Canadian artist Kal Barteski explains how her art was taken from the net and used for commercial purposes without her permission.
Photo Credit: CBC

Art posted on the internet used without permission

An artist from western Canada is warning others to be careful when posting their work online, after hers was taken without permission and sold by a large U.S. retailer. Winnipeg’s Kal Barteski learned this week that one of her paintings had been reproduced on a handbag and was being sold at a J.C. Penney store in Florida.

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This is a picture of the handbag along with a sad face and arrows added by the artist. © CBC

Barteski tracked down the makers of the bag, a Montreal company called The Aldo Group. They offered a payout and a chance to collaborate on future projects.

People often assume that if a work is on the internet they can use it, but that’s not true, notes Winnipeg lawyer Silvia de Sousa. She recommends artists add a terms of service clause on their websites regarding their copyright.

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