About ten photographers in Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France, received an unpleasant shock when they discovered their photographs had been stolen and were being sold at heavily discounted prices at the local weekly market. The stolen works were reproduced on metal plates and offered for sale at just 7.80 euros each.
The theft came to light during a night market organized in July 2025 on Henri IV Quay, when photography enthusiasts alerted the artists that a woman was selling their work without permission. "I was informed by phone by a friend who recognized some of my photos," explained one of the victimized photographers, who preferred to remain anonymous. "The plates are in small format, so there's no need for the shots to be of high quality. We assume this person took them from social media."
The affected artists and professionals contacted the association that organizes the night market to express their dissatisfaction with the unauthorized sales. Their complaints led to immediate action, as the vendor was subsequently removed from the night market. However, the problem persisted as the woman continued selling the stolen artwork at discount prices during the regular Saturday weekly market.
Yann Pelcat, a Dieppe-based photographer who was also victimized, took to social media to alert his colleagues and warn potential buyers about the illegal sales. The photographers emphasized that purchasing these stolen works could have legal consequences for buyers. "If this sale is illegal, they can be considered accomplices and therefore classified as receivers of stolen goods," one of the photographers warned.
The group of affected photographers is now considering legal action to protect their intellectual property rights. "We will probably file a police report initially," one of them stated. If this preliminary step fails to deter the seller from continuing her illegal activities, the photographers do not rule out taking the matter to court for a more comprehensive legal resolution.
