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.

Yep and it’s just the ability to break an object down into basic shapes and count while going round and round in circles. I’ve looked at images of anigurumi before and just been fairly easily able to replicate the pattern to a good level for my own use (or because the kids have decided they really want an item).

I don’t make stuff to sell anymore anyway, and was careful not to do similar for selling - but there is so little genuine originality out there with crafting that these “she copied meeee” spats are always amusing, and the OP screeching and praising the poll percentage that agrees with her are adding to that.

Unless you have protected it with IP and can sue said individual, I guess you have to just live with it

I've made stuff completely off my own imagination, no looking on Etsy or anywhere else. However, when I go to sell it, I find loads of similar things already there! I'm yet to 'invent' anything that hasn't already been thought of if only in a similar style. 😕 So. Who says you were first?

I don’t think it’s fair to directly copy. I design T-shirts which I sell in my own physical shop in my town. A lady came in, liked one particular design. I was out of her size and she said ‘I’ll just take a picture and then I can get one printed myself’. No you won’t. You can take my card and order online when I get your size back in stock.

Are you able to register your design? It's not as expensive as it used to be, and is a fairly painless exercise (nowhere near as difficult as a patent!). You will have unregistered design rights, but a registered design will give you a bit of extra leverage. I've had items copied, and it's bloody annoying; using my ideas as a starting point? Fine. Copying my designs? Nope! Copying to the point of reverse-engineering the original though? Not only completely uncool, but totally illegal. The British Crafthouse seems to be a good platform to sell on, they actually give a crap if someone tries to sell stuff that's borne of someone else's design (and if other sellers recognise your work elsewhere, they'll let you know). If you need advice, try the Intellectual Property Office, they've always been helpful.

I've seen a lot of this in the craft community, and it's always bothered me.

I'm a crafter, and I always buy the pattern or kit of an original artist or creator's work, because it's only then that people will be able to continue creating such beautiful innovative things.

I have seen stuff so similar - particularly in the embroidery world where there are lots of makers and designers producing patterns or kits. I often wonder how they agree these things between themselves because there is often quite a lot of money changing hands.

I totally agree with you. I don't understand why people think it's okay to copy someone's original idea and sell it on as their own. Maybe copying something to learn how to make those type of things, or to learn a particular skill, but not just copying and passing it off as your own. 😳

Is this “ pattern “ registered as yours ? If not then it’s really not yours

How do you know you aren’t buying a copy of a design from the 80s/90s/00s?

I say this as someone that cross stitched in the 90s/00s and see lots of the designs from then returning again now (although I no longer CS)

Tastes and styles change so it's quite unusual not to be able to tell whether something in vintage in origin.

For example there is a resurgence of interest in Swedish/Scandinavian linen embroidery and yes, based on the original designs.

I agree with another poster saying that it's hard to know if you're not subconsciously absorbing influences, and artistic movements tend to move forward in waves. However, there are infinite combinations so it's pretty clear to me when "influence" moves into the territory of "copying".

Or in terms of embroidery or tapestry it could be a 19th century design

If you decide to sell your patterns and someone buys one, makes the item and sells it, how would you react? Would you call that copying your work? Would want them to cease and desist?
I've earned my living by designing, making and selling for a good few years. People always copy, mostly quite badly. But they can't copy it until they've seen it; they can't see it until you've done it. So stay ahead.

Ha, this reminds me of a time a woman demanded I remove an item of jewellery from my website as she was the original inventor of this type of jewellery and I was stealing her idea. I sent her a link to an example of a 15th century one in the British Museum 😂

Currently shopping for wedding rings and most designs are variations on a theme. A mobius strip shaped ring for example - you can find thousands that look exactly the same online. Here's an example:
https://www.jacquelineandedward.com/product/the-laggan-ethical-18ct-gold-wedding-ring-with-single-twist/ 

The below however is unique:
https://www.jacquelineandedward.com/product/the-balwoges-18ct-gold-oak-twig-wedding-ring/

So would the jeweller be able to claim copyright for the second, not the first? @CatMum27

@LadyPoison There are lots of silver mushrooms but if you did, say a mushroom with a fairy on top. Or a mushroom with various flowers, that nobody else has the cases might be clearer cut. I follow quite a few artists (not silver smiths though) and as PP said their work has a certain style, I'd be able to recognise it anywhere

Btw hubs-to-be wants a silver hip flask so if you do those feel free to DM me your page

Surely you mean Kangaroomigumi?

How long have you been in the business @ThingsBeingVarious? because my job is…creative and this is very common. People steal ideas all the time and have done since the dawn of time. Sometimes they twist it to make it their own, other times it blatant. It just is. It’s happened to me many times. I’m over it.

African, Indian, Native American, Aboriginal, Romany art, pattern, jewellery, pottery, fabric….how many Western artists still copy the original artistic ideas and emblems of these cultures? I don’t think there are any original ideas any more, everything is derivative of what came before it.

😀loving it

😂

I used to make a joke at College that u need to work in a workman’s builders tent because one would start using a technique or material then others in the class would get inspired . It was annoying seeing as it was degree level but an entree into the issues of the creative world. In order to sell it you have to display it and well once seen could be copied by a manufacturer from overseas. I made jewellery for Japanese dept store high end one. Topshop copied my design must have seen it in Japan so was instore in UK. I made a gift for a friend she put it into production copied it and was selling to boutiques it was my unique design and then when I had a label a bigger designer brand copied my design to precision except they changed the fabric . This was literally the next season . Then finally someone copied my entire concept and even lifted my ethos for my designs word for word for their website selling the copies. Literally by raising the profile of what I was doing I just got copied even more. It made me decide to see it as someone taking my design down a different avenue and watching where they went with it because they were always bigger more monied and more successful so it would have been David versus Goliath. Heard of one designer who challenged M& S over pant design she came from family money so could go the legal route with all the costs she won and they had to burn all the stock . Then years later looking through a 60s lingerie annual same keyhole with bow at back pants thaf designer sued for being her design is anything ever original? Even perhaps we are absorbing what we see into our subconscious unaware where later inspiration came from but just lifting your idea and selling is another hurdle creatives don’t need its tough as it is trying to survive . You have my sympathy and hope u find a solution to protect your designs 🤞

The casting of twigs into precious metals is what most beginner smiths do sooner or later. I haven't myself but it's crossed my mind and I will probably do so at some point but as I prefer fabrication to casting, it's not a priority. It's not a unique idea at all. I've seen dozens made into necklaces, all slightly different but substantially the same.

That one will be unique as it will be made from one particular twig. If I was to do one, I would use another twig. Both will be unique as the twigs differ but the idea itself is far from unique, although the results will be very similar. As I understand it, if I was to cast an exact copy from that ring I would be breaching copyright, however if I use my own twig then I will not.

That makes sense! Although I don't think these are cast - they said each piece is handmade ('carved') and so is unique as they cannot get the exact same twig all the time. That sounds like what you term as 'fabricated', although I supposed they decided not to overload me with technical terms. I've seen a lot on Etsy but normally shops that also sells costume jewellery and all sorts as well.

As a PP have said even if copyright was breached I doubt that people have the time, nor the inclination to take them to court. It wouldn't bring them much revenue anyway, as long as people buy their stock and not 'competitors' they're good to go.

It sounds then like they are carving a twig from wax then and having it cast. Yes each will then be a one off unless they have a mould made. Sorry fabrication is making from scratch with silver wire and sheet. You can make some lovely twigs that way too!

I guess the crux is proving that work is original in the first place?

I've seen a lot of work claim to be original but it's not. We don't know if the Op's is in fact.

No you weren't...