Over the last year, I found 2 people stealing my work. I've seen it time and time again, where some people download another contributor's work and used it as an element in their work, or download it, change the colors a bit and call it their own.

If you're going to steal, don't contribute it to the same stock site. It's going to come up in the search results and it's not going to go unnoticed. I wonder what goes through their head when they do it. "Maybe if I change it just enough, they won't notice."?

Why does anyone steal?

Unfortunately it is so incredibly easy to steal stock photos and get away with it. What happens if you get caught? NOTHING! You just get banned from the site... It's quite astonishing really.

I have had people steal my music and sell it on the same sites, effectively taking sales away from me. What happened when they got caught? The account was just closed. I didn't get the money back, nothing.

Lazy idiots without conscience or good people in really unfortunate situations will steal.

The whole stealing thing is because those thieves want an easy win.  They don't...

1. Want to put in the time to create sellable assets
2. Want to learn
3. Want to invest in gear
4. Want to invest in software

But they sure want YOU to do it for them. I have ZERO sympathy for any crooks who get caught and are exposed publicly and shut down.  Problem is that stealing IS what they are good at and they will simply do it again.

Greed + lack of creativity = plagiarism

You'd think there are better ways to make a quick buck if you're willing to steal. I guess the thing here is that it's virtually risk-free.

The crazy thing is that both of these contributors had some original work. That's what baffled me the most. They used their personal accounts to upload stolen work and risk having all their original work banned.

You'd think there are better ways to make a quick buck if you're willing to steal. I guess the thing here is that it's virtually risk-free.

Enter politics�

@ Minsc
can you show some examples of your and theirs work?

It was while ago and I don't think their work is online anymore, so there is nothing left to compare. And I prefer to remain anonymous to avoid any possible retaliation.

I waited a few months to after reporting them make this post to avoid getting identified.

but you can ask willie dixon why led zeppelin claimed to have written all his music
and became known as the greatest rock band in the world

You can't... Willie's dead