A common response to opening up your portfolio of work – allowing it to be shared, and not plastering it with giant watermarks – is the concern that somehow this invites “stealing” it. Artists should be proud of their work, but that pride can turn into covetousness: some creatives have an instinct to huddle in the dark, crouched protectively over their work, muttering “My preciousssss.”. Here is the reality:
- DRM and watermarking doesn’t stop anyone. If someone wants to rip off your work, they will: watermarking is a speed bump, nothing more.
- You’re not sharing every detail of your work process: you’re showcasing the results of your work. There is a distinct difference. Not everyone can do what you do, and claims that they can will quickly be proven false.
- Your profit lies in performance, not product. In the 21st century, the Rolling Stones don’t make their money from album sales. They make it from concert tickets and T-shirts. Your value lies in the fact that you can create the work you are showing, not the work itself per se.
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