Plagiarism and unauthorized costume

[lamentobento.livejournal.com]

WHO: Mommahenlevi on Furbuy+Furaffinity, goes as Girfantic on Etsy

WHERE:
(links have been removed)

WHAT: This person is selling an unauthorized costume of my character along with a traced version of my art.

WHEN: 3 days ago (?) - recently.

PROOF: The original artwork can be found on my (shared with partner) Tumblr:
http://katzbalger.tumblr.com/post/37746942791/olivier

Screenshots of the submission pages:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/49349978/screenshots/theft/screen_oliversale01.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/49349978/screenshots/theft/screen_oliversale02.jpg

EXPLAIN: I have never made contact to this person, nor did I ever sell the rights to this character or the art. I guess I'm out of words for an explanation other than putting up a warning and advise not to make business with this person. It's just downright foul practice.

EDIT 07/12/2015 [Resolved]
I've got in touch with the artist. Apparently they weren't aware they were doing something wrong. I have mixed feelings on this, but I chose to believe it's a simple ignorant mistake. I don't like the idea of watermarking things boldly or slapping copyrights everywhere, but maybe the lack of it made them believe it's free to take. They needed the money and I felt bad for them. I asked them to make changes to the suit and take down the traced art. They were completely cooperative and mature towards my plea. I didn't think my character is sooper-original that it needed a huge edit, it was mostly the 1:1 traced art being part of the sales pitch that irritated me.

Tree of conversation can be viewed here:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/49349978/screenshots/theft/convers.jpg
(screenshot is a courtesy of lindblut)

We had an email exchange, which mostly consisted of the changes made to the suit. They were prompt and friendly.
Their edits can be viewed on the submission:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/18396909/

Comments

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

That's intense. Looks like they pulled the FA ad but have they contacted you about anything since?

[dirtiran.livejournal.com]

That takes character theft to a whole new level D; I hope no one buys it!

[sian tiley (from livejournal.com)]

Have you tryed messaging The owners of the site to get it taken down?

[firewo1f94.livejournal.com]

It looks like they've changed it a bit and put it back up
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/18396909/
https://www.furbuy.com/auctions/1079579.html
Though they say they gotten permission now

[absturz.livejournal.com]

Here's the conversation between Murcifer and Mommahenlevi

[right click > show image for full size]


Permission was given under the terms that the fursuit gets a rework to deriverate from the original design and to give credit.
The traced ref also no longer is part of the auction.

[lamentobento.livejournal.com]

Hi! I'm a bit slow, but would it be okay if I edit the post and note that the case is resolved?

Basically, I've got in touch with the artist, and despite being a rather awkward case overall, they were cooperative towards my plea to make a few changes and take down the traced art.

mod comment

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

Yes, if you consider it resolved we can mark it as such!