What would you do about nFT of someone else's art?

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Started by JessicaEsq_21 · Dec 15, 2025 · 522 views · 12 replies
For informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
JE
JessicaEsq_21 OP

Quick background on my situation โ€” any input appreciated.

NFT of someone else's art. I've been dealing with this for about 15 weeks now and the situation isn't improving.

This involves software/code I developed over the past 32 months. I do not have documentation proving my ownership and timeline.

Has anyone been through something similar? What worked for you?

AI
adulting_is_hard_12

Every time I see a post like this...

In my case, it took about 1-3 months to resolve. The key was escalating to a supervisor/manager.

LB
legally_bland_10

I went through almost the exact same thing.

I ended up having everything documented, which cost about $3-6 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

DT
desperate_times_etc_10

Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.

What worked for me was filing with the appropriate government agency. It took 4-8 months but was worth it fwiw.

BW
brandon.w_3

Been there. Here's what I learned.

In my case, it took about 4-8 months to resolve. The key was filing with the appropriate government agency.

JE
jenny_2024_10

I went through almost the exact same thing.

I ended up escalating to a supervisor/manager, which cost about $1-3 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

TL
Kelly_TL Moderator

Licensed attorney โ€” a few thoughts. Here's my take on the legal issues.

There are several legal theories that could apply here. The strongest is probably 17 U.S.C. ยง 106, which requires showing substantially similar.

The practical consideration here is cost vs. potential recovery. For disputes under $10K, small claims court is often the best route.

JE
jenny_2024_15

Yep, this is textbook.

The trap most people fall into is having everything documented. I'd recommend keeping a detailed timeline instead.

BB
broke_but_hopeful_4

I've dealt with this before.

In my case, it took about 1-3 months to resolve. The key was escalating to a supervisor/manager.

BA
BarAdmitted2019_24

This happened to me too. Have you tried filing a complaint with the relevant agency? In my case they investigated and it got resolved without needing a lawyer.

RP
Rosa_P_30

I work in this industry and unfortunately this is very common. The good news is that when people actually push back with legal representation, companies usually settle.

LP
laura.p_20

Just want to point out โ€” the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.

LP
laura.p_3

This happened to my coworker too.

In my case, it took about 2-4 months to resolve. The key was hiring an attorney to send the initial letter.