I've never really had any artwork stolen before... at least, not to my knowledge.
I posted my new tattoo on Google+ - showing my old tattoo as well to show how the two fit together.
My compass tattoo took 7 years of staring, adjusting, getting input, changing, etc. and finally with a tattoo artists paid time to get me around the final hurdle... then I spent another 8 months getting it just perfect. 7 years. I came to DA a lot for inspiration... a curve I liked here, the way something fit together there gave me great ideas.
So when I finished my tattoo design, I posted it on DA, so I could pass along the karma, so to speak.
So today on Google+ a friend asked me what the compass tattoo was, because a friend of hers got a similar tattoo TODAY. I asked her to share with me the photo of it.
Sure enough. There it was. Missing the yin/yang symbol in the middle, and a few slight changes, but it was deeply obvious that it was my design.
I'm trying to feel flattered, but in the end I feel ripped off. What are the chances that my friend would have a person who just got that ink today?
How many other people have it?
I'd take it down, but it's out there. It's too late. Trying to remove stuff off of the internet is like "trying to remove pee out of a swimming pool." It wouldn't be so bad if it was a photo or something. A photo doesn't take 7 years to make. A photo isn't permanently imprinted on your body.
I knew this might happen. Of course it might happen. But now that it has, it bothers me.
I may take it down anyway. I'll sleep on it.