Barbara Gray has released a statement on her alleged copyright infringement of Erte’s illustrations.
From the screenshot.
Barbara Gray:
Oh dear. Looks like it’s my turn this time. Please allow me to clarify. Yesterday I received a letter from the Erté Foundation, saying that we have been reported for using Erté designs to make stamps. The letter stated that we had taken the images from a Dover Publication, and they politely asked us to cease and desist, and remove any stock from our shelves.
I immediately called the guys at work and said we should do so, and while we were at it, to delete any other Dover Publication clip art we had left on the website from the good old days, because clearly the rules have changed. As to the Erté ladies – and any other clip art I used back in the day – I have NEVER claimed this art as my own! I have always credited the designer – and I even remember telling you all about Erté, and how brilliant he was. If you have the stamps you don’t have to stop using them! Be glad you have them. They are beautiful images! And as for me also producing cushions and coasters etc with the same designs, clearly some other interior design company also thought the same as me, that clip art was clip art – permission free, royalty free and copyright free images.
I wonder if they spent hundreds of pounds on the clip art books like I did, at Earlham Street Dover Books. Probably not, because you can get it all free online now. These Erté stamp designs in question are that old that we didn’t even have Facebook or Pinterest or Instagram! We got on a train and bought the book!
We have got an awesome team of illustrators and artists at Clarity nowadays. Mel, Linda, Tina, Dee, Cherry, Jim – to name but a few. I am no longer alone and having to rely on clip art to pad out my collection. But I have NEVER claimed the artwork as my own.
On the subject of our Clarity collection of original art today, we get ripped off and copied on a regular basis. Our designs and ideas are stolen frequently! We just keep going. You have to pick your battles, I don’t like confrontation – and life is way too short.
