it shouldn't need saying...

...and I'm really sad that it obviously does but copying another person's work and selling it on as your own just isn't right. I really didn't want to bang on about it here as it seems a highly contentious issue but discussion about copyright has been cropping up in lots of blogs recently and I wanted to be clear on my views.

I have no problem in people copying the look of my toys for personal use or for gifts. Neither do I have a problem in people taking individual elements of my designs and incorporating them in their own - that is all part of the normal creative process. What I, and most other crafters find demoralising and depressing is recognisable* copies of our work being sold without our consent.

The reason I'm mentioning this now is that I've had several kind and concerned emails recently about toys similar to mine being sold. The most blatant example was this which was found on a russian website with a claim that the designs were their own and instructions of how to make them.

The copies...

My originals...

The lovely Barbara at Fuzzy Mitten has written up some of her views on copyright too - we've been comparing notes as recently some of her patterns have been adapted to copy some of my designs. I think her views are very similar to my own and really what we, and other crafters find upsetting is recognisable replicas of our work sold with a claim that it is someone else's.

Ok, getting off my soapbox now... and ending with a big thank you to everyone who has sent me concerned emails with links to copies of my toys. It's good to know that I have friends out there who are looking out for me.

PS: I've had lots of emails in the past about knitting up my free patterns to sell to raise money for charity and I always say a categorical yes - I'm really pleased if you want to use my free patterns for charity fundraising and I'll be trying to write up some more.

* Addition: I've changed the word above (see *) from exact to recognisable - as someone pointed out in an email the copies are never going to be exact. Thanks so much for all of the comments - will write a proper post tomorrow.

Comments

[claire]

How depressing Julie. . . they're not NEARLY as nice as yours though. Actually their faces are quite evil!

[Shawn Mary]

I am shocked and saddened.

I know that I am new to the craft world, and therefore a little too trusting, but how could someone do this?

After reading the comments left on Fuzzy Mitten's blog, I realize now that this happens all the time.

As far as I am concerned it is stealing!

P.S. Those are the worst looking copies too.

[raspberry]

Oh no, I can't believe this has happened to you as well :(
I was so shocked when I went to Wee Wonderfuls the other day and saw what has happened to some of Hilliarys wonderful creations :(
I hope this doesn't stop your creative wonder :)
And I have to agree with the other comments, they do look evil!

[trashalou]

did someone smoosh their faces against the edge of the box? They certainly have a look of 'something of the night' them.

Sad that this has happenend too you. Other than soapboxing is there anything you can do?

[SmurfPop]

I'm so sorry to hear this... It's one of the bad bits about being a crafter :( It really makes my blood boil that people do this kind of thing. You should email the website they're being sold on. Is your pattern copyrighted? *hugs* x

[Marie]

WOW! I can't believe how similar they are to yours (although nowhere near the quality, obviously). I've made bunnies for my DD and for friends from Barbara's pattern, and some similar to yours (I'm about half way through the ballet bunny btw ;)) but I would never dream of selling them to make a profit. Some people have no scruples whatsoever.

love xMx

[dottycookie]

That is so disgraceful - there's a huge difference between being inspired and outright copying. And anyway, theirs are not cute, and yours are. This seems to be happening a lot - or maybe it's just that the internet makes it easier to see it ... Either way, it's wrong.

[craftylibrarian]

Those are two ugly bunnies (poor things). It's a shame that some people have no respect, and that intellectual property law is so difficult to enforce.

[Tania Ho]

So sorry to hear this :( And I agree, yours are so much cuter !

[Cara]

Gosh - the similarities are incredible striking. I feel it is such a shame when a crafter makes a design, only for it be copied exactly. Its one thing to take your bunnies and make then for a child - adding your own element, or indeed make them the same and give credit where it is clearly due. Awfully sad.

[mummynat]

It's terrible, i have been noticing it around the blogs too.
I have to say though, this one is a complete credit to your skill and talent, for this is like beauty and the beast. Yours have a style..an element of you within each one, and it's quite obvious they haven't been about to copy that, to give them the personalities you do.

[Jacqui]

They're not a patch on your beautiful creations Julie. Unfortunately because your designs are available for everyone to see, it leaves them vulnerable for despicable people to copy and profit from. If I ever do manage to buy one of your lovely little rabbits (and I do try!) I would want it to have been knitted with love by you. That's what gives them their heart and personality. xx

[Martine]

They look ugly. But I understand how it must feel! Yours are far more cute!

[Elaine]

I can't believe some people. I have to second (and third and fourth) the comments above which state yours are much cuter - but I know that's not the point.
I must admit to having blatantly copied one of your rabbits myself (my niece craved one after having seem it on your site and I'm never quick enough off the mark when you have some in the shop) but I would never consider letting anyone else have the pattern (although it may be different to yours) and have not even listed the rabbit amongst my completed projects on Ravelry as it wouldn't 'feel right'. I hope this is ok.
I can't believe thay had the audacity to copy everything - even the outfits! How blatant!

[Krawuggl]

This is really a terrible thing and unfortunately my English is not good enough to explain how dishonest this behaviour is also in my eyes. Especially with saying the design is theirs. And above all their rabbits are ways apart from having this sweet and lovely faces and expression yours are having. It all is such a shame. It would be very understandable if creative people like you are, are deleting their blogs for not having all this trouble, but what a huge lost this would be for the rest of the blogworld. This makes me notice how generous it is, that designers like you are showing their work on blogs and are also writing about them. We readers should more often value and admire this kind of sharing.
Everything you are doing and saying will come back to you one day and steeling is a thing that will bring no luck to your imitators.
My best wishes to you and don´t let it brake your heart and your joy to create,
Suzi

[French Knots]

How galling and upsetting. As everyone has said they are not a patch on your lovelies, to try and pass someon else's creativity off as your own is really pathetic. We are all inspired by the work we see on blogs and in print but a blatant copy to sell, right down to the bunny slippers, is stealing.

[PG]

This makes me SO MAD!!!!! Especially when it is as blatant as this. If it is any small consolation, the quality is nowhere near the real thing, they actually do look like knock-offs. There is a blogsite dedicated to this kind of thing which anyone can post to, if it were me I would be naming and shaming...

http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/blog3/

[Barbara]

Thanks for seconding the things I wrote on my blog. I hope my little stand will make some people think twice about using my patterns for nefarious purposes :)
And it's so true, that copies are never as lovely as the originals.

[Michelle Gragg]

Definitly a copy, very sad. But not nearly as cute as yours!

[Jennifer]

After reading Barbara's post last night I went to a popular "handmade for sale site" and looked around. It's not just you guys being knocked off... the site's like one big copyright infringement. I'm so sorry to hear about this for both you guys. Hang in there! ;-)

[jennsquared]

I am sadden to see this happen to you. I love all of your creations and hope one day I will have some time to get to them (for personal use of course!) As a crafter who loves to see original creations, I hope this does not discourage you from coming up with more things.

[kirsten]

aw, that's awful. those ears! they're so yours.

[Zoe]

So sorry about this and I agree those copies are very sad looking bunnies. They look poorly knitted and it looks like cheap yarn has been used. Your creations have real character, beautiful luxury yarns are used and your workmanship and designs are just superb.

[Trudy]

Don't worry Julie, your work is wonderful. Your creations cannot be compared to others, they are unique. What goes around comes around, hold your head up high and know you can rise above people like this. Keep up the good work. PS I love your blog x

[April Pardoe]

That is really dreadful , I am so sorry to hear about your problems, but must say that yours are much nicer!

April xx