August 19th, 2007 at 00:07 am
Let me be really clear.
© MyMarkDesigns
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I have no problem with those who make the decision to share their own intellectual property, aka/Complimentary Patterns as a sampling for those interested in their patterns, charts and instructions.
Nor is there any reason, why, if these gifts suit your needs – artisitic or budgetary, should not continue to use and enjoy legitimately acquired patterns, charts or instructions…
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I reserve my distress for those who Steal and who help others to Steal
Unfortunately for us all because in end,
STEALING even on a small scale HARMS US ALL!
So why am I in such a Snit and Tizzy?
Cumulative effect, including a recent comment that showed how little the work of serious Pattern Authors is appreciated
“… after all, how tough can it be to be a designer, seems there are new ones every week….”
But even worse is when members of the Publishing community enable these thefts.
How does that occur?
In a in hobby groups, someone asked for a pattern. Several folks provided information on where to buy the instructions. Others point to home domains of various Design Authors and Self Publishers for Complimentary and Patterns for Sale.
Others also provide a link to a site that has copied that copyrighted pattern and was “sharing it” on the internet. It is this form of THEFT, that is a problem.
The problem is made worse when that person has a very recognizable name, a person with a recognizable name such as an officer of a group dedicated to a particular craft, or a teacher an an event or what really makes me crazy, is published, and “known” as a “professional” in the industry but is helping to steal from her peers.
BUT I still try to give’em the benefit of the doubt so try to “write off the list”
“Did you realize that the site you recommended is one of the worst on the Internet for wholesale “sharing” of copyrighted information?
The replies included :
“I was just trying to help…
…besides it is already done, so I did not do anything wrong…
…well maybe they cannot afford to buy the book…
…I know, but if they read my message maybe they will go to my website and buy one of my patterns….”
Obviously it is not going to do much good with these folks to try to explain that each time someone with “Professional” standing aids and abets in improper use of Intellectual property they are giving their blessing.
But I am even an optimist, maybe I should be a bit more blunt, but still trying to keep the response sub-atomic and I reply…
“okay, so if I take your pattern called “whatever” and post it as a free pattern, and then provide the link to every hobby group I can find – that is okay with you? Thanks for letting me know so I can let people know you don’t mind your work being stolen and misused”
Since no one has ever answered that email, let me be clear
It is NOT, because each time someone rationalizes that helping other to steal is not the same as stealing; I would remind them about that those who “aid and abet” are just as guilty.
It does not matter if you drive the get-away car, or go into the bank and remove the money by force, you still get charged with bank robbery.
It’s sort of like keeping the money when a clerk gives you too much change. Sure it was thier mistake but if you know the truth, it is still stealing – even if you don’t get caught.
So do a designing author a favor, the next time you find yourself rationalizing you are not doing anything wrong by copying, sharing, or providing a link to stolen property –
When you are tempted to rationalize your behavior as something you are ENTITLED to have simply because you cannot afford to buy and obtain it properly.
Are you really entitled to have something simply because you “want it” – does that exempt you from the law – whether you are caught or not. Do you really want to be the kind of person who knowingly steal or helps another to do so?
Stop and ask yourself, are you aiding and abeting?
And if you are helping other to steal, what kind of an example are you setting?
May the publishing community needs to create a Domain Of Shame
listing the name, real or screen of those know to engage in
Stealing & Distributing the Intellectual Property of Others.
Wheat
* Imagine Logo courtesy Monique Keylon,
You can read the story of its origins at My Mark Designs
Trackback URI:
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August 14th, 2007 at 00:55 am
Too much fun to save for Saturday Silliness:
Come back & let me know:
Quiz What Kind Of Yarn Are You ?
August 13th, 2007 at 00:01 am
Why do people resist “swatching and sampling”? Hard to say, it is never wasted time, you learn so very much even with just a tiny three inch “test for drape”.
It is so liberating to be able to pick and choose materials other than what is listed in the instructions.
Okay, so it is somewhat understandable not everyone is as, well, obsessed, with knowing where to find both common and esoteric tools and supplies, or the origins of a specific tool or technique.
It means you can use whatever fits your budget or the planned use (i.e. no $50 a skein yarns for a dog blanket, but maybe for that christening blanket that will be passed down thru the generations?)
Yet, it seems every time Swatching and Sampling is mentioned, even in an email discussion group, you can feel the collective shudder, cringing — as if you had just announced an invasion of Slytherins.
If, one is going to spend hours creating something that hopefully will be enjoyed by its users for years to come, isn’t it worth making sure it will have the look, feel and durability to survive the generations?
Doesn’t the recipient of your gift deserve not only the best of your skill, but also the best you can afford in the types of materials and supplies you choose to “invest” into the project?
Knowing what is appropriate for your works intended use means you have to know, in the back your tiny doggie brain, how it can be used, and
For designers and teachers and all with skill levels from beginner to advanced, having your own library of examples is an invaluable resource.
Remember:
– Best does not always mean most expensive,
sometimes it just means most appropriate
within your personal budgetary constraints.
For YARNandTHREAD – no matter how I plan to use the material or what it is going into, everything starts with a swatch and then maybe a bigger sample.
As this series continues, I hope you will share your ideas and methods – because what works for one may not work for others.
Wheat
August 11th, 2007 at 08:28 am
How absurd is the above title,
Why VERY VERY Absurd of Course,
EVERY Yarn, EVERY String, EVERY Thread,
be it man made or “natural” fibers,
or Metallic or even METAL,
CAN Be Crochet Friendly.
If IT Can Be Bent, It Can Be Crocheted
(or Braid, or Knit, or Beadwork, or Macromae, or Stichery, or Woven)
You just need to SAMPLE
until you find the
proper tool and technique
for your final purpose
The recent series of questions from aspiring teachers, designers and even some shop owners led to wondering why or how to address two topics dear to my heart. Not to mention some of the discussions in several good sized “hobby” groups have made it very clear there is confusion and misunderstanding on both sides of the table.
The first, why do I consider swatching and sampling to be so important and how these swatches and tools are an essential tool for everyone involved in NeedleArts.
And of course, how the owners of our independent shops can make their shops a more welcoming place for ALL users of String, not just knitters.
During the most recent “YARN Craze”, many of those who had previously only had access to the limited selection of yarns offered in “the big chains” or thru the “bit Mail Order houses” – became exposed to a much wider variety of types and styles.
As yarn sales began to flatten and fall, those chains are now “cutting back” to the more limited selection; our yarn using NeedleArtisans have begun to venture into the Independent shops, but at least for crochet, have met with what they perceive is at best condescension and at worst hostility.
Really, what they met is more likely confusion and defensive posturing. Running a small business in an increasingly competitive environment takes a toll, and when you build your business on being helpful, but are faced with “the unknown” as crochet is for so many —
Well, they stick to what they think is true.
So here are the Myths that need busting.
Continue Reading »
August 9th, 2007 at 06:02 am
The question posted to the Crochet Partners list was how do Designers feel about the requests for free patterns that often appear on-line in the “discussion” groups
To have this discussion, we need to first set aside as much as possible the complexities of intellectual property and related copyright issues.
We also need to keep me from going off on how I currently see monetized blogs taking away from the value of list like Crochet Partners. Or even the “consumer view” – important as that is, it is not germaine to the question.
And, we might even have to read and consider Jeff Lazlow’s recent Wall Street Journal columns on the irrational sense of entitlement we seem to have been breeding into our society in the last 50-60 years.
Finally, we need to recognize that wonderful as Crochet Partners is, it is not really a group for serious business discussion – that is just not why most of the 3000 members are there.
BUT SINCE YOU ASKED, and I truly did wake up this morning thinking about this issue for many reasons, (which will be on my NOT monetized blog ) not the least of which is how to properly share more information about the Grant’s One Needle Looper and the K-Tel Knitter.
Professional Pattern Designing Authors and Publishers are well aware of the plethora of patterns available on the Internet and the effect that has on their sales and other opportunities.
Many wonder daily if providing quality designs, well edited and illustrated is a viable career option. Sadly, increasingly, it is not.
Yet, many remain involved in preserving the traditions, “keeping the craft alive” – something that is not done by unethical pattern sharing.
Instead, many are using their talent and skills to create really wonderful and useful “How-To” illustrations on their websites, in thier blogs and of course You Tube and similar video sharing services.
Providing technical information that will allow each of us to continue on our journey of exploration into all the many forms of using “string”
What is upsetting and most disheartening is the when the free designs they are offer are misused, i.e., when someone chooses to copy the pattern, and distribute it without the need for the recipient to visit that Publishing Author’s website, with or without accreditation.
At the top end of abuse is when any pattern’s instructions and illustrations are also copied and distributed in any way without compensation to the publisher.
Foremost among the reasons for offering a limited free Patterns on Websites is to draw the needle worker to the website so they can see what the Publishing Author has to offer besides a free pattern.
The abuses are now causing many in all forms of needlework to withdraw those free patterns – and I would predict that eventually all that will be left are those offered without benefit of good editing. Meaning it will always be a “crap shoot” whether you will be able to enjoy the work or meet with frustration.
Of course, this particular blatant disregard of the spirit and intent of the offering will just hasten the process of high quality offerings being removed including those wonderful Tutorials – no income from pattern sales, no website to support the free information and education…
We ALL need to work to make sure we provide LINKS TO GET and not the CONTENT – keeping our use honest and our designing authors in business.
So when anyone takes the pattern and gives it always without that recipient visiting the Publisher/Author’s website, they have “stolen” an opportunity from that designer.
The Effect?
Without a viable return on investment,
-it makes it more difficult for publishers at any level (from Self-Publishing to Giants in the Industry like the major book houses) to justify the expense of producing fully tested, well edited, and complete instructions.
-it means that mass merchandisers like the Marts or even chain book and craft stores see it as less and less viable to offer patterns, books, leaflet, which means less exposure of the craft to “new” practitioners
-it means that the independents will also not be able to justify keeping a diverse inventory of instructional materials like books, patterns and leaflets.
-it means, without those new books, etc… in demand, our libraries will follow the lead of
-it means a compilation of other little things –
– most of them not good overall,
– like not making corrections if a Pattern, leaflet or book makes it to re-printing
– like making it less than economically viable to engage in a professional design or teaching in the NeedleArts except for a very lucky few.
Where is it all headed, who knows but if the current trend in publication is any example, I am sincerely concerned it may not be a really good place.
Please share your thoughts and on what we might do to ensure future generations have the same opportunities (different from entitlements) you and I have been so fortunate to share.
Wheat
