What to do if your artwork Is stolen
Art piracy is something many creators hope they'll never have to experience. Yet for independent artists, it has become an unfortunate reality of sharing work online.
When Bea from @coolectingclub discovered that one of her very first illustrations was being sold across multiple platforms without her permission, it was more than a copyright issue — it was a deeply personal blow.
For a moment, it made her question whether she wanted to keep creating at all. But instead of giving up, Bea decided to fight back.
Over the following months, she documented every step, learned how different marketplaces handle copyright claims, discovered what evidence to collect, and developed practical strategies for protecting her work. Along the way, she realized that many other artists were facing the same battle, often without knowing where to begin.
Here are the lessons she wishes she'd known from the start.
1. Reverse Image Search Regularly
Reverse Google Search some of your most popular pieces every now and then.
If it pulls up existing listings using your art, investigate them.
It's how Bea finds most of hers.
2. Document Everything
Screenshot everything.
Create one dedicated folder and keep it organized.
Save the URLs too, and screen record the listing if you can. Links get edited or taken down fast, and you want proof before that happens.
3. Know Your Rights
Your copyright exists the moment you create something. No registration is needed for copyright to exist.
The DMCA — the Digital Millennium Copyright Act — also provides a process for sending formal takedown notices to platforms in applicable cases.
Knowing your rights before you discover an infringement makes it much easier to know what to do next.
4. Consider Registering Important Work
Registration isn't required for copyright protection, but if you have a piece that went viral or sells particularly well, Bea recommends considering registration with the US Copyright Office.
Registration can make it easier to demonstrate ownership and pursue infringement claims later.
5. Use the Platform's IP Reporting Forms
Large platforms and e-commerce sites generally have their own intellectual property or copyright infringement reporting forms.
Use those rather than a generic customer-service contact form.
After submitting a report, save copies of confirmation emails and any reference numbers you receive.
If the listing doesn't come down, you'll need that paper trail to follow up or escalate the complaint.
6. Taking It Further
If a takedown doesn't work and you want to pursue the issue further, legal action may be an option — although that isn't always realistic on a small artist's budget.
There are also organizations that offer pro bono or free legal assistance to artists, including:
- Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
- Lawyers for the Creative Arts
- The US Copyright Office's Pro Bono Assistance Directory
7. Don't Give Up on Your Art
If this happens to you, be mad. Be sad. Be angry.
But don't give up on your art because of it.
Keep creating.
And most importantly, fight for it.
Bea is still fighting her own battles — and she won't stop.