Texture theft

So way back in 1.1 I imported a texture called colliure and went shopping today and saw at least three items that made creative use of the texture for SALE. And the thing that really bothers me is that it's my image - well Van Goch painted it - and I took the photo - at the US National Gallery of Art which belongs to the people - and copyright images need to be respected - except I never asserted copyright - and...

Well, never mind.

Although my knowledge of copyright law is limited I suspect that just because a painting is on display to the public, or has even been bought with public money, does not give you the right to upload/store/reproduce/etc all or part of it in an electronic format.

Yep, the first time i went to the louve they closed down the whole wing that the mona lisa is in for me any my family. We had to sign papers saying that we would not give out the photo's we took because that is a way they make money by selling post cards/rights for websites and such.

Just kidding.

But really that is why alot of places dont allow photography not only do they claim it fades the peice but also do to money.

Hmm... Interesting. I'd say that taking a photo of a Van Gogh painting would be like making any other reproduction -- photocopy, scan, etc. If the image of the painting itself is in the public domain (although the original paint on canvas is not), you can probably use the photo/photocopy/scan for pretty much anything. You couldn't, however, claim any rights to your reproduction because the image is already public domain. The only way in which you could claim rights is if you make a derivative work based on the painting.

All i know is that you guys need to stop complaining.. or they will enforce the copyright thing and it will be like THERE.com... where they check the stuff before you upload
taking *2 weeks* for a shirt!!!!!!!!!!!! lol so what, you know you are the original on who took it, feel proud

First, the original post was a total tongue-in-cheek un-rant; sorry if I confused. Second, Cubey does bring out some interesting points.

Pure FYI: I asked at both the information desk and the gallery guards what their policy was. Pretty simply: no flash, no tripod. So the shoot was an exercise in holding very still. I'm actually tickled that my import is being used by others; moreover their uses are so distortive as to probably make copyright moot (even if still held by Vincent's estate). I haven't rezed it in world for 'bout a year.

Some companies preserve a copyright long beyond its natural date of expiration by making minute changes in artwork and even photographs and then copywriting the result. U.S. Games is particularly notorious for doing this. They have constant lawsuits proceeding over alleged violations of the copyright of their Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, which should have been in the public domain thirty years ago.