Idea

Kristi suggested Jan 12, '17

Image Protection (#1 Priority)

I'm bringing this back up. It is absolutely of the utmost importance that you address image security. The theft I am dealing with is on an unprecedented level. You are allowing thieves to get images far too easily from your product pages. I am reporting HUNDREDS of sites per week. It is a huge time waste, not to mention, it is damaging my BUSINESS (yes, business - I'm not a hobbyist - I have a TRADEMARKED brand name and the awful copies of my artwork that include my brand name in them are devastating to my future).

I am asking for IMMEDIATE response from Amazon on this. Add watermarks, reduce the images, change the way the shirts are displayed so that they aren't "flat" images. Do SOMETHING. I don't have a specific demand. I simply BEG you to implement changes that will make it more difficult (and LESS appealing) to thieves. There will always be thieves, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do something to DECREASE the amount of theft occurring. You asked for artists to come to you... to TRUST you with our livelihoods. You have a part of the bargain to live up to. YOU MUST PROTECT OUR WORK.

I for one will NEVER upload another image to your site unless you add image protection. This isn't an empty threat. It isn't done to punish you. It is because I have a business to protect and no amount of money being paid out to me is worth the NEVER-ENDING cycle of theft I'm having to deal with.

Please AMAZON - do something to help us out here.

10 |5000

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Digiholic commented Jan 13, '17

I would vote yes but i have NO votes left.

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newuser-4407aac7-42f2-42e7-b8cb-811a2faab505 commented Jan 13, '17

Amazons update to this is " No current update" LOL

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KJ commented Jan 13, '17

Out of votes, but would LOVE some help here from Amazon.

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CreativeDirector commented Jan 15, '17

I agree and have also sent an email to Amazon with the same concerns. Although I haven't gotten feedback yet, I am confident they will present some type of resolution soon.

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angelR commented Jan 15, '17

I'm writing a response to Kristi, come what may.

I wrote a post yesterday tittle We Should Not Forget The facts, because of this same attitude or stance taken by kristi. As a designer with over 15 years of experience & the fact that my shirt are all from scratch, I agreed with you that Amazon should enhance the images protection so it's not so easy for people to steal the artwork. Furthermore I think the process of taking down reported copy cat & copyright infringement should be more efficient an quicker.

But what I don't agreed is this I demand!! an This isn't an empty threat!!.

1. If selling on Merch is so devastating to your future, then simply you have the power to stop this devastation. Just pull all or delete all your designs, Boom detestation stop.

2. Don't upload anything, as a matter of fact take all your toys home an said Merch I won't play with you anymore, how you like that?

3.Why don't you offer to pay for the structuring of the system out your pocket,what ever it cost until you feel you can be 100% sure that your brand will be protect.

I get the feeling you won't be offering Amazon a penny out your own pocket to fix anything. Because you got the right to demand because you are not a hobbyist and you have a trademark. Remember you requested an invitation to sell in Merch, just got head an un-invite yourself.

The printer cost $150K +, so just go home buy two or three printers setup a online platform with millions of daily hits. That will show Amazon not to move fast enough to your demand.

The point is that you don't get to demand anything from Amazon!! either go invest a few million dollars of your own money for a custom system that cater to you every need or try to give input to improved the system that has not ask a penny from you but has giving you an many others the opportunity to make an unlimited amount of money.

Hope this little post helps you see that you are no obligated to sell on Merch an that you don't have the right to demand anything that you havent pay for.

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Kristi commented · Jan 16, 2017 at 06:46 AM

You really don't know the first thing about me. You don't know that I'm already working on "taking my ball and going home". I already run my own site and from here on out (unless sites add protection for images) - I'm done with them. No empty threat. No temper tantrum. Just an artist who has been through such an ordeal that I couldn't expect you to understand my level of frustration - nor realize the DAMAGE that has been done to my business.

I have every right to ask for protection. And, I can use language such as "DEMAND" if I so choose. Amazon can choose to ignore me if they wish. That's on them. I use "DEMAND" because it means "URGENT NEED FOR". You can take it however you want. You and I obviously have nothing to discuss.

My "demand" stands. Not because I'm on the fence about leaving. I'm leaving unless there is a quick implementation of image protection and I already stopped uploading LONG AGO. No need to lecture me on my options, I'm fully aware. But just because I leave doesn't mean that the voices of artists shouldn't be heard. If we do not start demanding that our work be protected, nobody will step up and do so. I'd be more than happy to "PAY" for protection. You just assumed otherwise. But, you and I both know that it isn't a lack of funds that is preventing protection from being added so let's just stick to the topic at hand. If we were licensing our work to a company, we'd have certain "demands" or restrictions if you prefer that word. One of which would be ensuring the protection of it. Nothing new here. Just speaking up and trying to get the "POD" world to step up to the plate. That's it. If you disagree, no big deal.

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ck Kristi commented · Jan 17, 2017 at 08:28 PM

Well said.

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Amazon Customer commented · Jan 17, 2017 at 12:27 PM

Its a partnership between Amazon Merch and its content providers. Efficient running of the program requires feedback.

3 ·

Hanalei commented Jan 16, '17

Is there a reason why you don't add your own watermark over the art before uploading it?

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Kristi commented · Jan 16, 2017 at 04:15 PM

Because the watermark would be printed. People don't want a watermark printed on the item. If there was an option to have a display image that shows a watermark, but then a separate file was given to Amazon for printing so that it wasn't printed, I would opt for that. It isn't possible unless Amazon starts to allow for this.

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Haley commented · Jan 17, 2017 at 10:01 PM

It would show up when printed. The issue is that there is no way to watermark our images since the only file used is the same one that is used to print from. This is a huge issue and SO VERy EASY to fix.

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fearnottruth commented · Jan 17, 2017 at 01:28 PM

You are not allowed to do so.

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fearnottruth commented Jan 17, '17

Yes, I have had many images and stolen and then used on china websites to undermine my business. This is not a demand per say, just bringing up a serious concern that is obviously hurting many sellers.

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newuser-152bef9b-8cf2-47a4-bb4a-ccb84f0ed56e commented Jan 17, '17

Watermarks would be terrible for sales and I doubt Amazon will do that, but the non-flat shirt image would be a good and workable solution to at least some of the mass copying.

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CreativeDirector commented Feb 16, '17

*BUMP*

Sam@Amazon Leia@Amazon Oswald@Amazon

Is there any info regarding (Image Protection) yet?

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Joe commented Feb 16, '17

The amount of image theft is horrible and it takes way too long to be taken down, only for the thief to repost a few hours later! Why don't they take these sellers down after the first violation? I read that Jeff Bezos, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Amazon reads all comments sent to him. I sent him an email at jeff@amazon.com, but have yet to hear back.

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Image Protection (#1 Priority)

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