Design Thieves, something you should know.

I'm posting this because recently a guy/girl though he could steal one of my designs and use it without problem. This is something he/she should know:

• Question: Your logo doesn't belong to you because you shared it with me in image.
  

WRONG. Sharing a document doesn't make it yours, same as saying you did something without showing proof of it. As long as you don't have a paper stating the design is yours with the signature of the designer, he/she can sell the design to someone else.

• Question: Can I register a logo to my name with just a jpg image?
  

NO. Most countries will require you at least an eps file since they have to make a research to find if there is any other logo similar in name, colors or forms. Sometimes for even just a tiny similarity that may make people confuse your brand with others is enough for them to not allow the registration of your mark. You may also have to explain how you reached that design for technical reasons.

• Question: You can't persecute me for using your design without paying.
  

I don't need to do it. I just can sell the design to someone else and let him/her register the design to their name. When that happens he or she can take legal actions against anyone who uses their brand without permission. All countries have laws related to this, that's why the ilegal use of brands is considered piracy.

• Question: Internet is free and I can use it anywhere I want.
  

Again, TOTALLY WRONG. Most webpages are tied to either the Digital Millennium Copyright Act or the Creative Commons which allow designers and creators in general to request any design that violates this laws be removed of the page and the user be punished according to the policies of the site.

Please don't kid yourself. Just like you can't come to deviantArt and take any image you like and use it to make a profit of it without taking the risk of being charged with thievery, you can't request a design from me or other designer and just run away when you have a low resolution jpg image. I won't be sleepless because you used my design, I won't even get angry because it's a waste of my time. I will just save it and sell it to someone else who will pay for it while you have to watch your back because you will never know when someone will find out.