your rights, income, and identity as an artist in a world where digital copying is easy and widespread.
1. PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED USE (ART THEFT)
Once your work is online, it’s easily accessible — and just as easily copied. People can use it without permission in ads, merchandise, or social media, sell prints or NFTs of your art. Even claim your work as their own.
2. MAINTAIN CREDIT AND REPUTATION
If your work circulates online without proper attribution, it can undermine your personal brand and make it harder for future clients to find you. It will also allow others to benefit from your hard-earned reputation.
3. PROTECT YOUR INCOME
Many artists earn through commissions, prints, licensing, and brand deals. If someone else profits off your work, you lose that potential revenue. And if it's not watermarked or registered, you may struggle to prove original authorship.
4. PRESERVE CREATIVE CONTROL
Artists often have a vision for how their work should be displayed or interpreted. Unauthorized edits or usage can misrepresent your intent, damage your reputation or corrupt your message. It could also associate you with brands, political parties, causes, or people you wouldn't support.
5. ESTABLISH LEGAL OWNERSHIP
If you ever need to take legal action (e.g., DMCA takedown, copyright lawsuit), having your work protected and properly documented is essential it is proven authorship that helps in legal disputes. It can serve as evidence if your work is stolen or plagiarized.