Polyvore -- An Artist's Nightmare or Advertising Dream?

What a whirlwind of activity the first week of school has been! There was paperwork, and orientations, and paperwork, and routines to implement, and forms to fill out (more paperwork!), and last minute supplies to get .... and MORE paperwork. I think I was busier than the kids, and they were the ones actually going to school! But all is well and everyone is settling nicely into their school year routines.

I didn't have much time to create with all the chaos, but I did google myself and my company one night. I think everyone googles themselves, but I haven't in a really long time. Imagine my surprise when I found multiple items from my www.jeweledonline.com shop being used in collage montages at a site called Polyvore.

Polyvore collage by Erin.
I love this one -- it's romantic like a Titanic love story!
My "Vintage Dictionary Earrings -- Wisdom" are in this one.

So I googled that ... and what a can of worms that seems to be among designers! I can certainly see why it raises copyright issues, esp. for digital artists and graphic designers. I've never had my images used without permission before, but, after some thought on the issue, I've decided that I am OK with my images being used on Polyvore. It's just the low-resolution images being used (not my original designs being copied), with full credit given and links back to the originating page on the boutique site. And ..... it's page after gorgeous page (27 FULL pages on google!!) of my jewelry being shown in various outfits and mood pieces ... with LOTS of people viewing them and voting on them and ooohing and ahhing over them. You can't beat that kind of free advertising! Just look at some of these wonderful collages!

Polyvore collage by amytrip.
This one is so soft, like a golden autumn evening.
My Firebird hand-illustrated pendants are in this one.

Polyvore collage by Adoniram.
This one feels like a fashion page in a glossy magazine!
Another one of my hand-illustrated pendants is included.

Polyvore collage by vibeska.
Pink and sassy!
My "Vintage Dictionary Earrings -- Faith" are in this one.

The Vintage Dictionary earrings seemed to be highly used images. There were 41 sets for the black "Wisdom" ones alone, some posted just a few hours ago! "Faith" had 13.

Now, if the trend begins where people are selling these polyvore collages, as journal covers, notecards etc., or they claim ownership over the borrowed photos, then that is going to be whole different story from a designer's copyright viewpoint and I'll have to change my stance, but for now ..... if anyone out there wants to create a cool Polyvore collage including a lovely pic of any of my products, send me the link and I will post it on my blog :) It has to be cool though! :)