All I can say is that it sure bums me out to catch wind of one of my patterns posted on one of those sharing sites. My artwork is really crappy when I'm bummed. You don't want crappy designs, do you?
Here is a new website that has sprung up specifically to champion this issue: http://needleworkcopyright.blogspot.com/
Tracy, I scan all my charts. But they remain in my possession. I don't give them out. I scan them so I can print out a working copy & file my originals away. I shred my working copy once I am finished with it. Then if I decide to make the chart again I just print out another working copy. I am hoping that this isn't against the so-called "rules".
ReplyDeleteSounds fine, Hev. As long as the working copies and the original are owned by the same person it's cool.
ReplyDeleteI posted about that blog in the LJ cross stitch community. Some really interesting discussion.
ReplyDeletehttp://community.livejournal.com/cross_stitch/3260261.html
I would be cautious of spending a lot of energy in this. From following software piracy for years, there's a certain percentage of thieves out there who will NEVER be your customers. I think a lot of the needlework design copiers don't realize what they're doing is a problem and will change when educated, but there's some number who never will. They just won't pay money, period. I think it's dumb, and I always point out that I pay way more in materials and framing than I do in designs, anyway, but it doesn't sink in. My point is simply to be cautious that in defending your copyright you don't inadvertently alienate existing customers. For instance, there's a designer out there so vehement about it that she used to attack people who posted pictures of their finished work. That caused a friend of mine to just stop buying her designs and not to stitch the ones she had. I know of another who started to print her charts on a color that was difficult to photocopy. Again, it annoyed existing customers, but I'm not sure it was effective in the long run (it certainly annoyed me, because there was a line on the fold that was almost unreadable and she was utterly unhelpful in a solution - I haven't bought more designs from her, either). I'm absolutely NOT saying not to defend your copyright nor to educate people, I'm just pointing out that there's a fine line. Heck, I've told designers when I've stumbled across their work being posted online, so I definitely support your efforts. I want you to keep making money so you keep making designs!
ReplyDeleteI hear you loud and clear, Joanna. Thanks for bringing those points up. I agree that some people will continue to do things even if they know it is wrong. That is what karma is for. I have run across a few who didn't realize what they were doing was wrong, but once educated they have become supporters.
ReplyDeleteI firmly believe in allowing stitchers as much freedom as I can. Working copies - yay. Stitch twice -you bet. Sell/donate used chart - it's cool. Show it off in your blog - that's great PR. Flat broke - have a freebie (or become my model stitcher ;o).
'Nuff said. I won't beat this horse further. I was just in a titchy mood.
Model stitcher? My ears just perked waaaaay up!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many wonderful freebies out there, and many offered by big name designers (yourself included Tracy!) that a person could stitch for years without running out of designs.
I'm currently working on two baskets of biscornu and the majority of my pieces are stitched from freebies.
I read someone defending sharing copies by saying that sometimes a person doesn't have money for a pattern they "need." Sorry, having a cross-stitch pattern isn't a life-or-death matter. If you don't have the money to buy it, tough!
ReplyDeleteThis is coming from someone who is completely broke right now and can't buy a particular IC pattern I really want. But I don't "need" it so badly that I'm going to steal from Tracy to get it!