Will It Ever End?

It has been a long time since I have publically aired my problems. I keep my personal and business problems to myself. I am above petty arguments and name calling—most of the time. This is not one of those times. I dislike high school games, prejudices and holier than thou attitudes. Nothing grates on my nerves more.

But, recent events have changed my own steadfast beliefs. As they do most of the time, the actual decision was taken from my hands.

A simple question was brought to my attention while I was at work on Friday. That S Squared Productions Graphic Art had taken a cover I had done for a client/very good friend, and had “merged it together with another cover” for a banner. Now, I couldn’t view this said piece of work, because JavaScript wasn’t working on my phone, and no pictures or videos showed up on Facebook. In a fatal error, I interpreted this as someone had taken my cover, or pieces thereof and made a design of their own from two pieces of art that didn’t belong to them, without any permissions. This isn’t the first time this had happened to me, and I merely regurgitated the legalities I have had to say a thousand times, a thousand different ways.

Now, another good friend, knowing my current schedule and lack of time offered to handle this for me. I agreed, because I was at work and busy. I wasn’t thinking about the repercussions of my agreement, and that is on ME. A letter was written to S Squared on my behalf.

When I got home from work, I was able to look at the art, and immediately saw they had not infringed on my derivative copyright. I immediately messaged all the involved parties who had brought this problem to me (three, to be exact) that S Squared had not done anything wrong. I thought that would end it. But I was wrong.

Words were exchanged….and well, you know the drill.

S Squared came to me personally to apologize, to where I, myself and me, told them they hadn’t done anything wrong. I APOLOGIZED TO THEM. That should have been the absolute end of it. Because, let’s face it, any work I do, no matter for who it is, is MY work. I made it. End of discussion.

S Squared is being humiliated, apparently in my name, in public. Not only that, the original problem has been trampled underneath a bunch of other issues that have nothing to do with what was or wasn’t done to a cover. I couldn’t bear to read all that had been said. Or the comments of the self righteous. Or the defense of my friend, who had never EVER done anything, but brought me a simple question. An inquiry.

I didn’t find out about anything past me saying “they did nothing wrong…” until a few hours ago. S Squared approached me again today, and told me about the public airing of MY business. I was enraged. I had to put my phone down and walk away.

There is so many miscommunications in this horrendous mess, I can’t even begin to pick the sticky web apart. My friend is being demeaned by “working professionals” with less respect than that S Squared was treated to. I am being told I am childish for being angry. I am now the villain.

I have had enough. I don’t have time for other’s pettiness. I don’t have the inclination to put up with abuse from people who take my name and reputation to destroy others. We are adults. And we better damned well act like it.

This occurrence ended one “acquaintance” today. I have washed my hands of this person. I will not be associated with the very reason indy-publishing has a dark underbelly. There will be repercussions for this post. I know this, the moment they read it. Let their needless drama windstorm blow my way, rather than toward a woman with a budding love of art, as I do, and is just trying to find a way to do that.

Don’t push me. I push back.

Kayden McLeod