Dating your Pictures

You have probably seen that on my pictures I always put a date down on it and you may have wondered why. Well I shall tell you and the answer is quite simple.There are 2 reasons why I date the work I do and they are:

1) To be able to look back and see when I did a drawing and be able to compare my ability to a previous time.

2) Proof that I did something at a certain time.

The first reason is simple enough. Being able to look back  at your past works and know when they were done helps you compare your ability from then and now and lets you see how things have progresses over a set time period.

The second reason needs a bit more explanation. You may not think that yo need proof of when you did something and for some of the pictures you do that is true. But when you are doing original images that no-one else has done, whether it is art or concept art etc. this kind of proof, accompanied with your signature or name on it, is proof of copyright in case you ever get into a dispute because someone has used your work and is trying to pass it off as their own or has stolen your idea and is trying to claim it is theirs.

If you take a look at comic books their copyright uses includes a phrase saying that the "distinctive likeness" of their characters is also protected by copyright. So even if they haven't created a character they may be able to claim that some  are just too similar in appearance to their own and claim the copyright. Even if it is your own idea and you think it is 100% original.

Using carbon dating it is possible for scientists to accurately date the age of your ink/pen/paint and determine whether your image was done before or after someone else's. So if someone is trying to pass of your stuff as their own when it is carbon dated you could prove that yours was done at an earlier time, thus making you the owner.

I hope that this post, which turned out longer than expected, has provided a bit of insight into dating your work and copyright.