Hey First name / friend!

 

Today I want to talk about most artists' biggest fear. Having your art stolen.

 

I've seen this fear root so deep in some people that they are scared of even putting their art out there! The whole idea of copyright and protecting your art is a BIG topic (and obligatory disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer and this isn't legal advice 😅), but I want to share my own experience with art theft in hopes that it will empower you and give you some guidance if it ever happens to you.

 

I'll also share about how I've helped my students through this because it's more common than you might think. But don't worry, all the stories in this email have a happy ending! 🤗

 

The first time this happened to me, it felt like my insides were on fire. 

 

A follower messaged me on Instagram saying, “Hey, I saw your art in this store!”

I clicked the link, and there it was. A big U.S. retailer was selling what looked like a (crappy) paint-stroke-for-paint-stroke copy of my work on their products.

 

I was brand new in my business. I’d just quit my job and didn’t have the funds for an attorney. I felt helpless (and furious.)

 

So, naturally, I did what many of us would do in that moment… I blasted them on Twitter. 😬

It felt good to call them out, but it wasn’t the smartest move. When emotions are high, it’s easy to act fast and think later. (Spoiler: this backfired on me)

 

Along with my public post, I vented on Facebook just to friends and family. That was my community. I didn't have art friends to get help from at the time.

And that little personal Facebook post turned out to be the best thing I could’ve done.

 

One of my dad’s longtime friends saw the post and messaged me saying, “You need to talk to an attorney. This is exactly what they handle. And you can find one who'll offer a free initial consultation — those attorneys are out there.”

 

Honestly, I hadn’t even considered that. I assumed lawyers were too expensive, especially since I was so new to business. But his comment gave me the push I needed.

 

I posted again asking if anyone knew an attorney who might meet with me for free to explain my options. Within a few hours, someone connected me with a law firm in Kansas City where I was living at the time.

 

And here's where the extra community magic comes in. ✨ The attorney who replied recognized my name from a charity auction she'd helped organize earlier that year in Kansas City — I'd donated art prints to the event. I didn't know her, but she remembered me. The kicker? The stolen design was the exact same one from that auction!

 

She offered to meet with me for free to discuss my options. (That's the power of community right there!)

 

Her first instruction? “We’ll need physical samples of the art theft.”

 

So I went to the retailer’s website to buy the stolen products… but the listing was already gone even in the first 24 hours. They’d removed it after my angry tweet went viral. (Told you that tweet would come back to bite me!)

 

At first I was crushed, but then I realized the company had brick-and-mortar stores, including one right in Kansas City.

 

I drove there that same day and found three separate products using my artwork.
 

I took photos of them on the shelves, purchased all three (yes, paying for knock-offs of my own work was a total gut-punch 🙃), and photographed the receipt on the counter. 

 

Then I drove straight to my attorney’s office with the shopping bag in hand and dumped the products on the table. Dramatic, I know. 😅

 

With evidence in hand, my amazing attorney walked me through everything step by step.

Because she already knew me through that fundraiser, she offered to work at her lower associate’s rate. I was transparent about my limited funds, and she was generous with her time.

 

A couple months later, after much back & forth, the company offered a settlement. The attorney knew my budget, so I gave her free rein to negotiate. She handled the negotiation, and I ended up with a $15,000 settlement after legal fees.

 

I went in just wanting justice, and came out realizing that knowledge and community are real power.

 

That experience completely changed how I think about my art being stolen.

 

At first it felt violating and personal. Now, it feels like another part of my business.

 

When a company copies my work these days, I don’t panic. I call my attorney.

 

I've started working with a new attorney out of L.A. and we have an agreement where I pay nothing unless we win, and then we split the settlement 50/50. It’s become another legitimate income stream for me.

 

More importantly, it’s made me realize that standing up for yourself is always worth it, no matter how hard it feels.

 

 

Inside The CatCoq Collective – the private community that comes with my program, The Art of Collections – this topic comes up more often than you’d think.

 

When a student’s art gets stolen, they're able to lean on the community for help. I've walked students through:

One of my students actually did just that. She leveraged an infringement into a paid licensing partnership which would net out higher for her than a settlement in the long run. 🤗

 

Worrying about your art getting stolen shouldn’t stop you from sharing it.

It’s all a part of being a working artist. But when you understand your rights and your options, it no longer feels scary, it feels empowering.

 

Inside The Art of Collections, we dig into this kind of real-world stuff all the time: how to protect your work, grow your career, and build the confidence to navigate challenges like a pro.

 

Next week, I'll be sharing about the $5,000 mistake I made early on in my business and what I learned from it! 

 

Talk soon,

 

Cat

I know inboxes can get busy around this time of year. If you ever want to unsubscribe from these extra Art Licensing Insiders emails while still staying on the waitlist, just click here to stop getting these emails!