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Post by paperamy on Sept 22, 2017 11:19:48 GMT
This might make me a bit of a bitch but I report all copyright and trademark infringement when I see it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a company I shop from, like Freckled Fawn, or a company we all love to hate, like Studio Calico. It also doesn’t matter if the company who is being copied is small or huge. I don’t contact the company doing the infringement, I go right to the company who owns the copyright/trademark.
I don’t go searching for infringement, like I don’t browse Etsy to find things to report, but if I’m shopping at an online store and see something that is an obvious infringement, I report it.
I also get quickly turned off by companies who repeatedly infringe on copyrights. I’ll overlook a one time thing, as mistakes happen, but if a company continues to design and attempt to sell items that are infringing on a copyright or trademark, I will no longer shop there.
ETA: I posted this clarification in a comment but thought I would post here as well.
The infringements I report are clear abuses, like taking an artist’s drawing and printing it on a t-shirt. Or using a trademarked name to sell products, like when Studio Calico named their kit Sweet Valley High with the addons names after characters in the books. Or Freckled Fawn selling products that are the logo to a toy (I actually didn’t report FF but saw the obvious infringement and remember they quickly removed said items). Or an author selling a book that has pictures taken straight from a blog of an designer without permission.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,838 
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Post by peppermintpatty on Sept 22, 2017 11:25:57 GMT
No I don't. IMHO, if you don't know the details of the copyright, it doesn't really give you the right to make the determination if there was a violation. Just because a company is large, does not mean that they have a patent on an item or that they even know that a similar item exists. I'm a jewelry designer and lots of patterns and techniques can be designed by different people. While there are copyrights on patterns, stitches and techniques are not and there are so many variations. I think it is up to the company that holds the patent to do the discovering and I would be beyond pissed if someone stuck their nose in my business and reported me for something that clearly was not stealing but they thought it was. The time and money to clear these issues up can completely cripple a small business owner.
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Post by disneypal on Sept 22, 2017 11:33:23 GMT
To be honest, I really don't notice things like that but if I did - I probably wouldn't take the time to report it.
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Post by gar on Sept 22, 2017 11:34:07 GMT
Have you been affected by infringement in the past? You sound pretty strident about it. And I agree with what disneypal posted. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 2, 2024 23:26:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 11:35:05 GMT
Nope, life is too short for that sort of malarkey.
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Post by Scrapbrat on Sept 22, 2017 11:44:11 GMT
Lawyer weighing in (though I do not practice IP law). Actually, what I've noticed is that if a seller does have a license to legitimately sell things incorporating a copyrighted image, such as designs featuring Disney characters, they advertise it. They clearly say that their stuff is licensed, because that is a positive selling point. I'm with the OP on this one -- I don't report things I see, but I don't see anything wrong with reporting possible violations. In many cases, it's pretty obvious that things are illegal. And there aren't "terms" of a copyright -- the seller either has a license to use the copyrighted image or whatever it is, or they don't. But, I also think that many individuals selling on sites like Etsy are not necessarily aware that they are violating someone's copyright. They should be, but they aren't. Photos, for example. Some think that if you can copy and print a photo from the internet, there is no problem with using it. So you see bracelets on Etsy made of a dozen charms, each with a photo from some TV series.
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Post by PEAcan pie on Sept 22, 2017 11:45:58 GMT
I would not feel comfortable reporting on something without being 100% that it was infringement. Frankly I would put my energy elsewhere.
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,984
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Post by blue tulip on Sept 22, 2017 11:48:08 GMT
yes. I have had my graphic designs ripped off by other shops, and so I'm especially sensitive to the issue.
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Post by paperamy on Sept 22, 2017 11:56:22 GMT
No I don't. IMHO, if you don't know the details of the copyright, it doesn't really give you the right to make the determination if there was a violation. Just because a company is large, does not mean that they have a patent on an item or that they even know that a similar item exists. I'm a jewelry designer and lots of patterns and techniques can be designed by different people. While there are copyrights on patterns, stitches and techniques are not and there are so many variations. I think it is up to the company that holds the patent to do the discovering and I would be beyond pissed if someone stuck their nose in my business and reported me for something that clearly was not stealing but they thought it was. The time and money to clear these issues up can completely cripple a small business owner. I see your point. The infringements I report are clear abuses, like taking an artist’s drawing and printing it on a t-shirt. Or using a trademarked name to sell products, like when Studio Calico named their kit Sweet Valley High with the addons names after characters in the books. Or Freckled Fawn selling products that are the logo to a toy (I actually didn’t report FF but saw the obvious infringement and remember they quickly removed said items). Or an author selling a book that has pictures taken straight from a blog of an designer without permission. Not that any of that will justify my actions to you, but just clarifying that I don’t report grey areas like what you mention, about similar designs or products. It has to be completely clear for me to report. |
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Post by gar on Sept 22, 2017 12:00:17 GMT
So have you been personally affected in the past?
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Nink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,947
Location: North Idaho
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Post by Nink on Sept 22, 2017 12:03:19 GMT
Nope. Honestly I never pay attention to that sort of thing and I'm not sure I'd know it if I saw it.
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Post by paperamy on Sept 22, 2017 12:07:02 GMT
So have you been personally affected in the past? Nope. |
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Post by wezee on Sept 22, 2017 13:36:22 GMT
No. The copyrights office has gotten ridiculous. People are copyrighting common words, it's impossible to tell if they are copyrighted let alone if it's copyrighted for that medium.
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Post by teri on Sept 22, 2017 13:38:27 GMT
ain't nobody got time for dat
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Sept 22, 2017 13:43:00 GMT
Nope.
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georgiapea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,846
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Post by georgiapea on Sept 22, 2017 14:12:44 GMT
No, I would never spend my time searching for such things. A family member who is a jewelry designer had someone copying her work and selling it in the same city. She was pretty upset about it and contacted the other person.
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,394
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Sept 22, 2017 14:14:53 GMT
No. I am too busy and not sufficiently interested.
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Post by ferblover on Sept 22, 2017 14:15:48 GMT
I don't even report my annoying neighbor's infractions to the HOA and that directly impacts me so no, no I do not. Not that I notice and if I did I probably would think they have permission.
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Post by cmpeter on Sept 22, 2017 14:29:32 GMT
No, to be honest, I don't think I would even notice.
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Post by ScrapsontheRocks on Sept 22, 2017 15:06:44 GMT
So have you been personally affected in the past? Not that you were talking to me or any megalomaniac stuff like that, but yes. I have been ripped off plenty of times. Intellectual Property theft was an almost constant feature of my business. The trick is to stay ahead, develop new stuff with the energy you would need to expend to pursue the infringers, and when the poop (as the peas are obsessed with that this week) hits the fan, charge a hefty fee to fix the mess caused by incorrectly updated or sloppily copied Intellectual Property  |
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Post by gar on Sept 22, 2017 15:13:33 GMT
I'm sure that must be something you need to think about constantly ScrapsontheRocks - what a challenge! |
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Sept 22, 2017 15:26:07 GMT
IMHO, if you don't know the details of the copyright, it doesn't really give you the right to make the determination if there was a violation. Just because a company is large, does not mean that they have a patent on an item or that they even know that a similar item exists. ^^^ that. I would have no idea whether anyone actually went through the proper channels to use a particular design or not, so why would I report it? ETA: I see in your later post that you report very clear violations-- and the examples you listed are VERY clear violations. (although there *might* have been a chance that Studio Calico got permission to use the Sweet Valley High names, right?!? lol... I know, most likely not. just kidding!) |
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Post by Patter on Sept 22, 2017 15:57:52 GMT
I have once only because it was so blatant, and I felt the company/designer needed to know. There is a cross stitch designer named Thea Gouverneur. Some of her pieces are quite expensive (over $100) but it includes the intricate pattern, floss, fabric, etc. A person on eBay was copying the patterns and selling them for $10 or so. Sure, if I had the pattern I could buy the materials much cheaper than $100+ but I wasn't about to do that. I was searching for full kits that people may have purchased and didn't want when I came across it. The company must have contacted someone because the listing was removed, and the times I have searched since then I haven't seen the patterns for sale like that again.
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Post by paperamy on Sept 22, 2017 15:58:10 GMT
although there *might* have been a chance that Studio Calico got permission to use the Sweet Valley High names, right?!? lol... I know, most likely not. just kidding!) I remember when that happened, and they changed the name to Sweet Valley and addon names were changed to random names instead of character names. That was several years ago, but I recall reading a statement on it. Not sure if SC was forced to post a public explanation or apology, or if someone who reported it got a response back from the publisher. |
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Post by lucyg on Sept 22, 2017 16:01:13 GMT
So have you been personally affected in the past? Why do you think she would have had to have been personally affected to care about this issue? I've never been personally affected, but I care about it, too. I did work in the craft book publishing industry, and I've seen the damage done by people who have no respect for copyright and trademark rights. OP, I do not report them, although if they pissed me off enough in some other way, I might consider it.  I do, however, note it in my head and stay aware that they're a company (or person) who has no qualms about stealing other people's creations and making money off of them. Or even not making money. I've seen plenty of people who buy a pattern, scan it, and post it on the Internet for the 5,000 members of their online crafts group so no one ever has to pay for it again.  |
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Post by giatocj on Sept 22, 2017 16:02:46 GMT
That kind of thing is not even a blip on my radar...I never even notice them. Life is just way too short.
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Post by lucyg on Sept 22, 2017 16:06:28 GMT
IMHO, if you don't know the details of the copyright, it doesn't really give you the right to make the determination if there was a violation. Just because a company is large, does not mean that they have a patent on an item or that they even know that a similar item exists. ^^^ that. I would have no idea whether anyone actually went through the proper channels to use a particular design or not, so why would I report it? ETA: I see in your later post that you report very clear violations-- and the examples you listed are VERY clear violations. (although there *might* have been a chance that Studio Calico got permission to use the Sweet Valley High names, right?!? lol... I know, most likely not. just kidding!) If they did license Sweet Valley High (jeez, I didn't even know that's still a thing), the product info would say so. It would likely be part of the licensing agreement that that statement be included in all marketing materials. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Sept 22, 2017 16:22:18 GMT
I don't, and I have been personally affected by people blatantly copying my designs and passing them off as their own in the past. People who do that kind of thing will get bitten by karma sooner or later.
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Post by genny on Sept 22, 2017 16:30:11 GMT
No I don't. I don't even notice it to be honest.
I had someone report us for something though. We make signs and other specialty items. One of my customers is Salt Life. We do a fair amount of work for them as they are headquartered here now. One of their employees had us make a set of corn hole boards for them. So it's been on my business Facebook page for over a year when I get a nasty email from Facebook that I've been reported and one more infringement complaint will result in our business page being indefinitely suspended! Then another email with some legal jargon that scared the hell out of me.
I forwarded the emails to the person at their corporate office that placed the order and she had things straightened out in short order and i got an apology from the person in their office that handles copyright stuff. Had they scrolled a couple more posts down they would have seen all the banners we did for them and a vehicle wrap as well.
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Post by LilyRose on Sept 22, 2017 16:41:15 GMT
I did once. I follow a small artist on a FB who designs a line of products featuring cartoon cats. She's small, she and her husband run the business out of their home. She had previously shared that people were reporting finding enamel pins with her cats at the Francesca line of stores, so infringement was on her radar.
I bought a pair of pajamas from JC Penney online, and when they arrived I realized the cat print was a dead ringer for her cats. So I privately messaged the artist to tell her my suspicions and share a photo. She thanked me and said she'd share it with her attorney. Because she's a "little guy" and just trying to earn a living, I wanted to help her out.
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I do, however, note it in my head and stay aware that they're a company (or person) who has no qualms about stealing other people's creations and making money off of them. 
