scrapnnana
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Post by scrapnnana on Jul 30, 2019 16:18:00 GMT
If this has been posted here, please forgive me, but it looks like Nancy Nally did post a small update at the end of June. Sizzix Lawsuit update
You need to scroll down the page a short ways, but the header is “Ellison’s Ongoing Legal Disputes.” It looks like Avery Elle lost their motion against Sizzix, claiming it was harassment and a frivolous lawsuit. |
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kate
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Post by kate on Jul 30, 2019 18:05:41 GMT
Interesting - TFS
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Jul 30, 2019 18:18:14 GMT
Wow...I didn't know that MISTI was suing SU...it is NOTHING alike. They do similar things, but the SU version does a lot more. I seriously hope that woman goes bankrupt to lawyer's fees.
Also makes me feel better about considering knock offs of some TH sizzix dies. I about laughed out loud when TH tried to justify the $30 price point for his build a santa die while also explaining it was worth it because it took an hour to assemble...so more time to put together = justification for a higher price point, got it!! For $3 or $4 on Ali or eBay I might buy it and see if it's worth the effort...just been waiting on reviews to see if it actually assembles as intended. A lot of the reviews seem to say this release's copies look almost exactly like the original, if not identical, so I'm wondering if it's possible the production of sizzix has changed to overseas. Then again, that would require me to know where they were produced before the sue happy CEO took over.
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Post by hop2 on Jul 30, 2019 18:40:17 GMT
Wow...I didn't know that MISTI was suing SU...it is NOTHING alike. They do similar things, but the SU version does a lot more. I seriously hope that woman goes bankrupt to lawyer's fees. Also makes me feel better about considering knock offs of some TH sizzix dies. I about laughed out loud when TH tried to justify the $30 price point for his build a santa die while also explaining it was worth it because it took an hour to assemble...so more time to put together = justification for a higher price point, got it!! For $3 or $4 on Ali or eBay I might buy it and see if it's worth the effort...just been waiting on reviews to see if it actually assembles as intended. A lot of the reviews seem to say this release's copies look almost exactly like the original, if not identical, so I'm wondering if it's possible the production of sizzix has changed to overseas. Then again, that would require me to know where they were produced before the sue happy CEO took over. Sizzix dies are a better quality than any I’ve bought on Ali express. I don’t think I’ve bought any knock off though. The metal is thinner, the cut blade is more shallow, the cut blade is uneven depth, paper sticks in them more or doesn’t cut properly, there are sharp points & burrs to cut your fingers. Plus I have to cut them apart which usually means I get cuts from flinging or flying pieces. Yes $30 is kind of absurd but $3 is not going to get you the same quality. There are happy mediums out there. Saying that, I no longer buy sizzix dies right now either. I don’t like how they are suing companies that had thin dies while they were still making plastic cases dies only. I prefer the happy mediums stay in business. |
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Jul 30, 2019 19:26:56 GMT
Wow...I didn't know that MISTI was suing SU...it is NOTHING alike. They do similar things, but the SU version does a lot more. I seriously hope that woman goes bankrupt to lawyer's fees. Also makes me feel better about considering knock offs of some TH sizzix dies. I about laughed out loud when TH tried to justify the $30 price point for his build a santa die while also explaining it was worth it because it took an hour to assemble...so more time to put together = justification for a higher price point, got it!! For $3 or $4 on Ali or eBay I might buy it and see if it's worth the effort...just been waiting on reviews to see if it actually assembles as intended. A lot of the reviews seem to say this release's copies look almost exactly like the original, if not identical, so I'm wondering if it's possible the production of sizzix has changed to overseas. Then again, that would require me to know where they were produced before the sue happy CEO took over. Sizzix dies are a better quality than any I’ve bought on Ali express. I don’t think I’ve bought any knock off though. The metal is thinner, the cut blade is more shallow, the cut blade is uneven depth, paper sticks in them more or doesn’t cut properly, there are sharp points & burrs to cut your fingers. Plus I have to cut them apart which usually means I get cuts from flinging or flying pieces. Yes $30 is kind of absurd but $3 is not going to get you the same quality. There are happy mediums out there. Saying that, I no longer buy sizzix dies right now either. I don’t like how they are suing companies that had thin dies while they were still making plastic cases dies only. I prefer the happy mediums stay in business. Hence me waiting for reviews, lol. I think for the simpler dies it wouldn't be a problem, but I'd love to see if that layering die actually works or not and won't buy it if it doesn't. If it does, I can watch the TH replay again and mark up the backs to code them by color the way the originals are etched. |
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Post by Embri on Jul 30, 2019 21:32:17 GMT
Sizzix dies are a better quality than any I’ve bought on Ali express. I don’t think I’ve bought any knock off though. The metal is thinner, the cut blade is more shallow, the cut blade is uneven depth, paper sticks in them more or doesn’t cut properly, there are sharp points & burrs to cut your fingers. Plus I have to cut them apart which usually means I get cuts from flinging or flying pieces. Yes $30 is kind of absurd but $3 is not going to get you the same quality. There are happy mediums out there. The quality on AliExpress varies widely, from completely unusable to indistinguishable from retail. You never know which end of the spectrum what you order will land on, though I'd say the average is very good to excellent. Of the stuff that didn't function, I've never had a problem getting a full refund except for once, where I got a partial. Just take clear pictures of the issue and dispute. There's also a right way to take dies apart - you need flush cutters and jewelry pliers, and you should always cut/bend into a thick fabric like a stamp shammy so no metal goes flying. Follow that up with some diamond files and you'll have edges nicer than what's sold at the store. This holds equally true for retail sets that have edge burrs or come as a connected set. |
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Jul 30, 2019 21:45:35 GMT
Sizzix dies are a better quality than any I’ve bought on Ali express. I don’t think I’ve bought any knock off though. The metal is thinner, the cut blade is more shallow, the cut blade is uneven depth, paper sticks in them more or doesn’t cut properly, there are sharp points & burrs to cut your fingers. Plus I have to cut them apart which usually means I get cuts from flinging or flying pieces. Yes $30 is kind of absurd but $3 is not going to get you the same quality. There are happy mediums out there. The quality on AliExpress varies widely, from completely unusable to indistinguishable from retail. You never know which end of the spectrum what you order will land on, though I'd say the average is very good to excellent. Of the stuff that didn't function, I've never had a problem getting a full refund except for once, where I got a partial. Just take clear pictures of the issue and dispute. There's also a right way to take dies apart - you need flush cutters and jewelry pliers, and you should always cut/bend into a thick fabric like a stamp shammy so no metal goes flying. Follow that up with some diamond files and you'll have edges nicer than what's sold at the store. This holds equally true for retail sets that have edge burrs or come as a connected set. I could have quoted anyone or edited myself, etc...but the listing I had in my cart has tons of reviews now but only one photo review. It looks exactly (less the inking and different shades) like the original sample. As they said, it was fiddly to figure out how to assemble it, but for $3.45-$3.87 on AliExpress (it's around $4.50 on eBay) I am happy to see that it appears to work as well as the original. Another review said that the pieces didn't want to come out easily, so that just adds to the 'fiddly' nature but I don't think the real deal would be all that much different because it seems to be an issue with a lot of intricate or small dies available, no matter who makes them. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2019 4:13:15 GMT
I hope the SU folks are able to get through discovery any/all communications w/the patent office on the grant of the original patent as it seems very shady to have been granted a patent on 400 year old tech.
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scrapnnana
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Post by scrapnnana on Jul 31, 2019 16:27:46 GMT
For those who were unaware of this lawsuit and it’s background, the original patent for the thin, chemically etched dies belonged to Spellbinders. They invented them.
An investor was listed as co-inventor on the patent application, even though he had done nothing but help finance the invention. Big mistake. That investor reportedly later started QuicKutz, which used the same technology, so Spellbinders sued QuicKutz. The Spellbinders’ patent was nullified by the courts due to the false information about the investor being listed as a co-inventor on the patent application. That is why so many companies started making the thin, chemically etched dies. The courts made it possible.
Enter Sizzix. They were NOT the first ones to make matching stamps and dies, but they undoubtedly saw that customers preferred the thin dies to the steel rule dies made by Sizzix, and stampers were buying matching stamps and dies from companies like Heartfelt Creations (one of the companies that Sizzix is suing). In order to stay competitive, Sizzix apparently decided to copy what other companies were already doing, but Sizzix went a step further.
Sizzix made a tiny modification to the thin, chemically etched dies by moving the cutting edge to the inside, and filed for a patent on the same technology, which was granted. I do NOT know if they were actually first to move the cutting edge to the inside, but even if they were, I believe the patent should NOT have been granted to them, since it was just a small modification of existing technology that was widely in use by many companies.
Sizzix took advantage of a legal loophole.
They waited awhile after the patent was granted before starting to sue other companies. It seems likely that their new CEO from Europe was the driving force behind the lawsuits. Many long time Sizzix employees in the US were also laid off.
Sizzix is reportedly now claiming that all thin, chemically etched dies with an open center fall under their patent, not just those with the blade at the inside edge of an open die. That means they are essentially claiming the Spellbinders dies fall under their patent, too, which is truly despicable and ironic, since Spellbinders invented the technology.
If the courts accept all of the Sizzix claims, even Spellbinders will probably be sued eventually, along with everyone else. It may be legal, but that doesn’t make it right.
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Post by hop2 on Jul 31, 2019 17:11:24 GMT
Spellbinders are one of my favorites
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lesley
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Post by lesley on Jul 31, 2019 18:47:54 GMT
For those who were unaware of this lawsuit and it’s background, the original patent for the thin, chemically etched dies belonged to Spellbinders. They invented them.An investor was listed as co-inventor on the patent application, even though he had done nothing but help finance the invention. Big mistake. That investor reportedly later started QuicKutz, which used the same technology, so Spellbinders sued QuicKutz. The Spellbinders’ patent was nullified by the courts due to the false information about the investor being listed as a co-inventor on the patent application. That is why so many companies started making the thin, chemically etched dies. The courts made it possible. Enter Sizzix. They were NOT the first ones to make matching stamps and dies, but they undoubtedly saw that customers preferred the thin dies to the steel rule dies made by Sizzix, and stampers were buying matching stamps and dies from companies like Heartfelt Creations (one of the companies that Sizzix is suing). In order to stay competitive, Sizzix apparently decided to copy what other companies were already doing, but Sizzix went a step further. Sizzix made a tiny modification to the thin, chemically etched dies by moving the cutting edge to the inside, and filed for a patent on the same technology, which was granted. I do NOT know if they were actually first to move the cutting edge to the inside, but even if they were, I believe the patent should NOT have been granted to them, since it was just a small modification of existing technology that was widely in use by many companies. Sizzix took advantage of a legal loophole.They waited awhile after the patent was granted before starting to sue other companies. It seems likely that their new CEO from Europe was the driving force behind the lawsuits. Many long time Sizzix employees in the US were also laid off. Sizzix is reportedly now claiming that all thin, chemically etched dies with an open center fall under their patent, not just those with the blade at the inside edge of an open die. That means they are essentially claiming the Spellbinders dies fall under their patent, too, which is truly despicable and ironic, since Spellbinders invented the technology. If the courts accept all of the Sizzix claims, even Spellbinders will probably be sued eventually, along with everyone else. It may be legal, but that doesn’t make it right. How shady. Do they want every other company to stop making dies, or do they want companies to pay them for the "privilege" of being allowed to produce them? It will be fun if they take on Ali Express... |
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Post by Embri on Jul 31, 2019 19:21:51 GMT
How shady. Do they want every other company to stop making dies, or do they want companies to pay them for the "privilege" of being allowed to produce them? It will be fun if they take on Ali Express... Unlikely that they'll try, even less likely they'd succeed. It's like swatting flies; shut down one company/factory, two more pop up elsewhere. There's no one big juicy target to go after, but thousands of small individuals. |
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Post by hop2 on Jul 31, 2019 19:56:04 GMT
If they succeed in shutting down other name brand companies I’m going to start shopping Ali express. They’ll be dead to me.
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lesley
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Post by lesley on Jul 31, 2019 20:02:23 GMT
How shady. Do they want every other company to stop making dies, or do they want companies to pay them for the "privilege" of being allowed to produce them? It will be fun if they take on Ali Express... Unlikely that they'll try, even less likely they'd succeed. It's like swatting flies; shut down one company/factory, two more pop up elsewhere. There's no one big juicy target to go after, but thousands of small individuals. Those were my thoughts too. While there are a couple of bigger stores, everything they sell can be found on other sellers too. And of course, those are just the sellers. Trying to pin down the actual manufacturers would be impossible. I give up even trying to find specific items on the site - how the hell would you ever be able even to serve them with papers?!  |
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Jul 31, 2019 20:18:23 GMT
For those who were unaware of this lawsuit and it’s background, the original patent for the thin, chemically etched dies belonged to Spellbinders. They invented them.An investor was listed as co-inventor on the patent application, even though he had done nothing but help finance the invention. Big mistake. That investor reportedly later started QuicKutz, which used the same technology, so Spellbinders sued QuicKutz. The Spellbinders’ patent was nullified by the courts due to the false information about the investor being listed as a co-inventor on the patent application. That is why so many companies started making the thin, chemically etched dies. The courts made it possible. Enter Sizzix. They were NOT the first ones to make matching stamps and dies, but they undoubtedly saw that customers preferred the thin dies to the steel rule dies made by Sizzix, and stampers were buying matching stamps and dies from companies like Heartfelt Creations (one of the companies that Sizzix is suing). In order to stay competitive, Sizzix apparently decided to copy what other companies were already doing, but Sizzix went a step further. Sizzix made a tiny modification to the thin, chemically etched dies by moving the cutting edge to the inside, and filed for a patent on the same technology, which was granted. I do NOT know if they were actually first to move the cutting edge to the inside, but even if they were, I believe the patent should NOT have been granted to them, since it was just a small modification of existing technology that was widely in use by many companies. Sizzix took advantage of a legal loophole.They waited awhile after the patent was granted before starting to sue other companies. It seems likely that their new CEO from Europe was the driving force behind the lawsuits. Many long time Sizzix employees in the US were also laid off. Sizzix is reportedly now claiming that all thin, chemically etched dies with an open center fall under their patent, not just those with the blade at the inside edge of an open die. That means they are essentially claiming the Spellbinders dies fall under their patent, too, which is truly despicable and ironic, since Spellbinders invented the technology. If the courts accept all of the Sizzix claims, even Spellbinders will probably be sued eventually, along with everyone else. It may be legal, but that doesn’t make it right. How shady. Do they want every other company to stop making dies, or do they want companies to pay them for the "privilege" of being allowed to produce them? It will be fun if they take on Ali Express... Let them, then they'll bankrupt themselves while making a lot of lawyers rich. It would serve them right. |
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jul 31, 2019 22:52:05 GMT
If they succeed in shutting down other name brand companies I’m going to start shopping Ali express. They’ll be dead to me. Same for me. |
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scrapnnana
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Post by scrapnnana on Aug 1, 2019 1:30:32 GMT
If Sizzix succeeds in using the courts to wipe out all US competition, it’s NOT going to get me back as a Sizzix customer. I have plenty of dies. I also have electronic cutters which can cut out my stamps.
Others will go the same route as me, or buy the Chinese knock offs, or buy from the UK, etc. I really don’t see Sizzix coming out a winner from all this, even if they win all the way in the courts.
How does it help to destroy all their competition if they anger and lose a lot of their customer base in the process?
It’s easier and less expensive (than lawsuits) to stay in business by keeping current customers happy and winning new ones by being innovative. The Sizzix CEO seems to lack this understanding.
As others have said, the lawyers are the only winners. I think the new CEO is playing a losing strategy.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2019 8:07:53 GMT
Also makes me feel better about considering knock offs of some TH sizzix dies. I about laughed out loud when TH tried to justify the $30 price point for his build a santa die while also explaining it was worth it because it took an hour to assemble...so more time to put together = justification for a higher price point, got it!! I love Tim but he's lost his mind, lol. That is a terrible, terrible and even more terrible justification. I guess we always get our freebie WTF and Tim got his this year, lol.
I have full Cricut cartridges that cost me less than $30 retail that each design can take over an hour to assemble. Even better my coloring pages that I download free that I have to take the time to find, then convert it to a SVG, then cutting it out with my Cricut. Those files take me over two hours to do. They are free, lol.
Lest we not forget Tim's designs are not his originals. He buys licenses from other artists to turn these designs into stamps and dies for his line. Lots of companies in this industry do this. I love that new Santa. He's so cute. When I first saw him I remember seeing that Santa from a different artist. I am still trying to remember where I seen it. It was months before Tim released that die.
If you want to be hard core you probably could by a personal license for that Santa and make your own "die" (SVG). It would be a lot less than $30.
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Deleted
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Apr 20, 2024 3:04:37 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2019 8:16:41 GMT
If the courts accept all of the Sizzix claims, even Spellbinders will probably be sued eventually, along with everyone else. It may be legal, but that doesn’t make it right.I love to see that European millionaire sue Spellbinder's. I am setting back with popcorn to watch that play out. The Spellbinder's owner is mean AF! Sizzix millionaire is stepping into a cobra pit with that one. Suing Spellbinder's with that owner's reputation just lays down the cards this guy doesn't know our industry at all.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
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Post by scrapnnana on Aug 1, 2019 16:15:07 GMT
Thanks, amayalylac. I didn’t know much about the Spellbinders owner. That info made my day, although I’m hoping the Sizzix CEO gets a huge helping of humble pie in court long before it comes to a final showdown with Spellbinders.
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
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Post by scrappington on Aug 1, 2019 17:54:26 GMT
Has anyone else noticed that our favourite YouTuber's are not using a Big Shot anymore?
I have been ordering cutting pads for my machines here and there just in case. I have 3 machines. The Side Kick pads are an add on item and those I feel I will go thru more so I have about 4 of those right now. My Plus I have only 1 package plus one pad from a previous pack. And I think I have 2 sets for my regular Big Shot.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
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Post by scrapnnana on Aug 1, 2019 20:40:30 GMT
Has anyone else noticed that our favourite YouTuber's are not using a Big Shot anymore? I don’t watch YouTube videos very often. I’m not one to follow the celebs. I am curious, though, what machine(s) they are using instead. It’s always nice to have options. You know, like if my Big Shot *accidentally* falls out of a two story window....... Just kidding. I’m not wasteful, and Sizzix already got my money for that machine. It won’t hurt Sizzix in any way if I were to toss my Big Shot. I have enough plates to last me quite awhile, too. I would like to know what die cutters are being used now, though, if they aren’t using the Big Shot anymore. I wonder if it is because they worry that some customers would be upset to see them using the Big Shot, or if they themselves are upset with Sizzix. |
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Aug 1, 2019 20:47:33 GMT
Has anyone else noticed that our favourite YouTuber's are not using a Big Shot anymore? I don’t watch YouTube videos very often. I’m not one to follow the celebs. I am curious, though, what machine(s) they are using instead. It’s always nice to have options. You know, like if my Big Shot *accidentally* falls out of a two story window....... Just kidding. I’m not wasteful, and Sizzix already got my money for that machine. It won’t hurt Sizzix in any way if I were to toss my Big Shot. I have enough plates to last me quite awhile, too. I would like to know what die cutters are being used now, though, if they aren’t using the Big Shot anymore. I wonder if it is because they worry that some customers would be upset to see them using the Big Shot, or if they themselves are upset with Sizzix. I paid $25 for my bigkick (the vintaj one, so it's ugly) on clearance from M's years ago and then bought a ton of plates when J's did a huge clearance a few years ago...they were $5.97 for the standard and I think only a dollar more for the long plates...I also paid something like $3.97 for the narrow long ones that work great with the dies of the same size (I have an alpha set that I got in the same buy which is why I bought the plates). I don't feel the least bit like those were wasteful purchases because I got them all for so cheap. I almost never forget a bargain (and it helps that most of the products I got that shopping trip still have the clearance sticker on them, so I'm reminded whenever I look in the drawer where I keep them at). Definitely not good to be wasteful...the money is already spent, so destroying it doesn't hurt the company in any way at all...spending your money elsewhere now certainly does, though!! |
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Aug 1, 2019 20:52:38 GMT
Has anyone else noticed that our favourite YouTuber's are not using a Big Shot anymore? I have been ordering cutting pads for my machines here and there just in case. I have 3 machines. The Side Kick pads are an add on item and those I feel I will go thru more so I have about 4 of those right now. My Plus I have only 1 package plus one pad from a previous pack. And I think I have 2 sets for my regular Big Shot. Have you considered trying out the cutting mat option? You can get some pretty cheap (although the ones I've found that fit the footprint of the gemini plates and the junior/big shot/big kick plates are done in CM rather than inches...which doesn't matter much) on amazon. I have one in my cart there for about $5 that is 9x12 (funny how they measure the mat in inches but the measurements are cm, lol)...not only is it cheaper than a standard cutting plate, those who have been recommending them on youtube demonstrate that they have longer lives, too. There is also the option of cutting down mats you already own, but I prefer things to look pretty, so I'd rather opt for a pad already the right size.
I don't know if the machine is being discontinued, but SU is no longer using it and the big shot was at TM not all that long ago. I don't know if the sidekick is sizzix or not, but that was included in the TH ad in June as well. It is definitely something to keep an eye on, that's for sure.
I th ink a lot of the big names have switched to the gemini just because it's electric...I don't know if it's any form of protest or any indication of the machine being discontinued or not, though. Could all be coincidence.
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GiantsFan
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Aug 1, 2019 21:53:34 GMT
Has anyone else noticed that our favourite YouTuber's are not using a Big Shot anymore?I have been ordering cutting pads for my machines here and there just in case. I have 3 machines. The Side Kick pads are an add on item and those I feel I will go thru more so I have about 4 of those right now. My Plus I have only 1 package plus one pad from a previous pack. And I think I have 2 sets for my regular Big Shot. I noticed it, but only because I have the Spellbinders machine. I didn't make the correlation until you posted. |
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
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Post by scrappington on Aug 1, 2019 21:57:15 GMT
I have saw a lot of the spellbinders rotary machine being used.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
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Post by scrapnnana on Aug 1, 2019 22:15:25 GMT
I think the Sidekick is Sizzix. I think the Big Kick is, too. The Big Kick has been at my TM lately.
Here’s another tidbit of Sizzix history. Their first machine was the little red press with the lever. It did not use rollers. They were a branch of Ellison, which also had a press machine with a lever handle for die cutting, not a roller system. Ellison eventually copied the roller design of the AccuCut machines. AccuCut was and still is their major competitor for school/LSS die cutting equipment. I don’t know how Ellison got away with copying AccuCut’s roller die cut equipment, but somehow they did. Back in 1996 is when I started scrapbooking, and every LSS in those early days had an Ellison Press with the handle you had to pull down. Later scrapping stores started buying the AccuCut machines, because the roller die cutters were far easier to use.
Eventually Sizzix scrapped the little red lever press style machine and came out with the Big Kick and Big Shot, which were both roller machines. Their big, heavy duty machines the schools use are also roller machines now. They may have made some slight modification, like they did with the thin dies, but they definitely copied the roller system concept from their competitor.
Heartfelt Creations was one of the first, and possibly the first, to offer stamps that matched Spellbinder dies. It was a brilliant move, and very popular with stampers. Again Sizzix seems to have copied their competitors’ ideas, because Sizzix came out with matching stamps and thin dies eventually, too, but claiming the lost patent and then suing one or more of the competitors that they copied seems an incredible low for them.
I prefer to think it was their relatively new CEO who pushed for the lawsuits, but knowing the company seems to have a pattern of copying the competition (going way back) doesn’t really sit well with me, either.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,105
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Post by scrapnnana on Aug 1, 2019 22:24:35 GMT
I have saw a lot of the spellbinders rotary machine being used. If I were to buy another manual roller machine, that would probably be the one. I now have the Gemini, though, so I don’t think I will be buying anything else anytime soon. My Big Shot will probably get used mainly when I have it at card nights with my friends. It’s less heavy for transporting than the Gemini. |
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Aug 1, 2019 23:01:34 GMT
I think the Sidekick is Sizzix. I think the Big Kick is, too. The Big Kick has been at my TM lately. Here’s another tidbit of Sizzix history. Their first machine was the little red press with the lever. It did not use rollers. They were a branch of Ellison, which also had a press machine with a lever handle for die cutting, not a roller system. Ellison eventually copied the roller design of the AccuCut machines. AccuCut was and still is their major competitor for school/LSS die cutting equipment. I don’t know how Ellison got away with copying AccuCut’s roller die cut equipment, but somehow they did. Back in 1996 is when I started scrapbooking, and every LSS in those early days had an Ellison Press with the handle you had to pull down. Later scrapping stores started buying the AccuCut machines, because the roller die cutters were far easier to use. Eventually Sizzix scrapped the little red lever press style machine and came out with the Big Kick and Big Shot, which were both roller machines. Their big, heavy duty machines the schools use are also roller machines now. They may have made some slight modification, like they did with the thin dies, but they definitely copied the roller system concept from their competitor. Heartfelt Creations was one of the first, and possibly the first, to offer stamps that matched Spellbinder dies. It was a brilliant move, and very popular with stampers. Again Sizzix seems to have copied their competitors’ ideas, because Sizzix came out with matching stamps and thin dies eventually, too, but claiming the lost patent and then suing one or more of the competitors that they copied seems an incredible low for them. I prefer to think it was their relatively new CEO who pushed for the lawsuits, but knowing the company seems to have a pattern of copying the competition (going way back) doesn’t really sit well with me, either. Amazing how protecting intellectual property now seems to mean getting patents for borrowed ideas.
My first job was at Michael's and I remember us selling the die cuts loose from sizzix dies...never did understand the excitement behind that. It's crazy how far the crafting world has evolved since then. It was only 15 years ago!!
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FurryP
Drama Llama
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 6,954
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Aug 2, 2019 0:48:56 GMT
Ha! scrapnnana, I still have my little red with a lever die cut tool. I keep it because it is my scrapbooking "antique" I have the room for it, so I'll just keep it for now. |
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