Artist Plagiarizes Photographer’s Picture for Pro-Russia Mural
A photographer has expressed her disgust after a graffiti artist used her photo as the basis of a giant pro-Russia mural in the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
Woman Who Faked Snow Leopard Photos Stole Picture from French Photographer
Fake snow leopard photographer Kittiya Pawlowski has been decidedly outed after it was revealed that the images she claimed were hers were actually taken by a French wildlife photographer.
Photographer Loses Plagiarism Case Against Artist Who ‘Ripped Off’ Her Work
A court has ruled that an artist accused of copying a photographer's work did not commit plagiarism.
Artist Apologizes for Not Crediting Photographer After Social Media Outcry
TikTok and Instagram users rose up in a furious plagiarism debate and accused artist Gala Knörr of copying the work of Brooklyn-based photographer dayday.
Croatian Euro Coin Design Scrapped After Photographer Cries Foul
The contest winner who submitted the winning design for Croatia's upcoming Euro coin has withdrawn his entry and returned the prize money after it was revealed that it bore a striking resemblance to a photo taken by a Scottish photographer in 2005.
Over 80% of NFTs Minted for Free on OpenSea Were Fake or Stolen
OpenSea, one of the largest marketplaces for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), recently put a cap on the number of NFTs that could be minted for free. It was removed after an outcry, but OpenSea revealed that it was added due to massive amounts of misuse.
Photographer Accuses Russian Movie of Stealing His Photo Idea
Back in 2015, Norwegian photographer Stig Håvard Dirdal captured a creative Christmas photo that went viral online. He was recently surprised when he came across a poster for a Russian movie that looked a little too familiar.
Student Plagiarizes African Artist, Gets Exhibited at the Milan Photo Festival
In 2014, curator Simon Njami engaged Ethiopian artist photographer Aïda Muluneh to interpret Dante’s Inferno for an exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art entitled The Divine Comedy: Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell Revisited by Contemporary African Artists. Muluneh’s “The 99 Series” featured a model set against a light grey mottled background, with her body and face covered in white paint, and her hands dipped in red.
Photographer Accused of ‘Artificially Creating’ Her Plagiarism Claim
After World Press Photo announced its finalists this year, Iranian photographer Solmaz Daryani came forward and accused German photographer Maximilian Mann of plagiarizing photos from her personal project for his environmental photos of Lake Urmia in Iran. Now Mann's collective is firing back, accusing Daryani of fabricating the controversy with previously unpublished photos.
‘Ireland’s Most Loved Wedding Photographer’ is Stealing My Work [Updated]
My name is Brad Trent, and I'm a portrait photographer based in New York City. Yesterday, on April Fools' Day, I received an anonymous email that pointed me to a photographer’s website who seemed to be passing off one of my photographs as his own.
Photographer Says World Press Photo Nominee ‘Hijacked’ Her Project
The prestigious World Press Photo competition has been plagued by several controversies in recent years, and it looks like this year's contest is no different. A nominated photographer is being accused of plagiarism by an Iranian photographer who believes her personal project was "hijacked."
Is This Plagiarism or Crazy Coincidence in Landscape Photography?
It often happens that other photographers have a similar shot to yours. Especially in landscape photography, where there are lots of amazing locations where a lot of photographers go. Having a similar shot is often not really a problem -- most of the time these shots are still different because of light, conditions, and different compositions from the same spot.
Photographer Says Artist Stole His Photo, Artist Claims ‘Remix’
South African photographer Graeme Williams was attending the opening of the Johannesburg Art Fair earlier this month when he was shocked to see his own photo on a gallery wall with credit being given to African American artist Hank Willis Thomas.
Photographer Cries Foul Over Gorillaz Music Video
Back in 2016, photographer Jairo Melara of the Los Angeles-based photography company Fifth District did a photo shoot of a model wearing roller skates at Venice Beach. Melara says he was surprised earlier this year when the band Gorillaz released its music video for the song "Humility" that features a strangely similar look and feel.
I Interviewed a ‘Photographer’ Who Had Stolen Photos… From ME
A few months ago, a girl came in to apply for a social media position at my last job. I was one of three photographers at the company and we had an opening for another photographer position. She mentioned to the HR recruiter that she also does photography.
Souvid Datta Admits to Doctoring and Appropriating Photos
Yesterday, we revealed that award-winning photographer Souvid Datta had published a photo back in 2014 in which a woman had been copied-and-pasted from a 1978 photo by renowned documentary photographer Mary Ellen Mark. Datta today admitted that he had indeed doctored that photo, as well as "appropriating" other photographers' work as his own.
Photographer Souvid Datta Appears to Have Plagiarized Mary Ellen Mark
The award-winning photographer Souvid Datta found himself in the middle of a controversy this week when his photo of a young sex trafficking victim was used to promote a photo contest. But now a serious new accusation has emerged that threatens Datta's credibility as a photojournalist: one of plagiarism.
Plagiarism or Coincidence? A Curious Case in the Sony World Photo Awards
The World Press Photo Awards isn't the only prestigious photo competition that experienced controversy this year: the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards received at least one complaint of plagiarism by a photo selected for the Open competition shortlist.
Artist Plagiarized French Photographer for Naked Sculpture, Court Rules
A French court has ruled that American appropriation artist Jeff Koons infringed the copyright of French photographer Jean-François Bauret in creating one of his celebrated sculptures, Naked (1988).
Imitation vs. Copying in Photography: The Issue of Derivative Works
On Saturday, PetaPixel ran the story of a photographer whose photo had been imitated to a surprisingly thorough degree by a German ad agency. While a poll on that article suggested that a clear majority (~74%) of respondents saw it as unethical plagiarism, I thought I’d dig into the legal aspects a bit.
When Someone Copies Your Photo for Commercial Purposes…
At what point does something go beyond inspiration? Edward McGowan is a California based photographer who has an interesting situation in his hands.
Jasmine Star Accused of Plagiarism Yet Again
Wedding photographer Jasmine Star is probably still recovering from the first slew of plagiarism accusations leveled against her in 2013; however, it seems the saga is entering Episode II. The folks at Stop Stealing Photos are accusing Jasmine of another transgression.
Hyperlapse Pioneer Says Nike Ripped Off His Work
A week ago, Nike released a new viral video (shown above) titled "Ousadia Alegria." Promoting new soccer boots made for Barcelona superstar player Neymar Jr., the video uses a "flo-motion" hyperlapse technique that combines time-lapses and a rapidly changing point of view.
Now one of the major pioneer photographers of that technique, Rob Whitworth, is crying foul. He says that Nike ripped of his work and the work of Australian filmmaker Selina Miles in its new video.
McDonald’s Apologizes for Stealing Man’s Viral Burrito Engagement Photo Idea
Back in July, writer David Sikorski and photographer Kristina Bakrevski gained quite a bit of attention online after publishing engagement photos of Sikorski and his one true love: the burrito.
The idea was so popular and unusual that McDonald's decided to steal it for a new advertising campaign.
Renowned Belgian Painter Convicted of Plagiarism After Basing His Portrait on a Photo
Renowned Belgian artist Luc Tuymans has been found guilty in a plagiarism case after basing one of his paintings on a photo by photojournalist Katrijn Van Giel. Tuymans has been ordered to cease exhibiting and reproducing his painting, and will be fined €500,000 (~$580,000) if he does not comply.
Nikon Kicks Wedding Photographer Doug Gordon out of Ambassador Program
In light of recent reports of repeat plagiarism and other less-than-savory business practices, Nikon has officially removed wedding photographer and educator Doug Gordon from its ambassador program.
Doug Gordon Accused of Plagiarizing Yet Again, Then Lying About It
Photographer, photography teacher and Nikon Ambassador Doug Gordon -- the same Doug Gordon who only just began truly recovering from the plagiarism scandal he was caught up in last year -- is being accused of plagiarism yet again by photography wall-of-shame site PhotoStealers.
Doug Gordon Surreptitiously Presenting for Nikon at WPPI Despite Having Withdrawn
Earlier this morning, we received a tip from a reader (who has chosen to remain anonymous) that Doug Gordon -- who was embroiled in a nasty plagiarism scandal along with Jasmine Star late last year -- is still presenting at WPPI, despite having officially withdrawn in October.
Plagiarized Photography Portfolios are Now Just One Click Away…
You know, it used to be even photography thieves had to put some work in if they wanted to get a bit of dishonest business, but a new project by the name of Pro-folio shows that just a little bit of code can make stealing photos and creating a whole fake portfolio a one-click affair.
Did Wedding Videography ‘Teacher’ Rob Adams Steal His Spiel From a Peer?
(Private Video -- Use password "stolen")
Often there's a fine line between inspiration and theft. But watching side-by-side comparisons of wedding workshops conducted by videographers Adam Forgione and Rob Adams, it's hard not to conclude there's wholesale plagiarism going on.