Seller claiming book covers, but all six to ten years old. Is this a scam?

[richardl2]

Hello, everyone, I hate to sound a sour note, but when I checked on a seller's very nice looking book covers used in the seller's portfolio, I found the books (eight or nine of them,) were all six to ten years old. Could there be a legitimate reason for this, such as remakes, or is the seller fraudulently claiming them?

[newsmike]

They probably have not updated their portfolio.  No need to update every time they design something.  How were their reviews?

Stairway to Heaven was released in 1971, and still rocks. 

[richardl2]

Thanks, Mike. Eighty reviews, all five stars. About half or so were from one source who seemed to be hiring the seller for typesetting or magazine layout work.

[newsmike]

Just now, richardl2 said:

Thanks, Mike. Eighty reviews, all five stars. About half or so were from one source who seemed to be hiring the seller for typesetting or magazine layout work.

Sounds as if you are safe. 

[richardl2]

Now many of the books pictured in the reviews can't be found on Google.

[imagination7413]

9 hours ago, richardl2 said:

Now many of the books pictured in the reviews can't be found on Google.

How are you searching? By image, or by the title?

[richardl2]

2 hours ago, imagination7413 said:

How are you searching? By image, or by the title?

Thanks I7413. By title and author name together.

[melanielm]

If you can't find the books, how do you know they are 6-10 years old?

It's possible the person made mock book covers for books that don't actually exist as portfolio samples. They may have sold pre-made covers in the past but are shifting sales to Fiverr. I'm just throwing out possibilities.

[richardl2]

27 minutes ago, melanielm said:

If you can't find the books, how do you know they are 6-10 years old?

It's possible the person made mock book covers for books that don't actually exist as portfolio samples. They may have sold pre-made covers in the past but are shifting sales to Fiverr. I'm just throwing out possibilities.

Thanks, Melanielm. Most of the books in the portfolio are six to ten years old, as I stated in the original post. The books I can't find at all have their covers on display with a review from the buyer. In a google search, I have found a few of the books in the reviews, but the covers are very poor compared to the books in the portfolio

[melanielm]

34 minutes ago, richardl2 said:

but the covers are very poor compared to the books in the portfolio

Huge red flag. I'd suspect the older work is not theirs in that case.

[richardl2]

Finding same art image on multiple sites. Who owns it?

I know there is some leeway with using images if they're changed somewhat, but I have found one image on a fiverr profile that can also be found on dozens of other art sites. The original is evidently from a movie still. Would I have to worry about a copywrite/ownership problem if I use this image on a book cover? Also, how do I judge the freelancer's skills/talent if the freelancer is not the original artist?

[newsmike]

1 hour ago, richardl2 said:

I know there is some leeway with using images if they're changed somewhat, but I have found one image on a fiverr profile that can also be found on dozens of other art sites. The original is evidently from a movie still. Would I have to worry about a copywrite/ownership problem if I use this image on a book cover? Also, how do I judge the freelancer's skills/talent if the freelancer is not the original artist?

If it is from a movie still and a Fiverr seller is trying to sell it to you, it is 100% stolen, and you will be vulnerable if the actual owner detects such usage. These people who steal from others to resell can get you work taken down, or even sued. Block that seller and look for TRS/PRO sellers with a history of good feedback.

[richardl2]

23 minutes ago, newsmike said:

If it is from a movie still and a Fiverr seller is trying to sell it to you, it is 100% stolen, and you will be vulnerable if the actual owner detects such usage. These people who steal from others to resell can get you work taken down, or even sued. Block that seller and look for TRS/PRO sellers with a history of good feedback.

Thanks, Mike. I found one site where it referenced the actress and movie. I'll see if I can find that again, and put up a link.

[imagination7413]

No need. Stolen is stolen, we here on the forums don't need proof. If you want to report that profile, though, you can absolutely link the proof in the report.

[richardl2]

Here is the link (I hope.) I should say that this movie still is unmistakably the image on which the various other interpretations were based, but they have all been altered slightly in shading or coloration. I also put a link to one of many interpretations of that movie still. I hope the links work. No way to test them before replying.

https://kinolorber.com/product/the-well-diggers-daughter-dvd#gallery-tray-6

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/lRK3La

 

Edited August 6, 2023 by richardl2

[catwriter]

As @imagination7413 said, there's no need to share links with us. If you use a copyrighted image for your book cover (and a still from a movie is definitely copyrighted), you could get in trouble.

This is forum, not customer support, so you don't need to prove anything to us (nor can you report someone on the forum).

[imagination7413]

Um, that one was clearly labled as 'practice', using the image as a base refernce, and even shows the starting pencil sketch. They're not claiming the original image is theirs and as far as I can tell, it's also not being sold. 

[richardl2]

I don't know what happened, but the thread I started this morning just got added to the bottom of a thread I started two weeks ago. I don't know if any of the previous commenters will find it, but anyway, thanks. I did post links to the movie still original, and to one of the modified redos. Thanks for you responses.

[richardl2]

I guess I have some concerns that the seller is not saying that it is a reconstruction instead of an original work.