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

[Rose Marie]

This is the first time I've seen your work- very, very cute and well done. It's a shame that people have to copy, isn't it? Keep up the good work.

[Elaine]

I think it is a travesty that some people would stoop so low. I have to tell you that in no way, shape, or form do those so-called 'copies' look remotely that your originals!

[Dyan]

Hi Julie, I felt sad reading your post because I know this must have really upset you, especially since your design was used to make items for resale. Just know that your rabbits are beautiful and have their own special and unique charm that only you can infuse into them.
Dy

[Anina]

How awful! And such bad copies too.

[Binny]

They are awful, Julie. They aren't a patch on your bunnies. There's one thing those people can't copy Julie - your toys are obviously made with LOVE.

[sharon]

I read Barbara's post and commented and now understand a little better what was going on. There is no comparison between the two in beauty, however I can see the issue with colouring and patterning - especially the clothes. I have an intense 'want' for one of your toys, and those are just ugly. the little bunny slippers look like skulls. I LOVE YOUR TOYS!!!

[stitchin girl]

I am so sorry this has happened to you. I have made some of your patterns to give to our local hospital for the kids who are waiting to go into surgery. The nurses are always appreciative and say the kids love them. I alway let them know where I got the pattern. Anyway, good luck to you.

[Kim]

I too am so sorry this has happened. I agree with ALL of the others!!! I will also wait for my email to come when you have YOUR creations available to purchase. Thank you again for the beautifully adorable work you do :)
Kim

[Gina]

It is despicable that anyone would do this Julie but unfortunately I think it is a risk we take with making our work so available for "public consumption". If it's any consolation, they may look similar to your designs but you can tell they are not a patch on yours in terms of quality and finish!

[Shivi]

god, yours look sooo much better, those copies are super ugly!

[lucykate crafts...]

sadly, there seems to be an awful lot of this going on within blogland at the moment. i was involved myself with another etsy seller whose owls were, are you say, 'recognizable' to mine. i came to the conclusion that when the copies actually make you laugh, they are so badly done, there is no point worrying about it.

the person who has copied, will never admit they have done so as that is basically admitting they have committed a crime, but the quality of work, in comparison, speaks volumes.

[Rachael Rabbit]

Julie - anyone would be tempted to recreate your toys because they are so utterly gorgeous .... I have to say that the originals are far far better and don't have those mutant noses ... as we both know ... no bunny should have to put up with a mutant nose.

[Vanessa]

Recognisable, yes, and obvious copies, but very inferior, their smiles have gone in the wrong place!

[Debbie]

I like yours WAY-Y-Y better! I'm so sorry this has happened. Your attitude is great. Keep up the wonderful, beautiful work!:)

Debbie

[Micayla]

To be quite honest, those look very.... yeck. Your handiwork has a special glow that makes everybody smile!They have a huge sweetness about them. The way you make them is so perfect, almost like the real thing (Living) in a way. I would say that nobody can make them like yours even if they had the patterns or yarn. I am a bit piffed right now and I and in a whole different continent than you! I am a huge fan of yours and I want you to know that you should NOT be worried about anybody stealing your thunder! You are wonderful!
Much Love,
Micayla

[Jenny]

Oh Julie, for whatever those people have tried to achieve they just do not have the skill, passion and imagination that you have and that you put into each and everyone of your Little Cotton Rabbits! Those rip offs look like dawn of the bunny dead! It is so much better to see the thoughs in your own mind become reality. How do they sleep with themselves????

[Deborah]

Nothing can compare to your little lovelies. Pity the poor **** that has nothing better to do.

[katie]

the copies are a heap of **** as they haven't got the essential ingredient - your love for each one. and the care and attention to detail that suffuse each of the LC Rabbits and friends. you have nothing to worry about Julie - nothing at all.
love
katie
x

[pippa]

as everyone has said here Julie calling them copies is being polite, they absolutely fail to captivate on any front. Whilst it is upsetting and galling - in the words of my most favourite Prince song "nothing compaures 2u". Your real fans will be able to spot an imposter from miles away.

[Melissah]

Imitation is the finest form of flattery? Erm, not in this case!! You use quality materials and each one of your designs obviously exudes the love you put into every little darling.

These impostors look cheap and are 'dime a dozen'/ cookie cutter in their construction.

Shame on the person who is trying to cash in on your genius!

[susetheslowknitta]

I think I would be spitting feathers if someone ripped of something of mine. I think you're being amazingly calm and controlled about the whole thing.

[Elaine]

I'm sorry you've been ripped off so blatantly. But the truth is, yours have an individuality that the copiers have not really been able to copy. Your creations really seem to have a life and a personality of their own!
~Elaine~

[Laurence]

How awful. That was a very poor attempt at copying. Sorry you have to go through this.

[SSS]

Hello.

It is very a pity, but you had an erroneous opinion on the girl, which knitted of these small rabbits, which are given on a photo - copy. And you, not having understood, have begun to accuse the man of what he did not make.

1. She initially spoke, that she very much likes your jobs, she regrets, that for them there is no description and will try to connect on a photo. Thus she initially recognized, that the idea of the small rabbits does not belong to her. But, only idea.

2. Description for the small rabbits she made itself, when knitted on your photo. That is its(her) small rabbits it already its(her) author's job. And that that they are connected on a photo, so see how much photos in the Internet. If you do not wish that on photos of your toys someone could create, consider(examine) the jobs at the night and under a blanket. Then nobody is exact will copy.

3. I do not understand from what you have taken, what these small rabbits were on sale? The girl knitted them for itself, for native and friends. She not the machine, at it(her) is job and she knits for pleasure. Those some small rabbits, which she has connected, have not brought to her copeck of the profit. Simply your mentality very strongly differs from ours, slavic. You are not capable something to make free-of-charge. And our girl are divided by the descriptions to the jobs free-of-charge and knit free-of-charge for the friends and familiar. They are pleased to that can deliver to the people pleasure, instead of that money, which can earn on the toys.

I do not know who and where has taken the reference to these small rabbits and has shown you. But it is a pity of this man. Instead of being engaged in creativity, the man digs in the Internet and searches for the not existing infringers of the copyrights.

I not so well know English and beforehand I apologize, if something has translated not correctly.

Yours faithfully, SSS.

[saplanet]

This is bugging me big time too. Sorry this happened to you too. The biggest pain for designers would always be their hard work being ripped off and claimed as their copies are original.

I even received emails when I put up the policy up, that I may scare off potential buyers and all. Then again, we have to do what is important to us.

I think the fabric labels you are doing is great. I can't help you with where to place the labels though, I have been thinking about that for my crochet dolls too.

Your works are wonderful, don't let the copycats eat you out, you are way better!

[emsielou]

So close and yet so horribly ugly. I don't know about imitation being the highest form of flattery - I would be plain annoyed if I were you. Boo to them, kind wishes to you!

[saraeden]

So sorry this has happened to you ... i have had problems with someone copying one of my designs !! There seems to be alot of it going on in blogland as others have said before me !!
Your rabbits are sooo much better because you care about what you do !!

Sending you a big hug x x

[Dave Daniels]

I've been biting my tongue on this issue since your original post. I've had a similar thing happen to me a year or two ago. I CREATED a needle case for a paying customer. Stupidly, I posted photos of it on my blog. Next thing I know, someone else in Germany not only designs the pattern, but has the pattern up for sale. It was an exact copy, right down to how the velcro was positioned, the shape of the case flap, etc. To this day, I will never post about anything original for fear of seeing it elsewhere.
Luckily, YOUR artwork is far superior to their attempts at copying, but it's still wrong and illegal.

[Sheila]

Look around you. Every single item in this world is copied from something else. Even our own spoken words are learned by copying and mimicking. When I first saw this post, I was upset too. But then I remembered a painting teacher who had one of her works copied and sold on ebay. She was upset at first too. Then she realized that she passed the spark to be creative on to someone else. Personally I love seeing anyone attempting the process of creating something...even if you are looking at a picture..trying to "make it just like that one" no matter how "awful" it might look.

It reminds me of this quote: "Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best." -- Henry Van Dyke