I Need To Vent!

It’s so sad to think there are people out there who do not have the visual capacity to come up with their own ideas. And it breaks my heart to know there are people who do not have the mental ability it takes to even think of their own words. I truly feel sorry for these people. It’s not easy knowing a person like this, as you often become their “crutch”. So, if you happen upon designs that may look very familiar to your own, or even if you run across wording almost exact to your very own wording, whether it be on a website or other selling site, please take pity on that person and realize she is in need of a crutch!

I have been a crutch for someone for almost two years, so I was not at all surprised when a customer brought this to my attention. Here is the wording on MY pattern page:

“All patterns are designed and created by me, Olde Annie Primitives, and have been copyrighted. Please respect my designs and do not copy my work or photos. Please do not trade, share through email or sell my patterns. Mass producing or selling product or pattern through wholesale means is prohibited. Product may be made for fun or small profit. When selling on line, credit should be given to Olde Annie Primitives.
All patterns are sold as a PDF downloadable file. Once payment is received, I will send you an email with your pattern attached. Pattern(s) will be emailed to you within 24 hours of payment, but most often a lot sooner! These emails may sometimes go to spam/junk mail, so make sure to keep your eye out for your email with attached pattern! Thanks so much and HAPPY SEWING!”
And this is the wording on HER pattern page:
“All e-patterns were designed by *************** and have been copyrighted. Please respect my designs and do not copy my work or photos. Please do not trade, share through email or sell my patterns. Mass producing or selling product or pattern through wholesale means is prohibited. Product may be made for fun or small profit. When selling on line, credit should be given to ***************. All patterns are sold as a PDF downloadable file. Once payment is received, I will send you an email with your pattern attached. Pattern(s) will be emailed to you within 24 hours of payment, usually within a few hours. Some e-mail carriers consider this JUNK/SPAM so please check your junk folder if you have not received your pattern file within 24 hours.
Thanks so much for looking, and happy crafting!!”

Some of you may think “It’s only words”. If it were only words, or if this were the only incident, it would not bother me in the least. I honestly don't mind people using or copying my wording. But unfortunately it hasn’t just been words…it’s idea after idea, and it’s been going on for TWO years now to the point I feel like I'm being stalked! This discovery, along with the discovery of yet another of my tucks being copied, was just the straw that broke my silence. I’ll just leave it at that!

And then there are those who take it upon themselves to take another person’s photo, place it on their own selling site and sell the finished product from the original designer’s photo. I have had two friends recently who have had this happen to them; in one incident, the stealer had actually left the original shop’s name on the photos! Why do people do this? Do they not realize how easy it is to be discovered? I honestly don’t know the legality issues involved here, but the bottom line is IT’S JUST NOT RIGHT! In both cases, the people who had their photos stolen didn’t discover it themselves, but had it reported to them by either one of their customers or a fellow crafter. One of the stealers was actually using photos from about four different people! Customers are the best discoverers of copy cats! I know MINE are! The latest was brought to my attention by one of my customers, as I try to avoid this gal's sites like the plague. I just don't need the stress it gave me.

With that said, please be aware of people out there who may be using YOUR photos. Search Facebook, search the web, search the "not as familiar" selling sites other than Etsy and Ebay. You never know what you may run across! I think the photo problem can be taken care of much easier than the problem of those who steal your design or use you as a crutch. Still, whether it’s the photo stealer, the design stealer or the person unable to think on their own, I just don’t understand how these people sleep at night! Thanks for letting me vent! ~~Annie