Can you copyright a tattoo?

**placidfemme** · 3rd August 2006, 13:06

I was just wondering if one (me) could copyright a tattoo image or design.

As some of you know I have two tattoo's which both have HUGE sentimental value to me. The tattoo on my arm is a deffinate original, and the angel on my back was also meant to be an original, which was designed by a close artist friend of mine, and then played with over and over until I was happy with the final outcome.

Now yesterday I saw someone here in Auckland with MY angel tattoo on her back, all she bothered to change was the wings (slightly) and the hair (mine looks better lol). Which depressed me immensly due to the sentimental value of my tattoos, exspecially the angel because its in honor of my mother...

I have now decided to get my angel (and whole back) modified to keep it looking original, and I know it will be because our IT guy is an artist, and a VERY good one, so we've been dawdiling with designs and its starting to look really good.

With my angel tattoo, I very rarely posted any pics on the net, its never been printed/published in a magazine because I don't let people take pictures of it, and I refused to let the tattoo artist take a picture of it once he was done, and I took my papers home with me...

So I have no idea how this chick got my design. She reckons she got it done at some palour in Onehunga (or somewhere South) and I got mine in Ponsonby... so I don't know...

But in future, is there anyway I can stop people from stealing my own skin art? (Other than not getting one at all)

**The_Dover** · 3rd August 2006, 13:08

Originally Posted by placidfemme

But in future, is there anyway I can stop people from stealing my own skin art? (Other than not getting one at all)

hang out with stevie wonder and ray charles?

**cowpoos** · 3rd August 2006, 13:09

you can copyright images....

**placidfemme** · 3rd August 2006, 13:09

Originally Posted by The_Dover

hang out with stevie wonder and ray charles?

lol me and my blind friends

**Smorg** · 3rd August 2006, 13:10

what would be the point? I wanted to copyright the swastika after I got it in the middle of my forehead but then I found out a few other guys had used it, I didnt kick up a stink though........im glad they liked my idea.

Angels arent original tattoo's anyway no matter what they look like

**placidfemme** · 3rd August 2006, 13:11

Originally Posted by cowpoos

you can copyright images....

is it easy to do? and how much do you think it'd cost...

Makes me angry that someone spends hours or even days/weeks designing something original and special, then spends possibly hours spread over a number of weeks (depending on the detail, and size) getting it done on the skin... and then fuckwit steals your design and uses it...

**Colapop** · 3rd August 2006, 13:11

In short, No I don't think you can. As much as you want it to be individual there are those that will admire your work and want the same for themselves. If you have given the design to the tattoo artist and they re-use it on someone - I'm not sure how that would work.

**Str8 Jacket** · 3rd August 2006, 13:12

A similar thing happened to me with one of my tats. Found out later that they had somehow drawn the design by memory and they then put the design up in the shop. Maybe your person did the same thing, especially if they modified it a bit they may have easily been able to remember the design...

**cowpoos** · 3rd August 2006, 13:13

Originally Posted by The_Dover

hang out with stevie wonder and ray charles?

thats why you hang out with winja,weasel,white trash and zed....make you look skinny aye fatso!!

**placidfemme** · 3rd August 2006, 13:14

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

A similar thing happened to me with one of my tats. Found out later that they had somehow drawn the design by memory and they then put the design up in the shop. Maybe your person did the same thing, especially if they modified it a bit they may have easily been able to remember the design...

yeah... rude though. But I thought Dermagraphics didn't do "re-makes" because when I was in there waiting for Sam's tattoo to be finished (which I designed too), a chick came in with a photo of someone else's ink... and the guy told her he only did originals...

**cowpoos** · 3rd August 2006, 13:15

Originally Posted by placidfemme

is it easy to do? and how much do you think it'd cost...

Makes me angry that someone spends hours or even days/weeks designing something original and special, then spends possibly hours spread over a number of weeks (depending on the detail, and size) getting it done on the skin... and then fuckwit steals your design and uses it...

http://www.copyright.co.nz/law.what.html

**The_Dover** · 3rd August 2006, 13:16

Originally Posted by cowpoos

thats why you hang out with winja,weasel,white trash and zed....make you look skinny aye fatso!!

nah, they are all maurice's mates.

bunch of poofs

**Str8 Jacket** · 3rd August 2006, 13:17

Originally Posted by placidfemme

yeah... rude though. But I thought Dermagraphics didn't do "re-makes" because when I was in there waiting for Sam's tattoo to be finished (which I designed too), a chick came in with a photo of someone else's ink... and the guy told her he only did originals...

Hmm, maybe its one rule for one and another for someone else?... Also it may also come down to $$. I was really angry about mine as my best mate had designed it a month before she passed away and I thought it would be a great way of remembering here, until I met very coincedently met someone with the identical tat, in exactly the same place as mine.