Plagiarism: consequences, realities and solutions

Plagiarism is not uncommon, but what happens when we discover a copy of a concept that belongs to us, as a Quebec creator? No professor to tap on the fingers of the plagiarist, and when the plagiarist is a small business that decides to embark on a legal battle, he sometimes finds himself in the shoes of David against Goliath.

This has unfortunately been the case for several Quebec artists, including three entrepreneurs very recently: Karine Foisy of Veille sur toi , artist behind the popular glass night lights; Julien Nantais of UNDA SUP , co-creator of UndaYoga as well as surfboard manufacturer; and Mélissa Perron de Rizada , an illustrator known in particular for her cups and plates.

Watch over you, Rizada and UNDA SUP: what happened?

I was able to discuss the situation a bit with Karine, owner of Veille sur toi. Last February, a Watch Over You Facebook fan made a disturbing find while visiting a dollar store: low-quality replicas of the owl and sheep night lights, made in China. She hurried to inform the artist behind Veille sur toi, Karine Foisy, who herself informed her fans by means of a publication on her Facebook page. Then, she discovered that the same copies were for sale on Amazon . A situation that brings its share of frustration, pain and helplessness. Fortunately, a wave of sympathy and solidarity swept over the artist, who nevertheless felt short of resources, without any institution to protect her. The situation even caught the eye of the media .

On Rizada's side, Mélissa Perron was informed on her private messaging service of the copy of her illustrations. What is especially disturbing is that the plagiarist is none other than a creator from here. By searching a little, Mélissa quickly realized that the author of the copies was also plagiarizing other illustrators on porcelain. This is unfortunately not the first case of plagiarism for Rizada's creator: many people do not understand the limit between inspiration and copying, especially when it comes to illustration.

As for UNDA SUP, the story is quite different and has only just begun. The company offers training, and people who have taken part in it have started to closely monitor UNDA SUP's strategies, copying them and exploiting their ideas. As Julien Nantais is still at the heart of his steps, we did not have the opportunity to discuss it.

Unfortunately, these are only three cases among many others. Laurie Marois Artist Painter also tasted it, as did Marie-Ève ​​Pharand, the designer Isaac Larose, without forgetting Claude Robinson and his battle against Cinar, which I would dare to describe as an epic fight...

(Right, the original)

What are the consequences for our creators here?

Some will say that plagiarism should be taken as a compliment, since we are copying something that inspires us and that we find beautiful. But not all plagiarized artists see it that way: most will be angry to see their intellectual property, their baby, usurped and resold without any money coming back to them and above all, without their name being mentioned. As Mélissa Perron de Rizada puts it so well: “Knowing that we inspire someone is a great compliment, a great personal gratification. But taking someone else's idea for me is simply stealing. Moreover, in the face of helplessness and the pain inflicted, not everyone will have the resilience to move forward. Copying could very likely discourage a creator who is just starting out, since the battle can be difficult. Fortunately, the circle of Quebec creators is rather tightly knit, and solidarity can succeed in giving them the strength to continue.

What to do when we are victims of plagiarism?

• Communicate with the plagiarist: This is what Mélissa Perron and Karine Foisy did. Not being her first case of plagiarism, the latter says that many people are simply not aware of the laws. So don't be afraid and try to settle the situation “amicably” by trying a first contact with an educational approach. The dollar store chain that plagiarized it said it would stop ordering copies of its nightlights, but would have to sell off the quantities on its shelves first. As for the creator of Rizada, her first reaction is always to go and see if it is plagiarism or not, then to communicate with the person to make sure of her intentions. She was unfortunately surprised by the lack of sensitivity encountered. She often prefers to encourage them to find their own style.
• Find support: There is the Authentik'art movement which is under construction. This collective of artists wants to be a resource against the plagiarism of local works. They will soon have a website, and victims of plagiarism should contact them. Feel free to share their Facebook page!
• Legal recourse: It is possible to direct everything to small claims when the discussion leads to nothing and you want to go further. It will however be necessary to arm oneself with patience and money, because despite the laws, the support is sorely lacking when it comes to the pursuit.
• Moving forward: According to Karine Foisy, plagiarism is inevitable when we become creators. Above all, we must not prevent ourselves from creating, and choose wisely what deserves our time and our energy. This is sometimes the solution to adopt.

(Rizada's original piece)

(The copy, with misspelling!)

Raising awareness and raising awareness

The consumer has the power to tip the balance. Awareness is therefore still relevant, and this is part of the more “global” solution, in my opinion. Whether it's buying a $44 night light or its $2 copy, getting a similar artwork from a well-known artist, or supporting the company behind a concept plagiarized, it is up to us as consumers to put our fist on the table and educate those around us if necessary.

In the case of Veille sur toi, several people wondered about the ridiculous price of the copy compared to the amount of an original night light ($44). Karine Foisy would like to remind you that when purchasing an original handmade product, the purchase includes quality, personalized after-sales service, reinvestment in the local economy, and the salary of employees paid fairly for what they do.

Mélissa Perron, for her part, advises those who witness plagiarism not to hesitate to denounce the situation: you are the eyes of the creators. According to her, there is a place for all Quebec creators, and we must therefore not hesitate to put our shoulder to the wheel to raise awareness among buyers and creators.

Hence, once again, the importance of consuming locally: we make sure to encourage the right people, and each of our pennies is reinvested in the local economy, thus allowing the creative people of our region to be able, one day, make a living from their art… And we know that Quebec is a veritable gold mine when it comes to creativity!

Photo credit: Unda Sup