Art theft courtesy of 'Metal for the Masses'

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Well, a few months back it was brought to my attention the a facebook page titled "Metal for the Masses" was using my artwork without permission.
I made the announcement on Deviantart and the awesome people on Deviantart fllooded the facebook page with complaints (Thanks guys!).
Eventually the owner of the page contaced me and he eventually took down the image with the condition that I remove any accussations against his "Metal for the Masses" website and facebook page. I agreed.

Well, it looks like Metal for the Masses is at it again...Last week it was brought to my attention that they were using my artwork again.
I sent a complaint to Facebook, they removed the page, but it seems they have another page.

www.facebook.com/metalforthe.m…

www.facebook.com/pages/Parade-…

www.facebook.com/pages/Parade-…

From what ive heard, Metal for the Masses has a reputation of not only art theft but also reaping the benefits of other people's music.
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CogitorRex's avatar
If you have registered your copyright (www.copyright.gov) you can sue for actual damages plus any profit the infringer made off of your copyrighted work. OR, you can establish willful violation of your registered copyright and get up to $150,000 per copyright infringed upon.

$150,000 per registered copyright infringed? you ask. Why, yes. Yes, indeed: 17 USC sect. 504(c)(2).

THAT, my friend, is a big hammer to swing.

"Registered" is the key term.

I am only telling you what Title 17 of the United States Code says. I can't give you legal advice.

For legal advice, seek out intellectual property attorneys --yes, plural, attorneys-- with with experience in copyright infringement. Many attorneys offer a free initial consultation. Use these consultations to audition AT LEAST three lawyers, and more if you are not completely comfortable with one of them.

You might even be able to recruit other artists whose registered copyrights are being infringed and build up a sort of class action population to make a contingency case more attractive for your attorney. (Contingency is when the attorney only gets paid if you win, and then he or she gets a pre-determined fraction of the award.) The court might also award you your lawyer fees, but I suspect the infringers do not have incredibly deep pockets, and your hired gun would reasonably expect payment for his efforts.

Remember, if someone else is making money off the sweat of your brow, the chances are that you can make money, too. It wouldn't be the first time that a pirate trailblazed a new market.

Good luck dealing with the parasites.