No Doubt About It, It's A Small World

I'm not going to write a post about the subject of Copyright. There are many excellent articles and blog posts out there on this topic.

What I am going to write about is using my patterns to make products to sell for your personal and financial gain.

To me, the design process is a very personal one. It starts with an idea in my head, my idea; a vision, my vision; then a sketch, then figuring out if it's possible to make it work, not only for me but for others.  Prototypes, numerous ones that hit the trash.  Yes, that's fabric, batting, threads and time in the trash because it's just not quite right.  Often many times.

When it is finally "right", more samples are made, photographed each step of the way. There's downloading and Photoshopping and then hours of writing, reviewing, critiquing and rewriting.  Finally the printing, the folding, the bagging - the paper, the cardstock, the ink and once again, the time.

Most designers state right on the pattern how you can use their designs.  Mine states "For Personal Use Only" and then "Questions? Comments? Email me". And then right there on the pattern is a working email address.

I purposely left my usage statement pretty broad based - because I'm willing to talk. Tell me how you want to use it, where you want to sell it - I'm willing to listen.

So my advice to you is if you like a designer's pattern, and believe it would provide business opportunities for you, ASK the designer first.

Because that very same internet that provides exposure for you to sell your handmade goods made from my design is the very same internet that I'm surfing on at Oh Dark Thirty in The Morning on what is already panning out to be a not such a great day. And when I come across MY designs without giving credit where credit is due and without permission, then I find it does nothing for my not such a great mood anyhow.

You wouldn't come to my house and take one of my kids and claim them as yours, so please don't claim my designs as yours.

Ask. Email me. We can chat.

Comments

[Chris]

Oh no. Sorry you are having to deal with this issue. Hope it works out to your satisfaction.

[Candied Fabrics]

UGH! Sorry to hear about this...what a bad way to start your day at oh-dark-thirty in the morning!

[cherrie]

O dear. This seems to be such an unfair situation. I like your analogy to stealing your babies because that is what they are. Are you sure though that what you saw was copyright infringement and not just a similarity? I looked to the left of your post and saw the etsy photos and what looked just like my folders which I know I designed myself but could easily look like your goods. Not only is the world so small but minds totally unrelated often come up with the same thoughts and designs and the availability of eye fodder on the net that could get lost in our brains may influence what we come up with as our own originals. Not sure just what I was trying to get at there but you show a lovely attitude towards sharing and it certainly would be nice if someone using your work would ask permission to make money out of it. Cherrie

[laura]

I've read about this same problem on other blogs.From blatantly stealing designs and claiming them as their own, to selling without permission. Your work is very unique so I'm sure spotting a rip off would be pretty easy. If possible you really should contact these people and kindly remind them that you hold the copywrite. Does it help? Who knows, but I wouldn't want to be the recipient of one of those 'gotcha' emails.

[Laura]

That is just not cool. Why must people do that?