Left brain hemisphere:
Since so many of you asked-
If anyone ever steals YOUR work, this is what you write to the thieves, be they an individual/magazine/website/newspaper/music band/etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To: __________________(art thief's name/company)

It has come to my attention that you have made an unauthorized use of my copyrighted Work entitled "____________ (name of stolen artwork)" in the publishing of a ___________(your website/advert/newspaper/magazine)

I have reserved all rights in the Work, which was first published in November 1, 2000 (date example) on _______________(my website link), with copyright registered to me.
The advert which appears in your (website/advert/newspaper/magazine/piece), is essentially identical to the Work and clearly used the Work as its basis.

You neither asked for nor received permission to use the Work as the basis for the advert, nor to make or distribute copies of it. Therefore, I believe you have willfully infringed my rights under 17 USC Section 101, et seq. and could be liable for statutory damages as high as $100,000.
Under the copyright law I can demand:
Compensation and Immediately cease the use and distribution of all infringing works derived from the Work, and all copies of it, and that you deliver to me all unused, undistributed copies of it, or destroy such copies immediately, and that you desist from this or any other infringement of my rights in the future.

However, currently I demand a compensation for the use of the image.
Your company did not notify me, we did not sign any contracts, and I have not been paid for the use of my work.
If I have not received an affirmative response from you in two weeks, indicating that you are ready to discuss terms of payment for the use of my work and comply with my requirements, I shall consider taking the full legal remedies available to rectify this situation.

Sincerely,


__________________





Right brain hemisphere:
Or you can go out, find them and break their kneecaps. Whatever works for you. I prefer kneecap breaking any day. That'll teach em how to steal stuff.