As the creative industries flourish, art and innovation are playing an increasingly important role in our lives. In this colourful world, the crystallization of wisdom comes in a variety of forms – from elaborate shell ornaments, to fun dog puzzles that bring you joy, to visually striking 3D checkered paintings. However, the fact that these works are sought after by the public also inevitably gives rise to copyright infringement.
Case information
案件号：24-cv-00105、24-cv-00272
Case filing time: February 2, 2024, March 26, 2024
原告：KP Seashell Designs
Law firm: Sriplaw
Since 2011, Kim Koe's deep interest in shells has led to the exploration of shell sculpture art. Her exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail quickly made her a name for herself in the art world, especially for her mastery of colour, pattern and design. Koe is not limited to collecting seashells locally, she has a global vision that curates materials for each piece of art. Her creations, such as the starfish mirror and the sea glass Christmas tree, became collectors' darlings.
Case information
案件号：24-cv-01611
Case filing time: February 27, 2024
原告:UT Brands LLC
代理律所：SAPER LAW OFFICES, LLC
Founded in Hong Kong in 1995, Funwares specializes in bringing fun and creative gifts, kitchen utensils, and home products. The product design cleverly combines practicality, creativity and humor to make everyday life and gifting a fun experience.
The rights defended in this case involved an entertaining dog poop puzzle titled "101 Pooping Puppies Puzzle", which consisted of 1,000 pieces.
Case information
案件号：23-cv-62295
Case filing time: December 2, 2024
Plaintiff: M**i
代理律所：Jared W. Gasman Attorney, P.A.
The plaintiff, an artist from Xinjiang, has successfully registered a U.S. copyright for his 2D visual artwork called "ILLUSION DM".
Copyrighted Content
It is relatively difficult to avoid copyright infringement, especially since the right holder has the right to request that the U.S. Copyright Office not disclose the content of the work. In light of this, and the fact that the previously mentioned infringement cases are not public, it is difficult for many sellers to avoid infringement in a timely manner. At present, the relevant infringement information has been disclosed, and the progress of the case is close to the stage where the plaintiff requests the court to make a judgment against the defendant in absentia. If you are one of the defendants, please settle with the plaintiff as soon as possible to avoid the frozen funds being unable to return.
Regarding copyright circumvention, have you noticed that the pictures in the copyright infringement cases shared by Jude before usually bear the plaintiff's watermark? For images without watermarks, you can use the image link to further explore. Regular searches will involve the keyword of the image name, which can be used as a clue to determine whether the image has a link to the official website, which is one of the ways to avoid infringement.
Keep in mind that don't use other people's images for convenience, as this can lead to serious consequences such as link complaints, product takedowns, lawsuits, fines, and even store closures. For every cross-border e-commerce seller, the importance of the store is self-evident, and prudent operation is the key to long-term stable operation.