Expect to be stolen from.
I can't say I've always been the most upstanding man. Lord knows I have my flaws. I cuss, drink, and talk trash. I've been in a bar fight. I would stop paying taxes if I could.
One way I am ethical is that I don't copy, trace, or steal others' work. I simply won't do it. My ego is too big.
If you're lucky enough to create for a living, you will have your work stolen. It comes with the territory.
So I wanted to outline all the ways your work will be lifted straight out of your hands.
Copycats: This is the special brand of artist, usually younger, who emulates your work too closely. This is perhaps the most endearing form of theft. It's usually harmless and, for folks who are still learning, expected.
The Corporate Thief: Some large corporation has stolen your work to use as their own. What's likely happening is that this is not corporate policy, but rather a couple of rogue employees who know better. Maybe they're under time constraints or just don't care. Hopefully there's a payout for you. However, I have been in at least one corporate meeting where a director said, "Let's knock this thing off." That case was egregious.
The Overseas Factory Thief: Factories regularly steal work to sell it back to your customers. They'll sell it through Redbubble, Temu, and Amazon. It's basically whack-a-mole trying to get these products taken down. It's malevolent and intentional. And you can't sue them because they're not domestic.
The truth is nothing is completely original. I've suspected that several surf brands have copied Chomp's art. But if I'm honest, this entire project was meant to feel like Santa Cruz Skateboards — so I should have some humility.
We're all standing on someone's shoulders. Just don't pick their pockets while you're up there.