Until now I have featured instances of image piracy which have involve my own artwork. Today I learned about one company that makes a living stealing the artwork of artists. The company is CODY FOSTER. Here is a set of photos on flicker which exposes this company’s unabashed gall. Can you see any similarities in these products? http://www.flickr.com/photos/105498342@N02/
The artist which is currently being ripped of is Lisa Congdon. She would not have know if it was not for Jezebel.com writing an article
Is Giant Folk Art Company Cody Foster Stealing From Small Artists?
http://jezebel.com/is-giant-folk-art-company-cody-foster-stealing-from-sma-1446015759
What a disgraceful display of thieving!!! Lisa has started to fight back. She is “lawyer-ed up” and is ready for legal action.
Visit her blog, read her story and offer your support
http://lisacongdon.com/blog/2013/10/my-art-was-stolen-for-profit-and-how-you-can-help/
Since this story exposed Cody Foster several retailers have pulled the company’s products:
http://www.viralnewschart.com/ShowLink.aspx?linkId=16557047
Image Copyright Hall of Shame 
Some developments of interest re: this case…
http://faso.com/theartedge/66723/lisa-congdon-vs-cody-foster-what-about-the-photographers
414 comments and counting, WOW!!
I think the guy made a good point but there is a difference in using a photo as reference and taking one’s painting and using it
the way Cody Foster did. I scour the net for raven photos and then deconstruct and reconstruct and recompose. I guess it is a matter of degrees and intent. Cody clearly wanted to take the image. Congdon used photos to reference her artwork. there is a difference in degree and intent. I am sure there are people on both sides of the fence and on the fence with this one
It certainly appears Lisa used photos (and paintings) for more than just a reference. See some of the comments under photos to see examples of her paintings overlaid over the original photo/painting. It certainly appears she traced some of the images line for line, shadow for shadow. The only question now is did she have permissions to do so?
Again, artist do use photos for reference. These illustration are very similar to these photos but the content and compositions are different while the Cody Foster images are obviously a direct copy. As far as asking permission, it is a tough call. some artists or photographers consider direct copying a violation, while others allow the use of a photo as reference or for educational purpose. If a researcher used one of these images in a paper on climate change, some legal pundits say that is fair use because it is for reference or educational study.
It is always safe to give credit where credit is due.