Janis Zroback

This is really not right, so hard to grasp that this could happen.His work is so interesting.sure hope he can resolve this soon.

This is so wrong…basically outgunning an individual artist by outspending him for his copyrights. All I can say is this manufacturer will eventually reap what he sowing and when it occurs it will not be a moment too soon. Thanks for the info Janis.

That’s godawful. I’ll check your Twitter profile, if you’ve tweeted it, I’ll RT certainly.

Thank you Janis for all that you do for Artists EVERYWHERE!!!!! you are an amazing Advocate!
Cathy

I did, and i have to wonder how these people can live with themselves and sleep at night.

What a shame. According to the Library of Congress copyright office, when a person creates something it is in a copyright status right then. If this persons computer was used to make his art, there will be a record of Date made to establish his creations were his first. He could probably use his computer in court as prove of his work.
Of course it is a unrecorded copyright, but with the computer it is recorded with a date and time of creation.

Note, my above comment was made before viewing the other story. Obviously, the computer wasn’t used to make the items, but if he made his designs on his computer first, it still could prove his date of creations in court.

Ithink that if you have documentation of your work..on the net or this site or even old customers who bought from you the other guy doesn’t stand a chance, no matter how much $$ he has..they say that possesion is 9/10 of the law..ergo you only have to prove you made them first..with your oldest client perhaps? How long have you been making them? Don’t you have photos of the first? and wouldn’t they have the date of the photo on them?Get calm and thinking about your first one where did it go? first photo? then find them and get even!

I just did. It’s so unfair that the one who steals in the first place wins the battle…

Yes I did ,this is such thievery.like it said ,she has the monies to destroy individuals ,and only a few artist have even tried to stand up to her . What a terrible loss to the artists.

Hey Janis, have a look at this post

Who knows; there may be more to this going on than we know…

I wonder how many of us gets are art stolen…how do you know that yours has been stolen, Janis?

gets our*

That is just disgraceful!! How does anyone even get this type of litigation through the door??? It seems to me that common sense parted ways with the legal system somewhere, and something must be done.

Thanks, I obviously misunderstood.

90% of the Support Unger has gained has been by people who don’t even take the time to check out the other guys story, not that I am taking sides at this point as I already took Ungers side last night and sent Mr Wittrig a piece of my mind and I have gotten some interesting information from him furthermore Iearned a lesson and became quite ashamed of myself for having jump on a wagon ride (Being Ungers cause) without knowing all the facts now I am thinking that neither one of them is right or wrong for one to right and the other wrong, the Legal terms are a grey area and Unger is taking an emotional stand where as Wittrig is somewhat painted black, by no means is Wittrig an Mass producer or Manufacturer in the sense that he has been painted I am currently coresponding with him as of this morning and have found some light that is shedding some truth in defining terms. Please be careful speaking your opinions this is not an issue of personalities but Mr Unger has made it so. Wittrig has more ground to stand on than if you look at the facts you may be surprised I know I did and I am ashamed for having spoken so soon as of Yesterday evening.

I didn’t mean to sound biased, I respect what you have said here, and do agree. Mr. Unger should not have to suffer because of the Facts of registered Copyright.
As a struggling Artist I can see Mr Ungers point and agree with his feelings, but if Mr Wittrig just merely made a “copy” and started selling, then I am willing to stand against this. (However ’ if ’ it is) that Mr Wittrig did indeed produce ( his own design outside of copying ) Mr Ungers Design ’ and did indeed “try” to Copyright it ’ but was told that he could not Copyright “Utilitarian objects” and was given some sort of encouragement ( by that then ) changes some things.
Yet there arises another issue out of all that is …clear or unclear… in that Mr Unger Sent a “Letter to Cease and Desist” as ‘warning against Legal proceedings’ and Mr Wittrig Countered the movement.

More than likely after going to an office or two with some concerns and a barrage of questions. Perhaps he has been counseled ’ to Counter with a Lawsuit to challenge ’ Mr Ungers ’ Copyright Integrity ’. Now this is where the grey areas come into play certainly if the Law states that this can be Viable as to Challenge Artists Registered Copyrights of Art in it’s varying respects against the slightest nuances of Functionality or Use… Hmmm a big mess!!!
I don’t want to say it is right, In fact I think that this would be a sorrowful reality in and of itself. And so the Limitations of Copyright on Art will yet become even more Vulnerable.
People who Make Earthen Wares, Plates, Bowls Vases, Basins etc… They are subject to a huge Vulnerability.
Really the Ethics behind the Legal move are clearly unfair to the artist, and we as Artists will remain to understand it this way Notwithstanding any other perception, or nuance of interpretation!!!
I believe it is important to follow these types of discrepancies carefully,
Yes Mr Wittrigs Design is uncanny in familiarity, but what I want to know is whether or not this is a coincidence or not. If not then flat out Mr Wittrig is wrong and needs to stand down, but if so then perhaps Mr Wittrig needs to be counseled in a way that encourages him to still make his fire pits but to come up with designs that reflect a unique design far apart from that of Mr Ungers.
This is as simple as I can look at it. It has been extremely interesting to watch how things have unfolded, and I am eager to see how things will wrap up. Just wish it didn’t have to be so messy and complex.

Aloha Janis, mahalo for submitting this to Dimensions.

Unbelievable!!! So angry – this is just so wrong. .