Book Blogger Hop #4

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme that was originally created and hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books in March 2010. As of February 2013, it’s hosted by Billy at Coffee Addicted Writer.
Today’s Question(s) is …

Have you ever experienced a blogging nightmare? If so, what was it?

My Answer(s) is …

Yes. I’ve been blogging since June 2007. Back then, I didn’t understand copyright laws. I thought I could use any image I found on Google search if I didn’t use it to sell anything or claim I was the artist.

Around Christmas 2007, I found some artwork of a Christmas tree that I loved. I tacked the image onto a digital newsletter/card. I sent it as an email to family and friends and posted it on my blog for my followers to read. One of the artist’s friends found my post and reported me to the artist. The next morning, I woke up to 50 or so nasty comments calling me a thief and liar. She asked all her friends and acquaintances to post mean comments on my blog. Her friends berated me on Twitter as well.

I’m not condoning what I did. I now understand copyright laws so much better. From that time forward, I’ve never used an image without permission. Most of the artwork on my blog has been purchased and licensed from stock photo sites. I’ve also commissioned a couple of artist friends to draw me some things. I’m glad I learned from this and learned that I was in the wrong so I could make amends.

I do think the artist and her friends didn’t handle the situation in the best way possible. They didn’t need to berate me or post nasty comments on my blog. All the artist needed to do was tell me what I’d done and ask me to take the image down or give credit where it was due. I would’ve stopped using the image without any fight and apologize for my mistake. I did anyway. I let her know I was sorry for using her artwork without permission and told her it wasn’t my intention to steal it. I even posted about the situation and my apology on my blog to make my wrong-doing public. I also linked to her website so she’d get more traffic and possibly more work.

In the end, she forgave me. Because I took her artwork down, I wasn’t prosecuted. It was a very eye opening experience. I’m glad I could learn from my mistake and how to avoid doing the same thing again.

What about you? Have you ever experienced a blogging nightmare?

About Jenni Elyse


Hi, I'm Jenni. I’m an eclectic reader. I mostly read fiction and I favor fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, mystery, thrillers, and romance. The more kissing in a book the better!
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16 replies
  1. Wendy
    Wendy says:

    Wow, that sure was a nightmare. A simple request to take down the image should suffice first, and then if you don’t then bring on the comments! You handled it extremely well.

    Reply
  2. Margaret
    Margaret says:

    So your blogging nightmare was REAL? Yikes, I’ve only had bad dreams about people I don’t want to read my blog finding it. It’s tempting these days to see malice and dishonesty everywhere, but people should investigate first before attacking. That must have been a terrifying and upsetting time!

    Reply
    • Jenni Elyse
      Jenni Elyse says:

      It was, unfortunately. I agree that investigating and requesting should be how people deal with such things instead of going straight to attacking the wrong-doer. Thankfully, it ended well. 😀

      I can totally understand your fear about having people you don’t want to read your blog find it. I’ve felt that way about my Instagram feed. I didn’t want to lock down my feed so I had to block the people I didn’t want to find me.

      Reply
  3. Freda Mans-Labianca
    Freda Mans-Labianca says:

    You didn’t need to be dragged through the mud though. You should have been diplomatically contacted and discussed about it privately. This is the thing with bloggers, they can bring out the bullies. Even with a tiny mistake.

    Reply
    • Jenni Elyse
      Jenni Elyse says:

      Thanks, Freda! 😀 I totally agree. Because of the anonymity of the Internet, I think people are much more bold, out-spoken, and rude than they would be in real life. Of course there are some that don’t care about the anonymity and would act the same way to your face too.

      Reply
  4. Emily @Budget Tales Book Blog
    Emily @Budget Tales Book Blog says:

    That sounds awful and a proper nightmare. I did Business Studies at school and also worked as a Legal Secretary so had a bit of an idea, but if you don’t know then you don’t. I think that it was a bit mean not to talk to you about it first.

    I haven’t had any major upset, but then I have only been blogging for a year.

    Have a good weekend.

    Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
    My post:
    https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2022/10/28/book-blogger-hop-have-you-ever-experienced-a-blogging-nightmare-if-so-what-was-it/

    Reply
  5. Marie
    Marie says:

    Wow, that’s a scary situation to be in. I think the artist did overreact quite a bit. I’m glad you weren’t prosecuted for anything, and that it more or less worked out in the end.

    Reply
  6. Louise Hallett
    Louise Hallett says:

    Oh my word that sounds like a massive overreaction by the artist. Perhaps she’d been having a lot of issues and it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. However, it sounds very much like taking a sledgehammer to crack a walnut and a simple request that you remove the image should have been enough.

    Reply
    • Jenni Elyse
      Jenni Elyse says:

      Maybe I was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I never thought of that. While it did affect my confidence in blogging for a little while, it also helped me learn something I needed to know. I’m grateful that it happened. 🙂

      Reply

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