Crafters, if you copy someone's design that you've seen online you're not just a CF, you're a thief.

[ThingsBeingVarious]

I have a small, successful craft business and mostly sell online, which means there are loads of photographs of my work for anyone to see. Yet again I've just been made aware of someone copying my original design and selling the product - she probably thinks it's okay because she's raising money for her local charity. And sometimes my 'followers' and customers will send me a photo of the copy they've made saying I've 'inspired them'.

I know people often say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but it really fucks me off. People should think up their own designs, not scroll through Pinterest or Etsy or wherever looking for ideas to nick. Or if they haven't got any original ideas they can BUY patterns from other crafter's.

We need more context here OP.

Surely it depends what it is and how truly "original" your design is...

I craft, and I have copied... but for my own personal use. I would not think of selling what I have copied.

It's a difficult one. I'm thinking of Pepsi to coca cola, star video to blockbuster, burger King to macdonalds and other big brands that have copied. It isn't illegal. Using your marketing as their own is. You now need to stay ahead of the game. Goodluck

How original are your designs? Tbh unless it’s a very unique painting or a garment that is completely different and not simpilar to any other in history you are being unreasonable.

Everyone borrows inspiration off somewhere, like they said, exactly how original we're talking? Original enough to be patented or just a style that you copied after a bit of research?

Get it trademarked if it meets criteria.

Depends on craft… there’s a lot of crochet patterns that look very similar and some I can work out from looking at the finished item, even though I’m a fairly new crocheter

How original does something have to be to be original though?
I'm making a jumper that I "designed" myself. I'm sure if I looked I'd find a gazillion patterns made using the same stitch. But I didn't copy any of them. We just happened to use the same stitch.

This

Are we taking an embroidery saying "Live! Laugh! Love " or something a bit more unique

It depends on many factors. I quilt, there's nothing much original I could design tbh. The person who dreamt up say log cabin has been ripped off for all of time

@cinzanoandcoke it's hard to give more context without outing myself, sorry. I use one particular material only, obviously some other people use this material too but what I make with it has a unique look and is instantly identifiable as my work. It's popular partly because it IS original! I regularly get asked for the pattern for my most popular creation (because they're not easy to copy well, though the most recent person had bought one and must have sort of deconstructed it to work out how I made it 🤬) and am starting to think that selling the pattern is the only way to deal with the copiers. But I don't want to do that.

If its something you can trademark, patented or have you have intellectual properties to then you could send a cease a desist letter to your followers and the charity but it would probably be considered poor taste.

If you don't and your items cannot be protected under any uk copyright laws then yabu as you don't own any of it.

It’s probably not that original

Oh please. Half of Etsy could get sued for breach of copyright. All those song lyrics.

Eh - one of the reasons many people craft is to make their own "inspired by" versions. A lot of my sewing is inspired by designer pieces I've seen. I'm not alone in that, and I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

You say your business is successful. Great. Enjoy the success!

Unless you invented the material then there’s a likelihood someone did something you are doing years ago too or something very similar

I do cross stitch. I'm not paying for a pattern if the design is simple enough for me to copy and I don't mind about matching the colours exactly. I would obviously only stitch it for myself though, not to sell.

Sadly straight copying is all too common.
I don't mind if it's done as part of training in skills or for personal use. But I do object if it's to make work to sell. I think I'm right in saying that a design has to be 10% different to not be considered a copy. And that's a tiny difference.

I personally wouldn't go down the route of selling patterns for your work - let them try and copy you and if they get good at it and then attempt to sell, then it's time for a cease & desist letter from a solicitor. I know a couple of people who have gone down that route with good outcomes. yes it costs, but if you have professional insurance that may cover it. The only real answer is the law - it's on your side

As my silversmithing teacher said: unless you've designed something truly new, like jewellery for your elbows or knees, then you're just inspired by what came before.

Without a photo, it's too hard to say.

I bet you're probably not as original or unique as you think - more than happy to be proved wrong though. There are only so many things that can be made, now and again there are things that are amazingly different, and sadly they will end up being copied if they are good.

I do know what you mean but think it’s inevitable. It happens in every field of business; you may have had first mover advantage but it’s normal that people copy unless it’s trademarked. Online shopping, ring cameras, pet designs as jewellery, Alexa devices etc. All originally one person’s idea and then copied.

It doesn’t mean it’s hard though. it shows the importance of continually evolving and changing to stay ahead.

I think I agree with the OP.
Designs for original art and craft works belong to their creator.
Having cheap imitations and knock offs must be infuriating.
I am also surprised that so many people disagree and are suggesting that her original works are not all that original. Ouch.

Trust me what you make has been done before. I'm an avid crafter and see 'innovative' things all the time and then there are the people telling you how to achieve it!

A friend regularly shares this, it might be helpful.
Copyright and intellectual theft is a huge problem amongst crafters. Etsy claims to protect you, but in reality it’s down to other crafters having a level of integrity!

Protect yourself a little bit by keeping records of your work and dates created etc - if it comes to a copyright infringement you need evidence to back you up.

(The flowchart is good, but bugs me a bit as I think there’s a mistake in it)