opinions are like elbows…

… everybody has one. Ok, I know that’s not how the saying goes, but this is a family-friendly blog. Besides, I gave up vulgarity when I gave birth 8 years ago. After years of Teletubbies, Blues Clues, and movies with talking animals, I’m not even sure I remember what the dirty words are :)

Copyright issues have recently come up on one of the message boards I read, and I feel the need to get this out of my system without addressing anyone specifically. (I’m diplomatic that way) It all began with the usual basic copyright questions, then there was a bit of chatter, but then someone popped on with a comment along the lines of “it’s so nice to see the different takes on the copyright issue.” Which is what set me off.

There are no “different takes” on copyright law. The law is the law no matter who you are or what you do for a living! I have never understood why copyright law is so confusing… If you have an original chart you may sell it, give it away, burn it in your backyard, staple it to your wall, or whatever else you’d like to do with it privately. You may NOT scan, fax, photocopy, post in yourwebshots album, or in any other way *share* that original chart with anyone else. Simple, no?

Why are there opinions on what the copyright law is?? There can certainly be opinions on the validity of a law’s existence, but never an opinion on what it IS. Take for example the very volatile abortion laws: everyone knows that the law says (with minor nuances for individual states) that abortion is legal. There are no opinions on what the law is, but rather opinions about whether or not the law should even exist. Once a law is written down, there it is… opinion free. All you have to do is read it, and you know the law. Choosing to obey the law…well, I guess that’s where the opinion part comes in, isn’t it?

I think I’ll start a “copyright” category on the blog; after all it’s not as if I have anything else to do (she said sarcastically). I do think more education is needed on the subject, and maybe if I’m pumping out explanations once in a while, my blood won’t boil when I read those inane comments on the various message boards. I can just relax, knowing I’ve done my teeny-tiny part to keep this industry healthy and growing.

 

am I nuts?!

Early last week, a fellow designer brought to the attention of my DesignerBiz group a website where copyright infringement went on with reckless abandon… a den of thieves. Cross stitch charts (and patterns for all crafts) were being scanned and posted for anyone to print out! And I mean by the THOUSANDS. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. Of course, I knew pattern sharing happened, but I had no clue of the magnitude of the problem. Several designers have infiltrated the group and are making records of offenders; many will be filing suit against the infringers as well as the webhosting service. A few of the more vocal designers have been bombarding the site with warnings of the illegality of posting/sharing copies of patterns and the infringers have been running for cover. I do hope that at least a few of the lawsuits get public play, because this is an important issue.

While watching this drama unfold, I began to question my sanity for trying to make a go of needlework design. What in the world posesses me to invest so much time, money, and energy in creating and promoting something so easily stolen?! For a moment, I thought of quitting. But fortunately my ever-present rosy outlook on things soon took over. I know so many lovely people who are stitchers and I so thoroughly enjoy being part of the stitching community that to stop designing is really what would be nuts. I can’t let a few bad eggs spoil what seems to me to be the life I am meant to lead.

Thank you, from the very depths of my heart, to all of the honest needleworkers out there! It is because of you that I am able to enjoy my work. And because of you, my daughter thinks I’m famous… a funny story: I was packing up a few orders the other day, something I usually do while she’s at school, and she asked what I was putting all my charts in the boxes for. I told her because shops had asked for them, and explained the process to her and she said, “wow, mommy, you’re famous!” I laughed and said, no I wasn’t at all, but using her 7 year old wisdom she told me that if anyone wanted to pay for something I made, I had to be famous. Otherwise no one would want it. Huh.

 

stolen image fun

This morning I found out that someone had stolen a graphic from my website, and with some help from my DesignerBiz group, was able to have a bit of fun with an unpleasant situation. The culprit was linking directly to my image so I renamed the original graphic on my website and then uploaded a new graphic with the old file name. Now the image shown on the culprit’s website makes a bit different statement… pictured here is the revised version of my “imagine” graphic; the original can be seen at my website.

What’s interesting is that the original webpage that I found the illegal usage on promotes automatic weaponry, including sniper rifles. I’m not quite sure how my sweet little graphic fits that theme because the site is completely in Chinese and I can’t make heads or tails of it. However, I did see that my graphic was on every page, and not just the gun page, so maybe it fits the overall theme of the site and this was just an odd tangent ?!

I wonder how long it will take them to notice the change??

While on the subject, I’d like to share a link to a fantastic explanation of Why Infringement Happens. I encourage you to indulge in an “educational moment”, as this explanation clears up several common misperceptions about pattern copyrights.