Venutian_Lures

I've only done a few giveaways, for reaching milestones with my "fan-base". I used them as a way to show my appreciation for everyone that follows my page and supports me through my painting journey. However I had to stop doing that, because I would notice the people that always won the bait for free would never contact me again, while my customers that actually paid for their baits remain in contact with me to this day. I never really understood that.....probably just people out to get free stuff and be done with you. I have also experienced trying to partner with other fishing related businesses and such, offered my baits in exchange for their full and honest feedback on my product, and if they could please post some of their reviews about my work on their social media sites. I did this more for me, so I could get some more public opinions on my work, but they were still getting free lures. There was nothing for them to lose....but they never did what I asked in exchange for all the free product. There's one major page/business out there that is notorious for ripping people off as I later found out from other people. It was my mistake for giving away my product in exchange for their feedback...but I felt the least they could do was type a few sentences up for me, good or bad. That left a bad taste in my mouth and I felt burned, so I no longer give baits away. I will however always be willing to offer my products to charities and organizations in order to help them raise money for a good cause.

Merry Christmas! I've been away because my laptop broke....hoping to get it fixed and be back soon!

Hope your recovery is smooth and speedy! Feel better soon

My lawyer has advised me to refrain from talking about it on social media until it is over and done with. I will add though that yes, I did say in one of my posts he is signing my work with my name, using my Logo, etc.

Well, he thought the whole ordeal was serious, not the copying on it's own. He brought up knock-off purses as an example for the copying. So and so claiming this is Gucci, it says Gucci...but it's not really Gucci. If my business name hadn't been used and he wasn't trying to emulate me and my company and my product, he said I wouldn't have been able to do much about it unless I had copyright's in place. BUT, he did say you CAN get copyright's for intellectual property, ie; artwork. Even if legally nothing can be done about copy's (identity theft thing aside), I still personally believe ethically and morally it is wrong. Why call yourself a CUSTOM painter when you're just copying everyone else? That is my problem. You are not custom if you don't have your own designs! Just my two cents.

I wouldn't expect you to be ticked then if I decided to take your business name and assume it as my own, then when people are filing claims against you because of it, don't be angry It wasn't about the mere copying of paint, as has been said many times before. It was identity theft to a degree.

Lmao......well....that was entertaining. Well I spent the rest of my day yesterday dealing with this. Got a certified letter and had a brief meeting with a local lawyer. Everything is looking ok at this point, hopefully the letter is enough to do the trick.

I think I'm going to mix everyones advice together. Get my business name registered/trademarked if I can, send the certified letter...which hopefully takes care of it, and if it continues to negatively impact my business and reputation I'll take it a step further. Once again I'm not that concerned with the paint being copied, that can be set aside, but in conjunction with them being marketed with my name....grrr.

Exactly why I'm not releasing names. There is a little deeper reason to it as well, and some details I have not released for several reasons. If I'm right about these other "details", then this situation is much more serious and it would rock the custom tackle industry. If I'm wrong...I might as well just go live on Mars. So I apologize if people are anxious to know or mad that I'm not saying who it is...but believe me it's for a good reason that I am keeping my mouth shut.