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A few years ago i made graduation invitations for a family member. They had the word "grad" in big letters stamped in red, and a black diploma scroll with a bow on it placed just so over the word on the front.
Today, we got an invitation in the mail for a family friend (who rec'd invitation mentioned above) and the front of it was her daughter's picture with the EXACT design i had used printed alongside it. It was scanned and reprinted on an inkjet. YOu could tell it was my stamped image because of the slight mottling indicative of a stamped image. The ones i made before were all hand stamped and handmade, but this woman just basically stole my work and used it herself right down to the basic design of the layout of the invitation! Plus, this woman has money to burn, and KNOWS i do this stuff to make money on the side. She didn't even call to ask if i could make something. My MIL says i'm way overreacting, but to me it's no better than stealing a photographer's picture, scanning it and printing 100 copies for your own use. She also says i can't prove that someone else didn't make this exact same thing or that she found it online somewhere...a little too coincidental if you ask me...
So, tell me, AM I overreacting? Or should i feel a little slighted on this one?
__________________ Jen Z. in Elysburg, PA...not quite stampin' in Atlas anymore!
I don't know that I would be mad really. There is the part of me that thinks she liked it enough to copy it even if it was scanned and printed. Usually a person wouldn't copy something if they didn't like it.
I've also discovered that (generally) people with the money to burn won't burn it on hand-crafted items because it's so-called cheesy or whatever (I won't get into how cheesy I think scan & copy is- the quality can't be near as good as an original). I have family members that have money to burn so to speak and I have family members that live comfortably enough. Guess who buys my stuff more? Not the money burners.
I say it's okay for you to be a little indignant about it but don't let it bother you for more than a day or two. Your energy is better spent on creating :-)
__________________ Shellie G
Aspire to be a better person than you were yesterday
Location: In my sewing/craft room most of the time.
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I agree that you shouldn't waste your time being upset...in an ideal world!!
In MY world...I would be really annoyed! Even though I know that, being an adult, I should be flattered that someone liked my creation enough to duplicate it, I would be really ticked off especially since you were not asked.
I would just leave it, but if anyone mentions it, I would say it looks just like the hand stamped on you were commissioned to make a few years ago, for a friend.
I think I feel the same way, It would hurt that they didnt consider to ask you to make them but glad that they used your design.
I have family members all the time that come to me for orders and than others that wont buy from me at all, they rather go to the store and buy a pack or print them out themselves.
Just try to let it go and continue to do what you do
yes, but then we are stampers. we know this is a felony!!! but to the rest of the world, it is nothing. so I'd grumble here on SCS and to my husband and then just let it go.
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
yes, but then we are stampers. we know this is a felony!!! but to the rest of the world, it is nothing. so I'd grumble here on SCS and to my husband and then just let it go.
Life is too short. Take it as a compliment. We really make our cards because we enjoy it. She must have liked it alot and never thought you would not be complimented.
I have heard it said for years that if someone copies what we do, it's a compliment. That said, I would be torqued also. Pretty brassy of that lady! So yep, I'd throw myself a little "hissy fit" and then let it go. I agree that life's too short to hang onto anger. Take the high road, it's so much easier to walk!
yes, but then we are stampers. we know this is a felony!!! but to the rest of the world, it is nothing. so I'd grumble here on SCS and to my husband and then just let it go.
Yes! It kills me when one of my coworkers brings in a little holiday treat that his wife made for the team, and it is an item that she stamped and then scanned in, printed out, and mass produced. I just grit my teeth every time.
Ya I would be ticked but once I settled down I would be flattered. It must have been memorable since its been a couple years. Thats a good indication how much she like it.
She may be telling people that she loved your idea so much she had to use it.
but if she passes it off as an orginal ideal that is a different thing.
yes, but then we are stampers. we know this is a felony!!! but to the rest of the world, it is nothing. so I'd grumble here on SCS and to my husband and then just let it go.
I agree with what Joan said. I think you have every right to be ticked but really what good will it do you. Its not like she will admit she did wrong.
The same way you'd be flattered if your car was stolen. They must really like your car!
I'm with you. I'd be furious, too. And I'd call her out on it. Very sweetly.
Call her up and ask her if everything's okay. When she asks why, say that you think they must have had a terrible reversal of fortune since she had to STEAL the design of the grad card you made for Decent Relative who Paid for It. You have a little money from -what was it? - oh yes, making cards and you could help her out ...
Okay, you're too nice to do it. But the company's stamps that were in the original design would not be "complimented" that their images were mechanically reproduced.
Last edited by LizSwickley; 06-09-2011 at 06:28 PM..
Reason: spelling
Yes, I would be unhappy. Then I would tell my long-suffering husband (who doesn't understand these things, but listens patiently anyway.) If he just didn't get it (which he would not), I would talk about it some more until he began to nod and his eyes glazed over.
If that didn't get it out of my system, I would come here and post about it.
After I read all the excellent, and funny, and wise comments from my fellow stampers, who truly understand just how important these things are (Joan B), I would try very hard to see it for the compliment it was.
I can talk the talk, but it's harder to walk the walk. I have this little gem on my fridge and read it often:
Rules for Life:
#1 Don't sweat the small stuff.
#2 It's all small stuff.
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
I would totally be annoyed! So glad you have us to vent to! I don't think others get it! LOL
This same thing happened to me...when I got pregnant with #1 I did not make cards, but I had started to scrapbook. I made announcements that included an ultrasound picture...with something about buzzing with excitement and some bees around a hive. Anyway, someone in my family WHO RECEIVED that announcement made one just like it (but worse...they black and white copied theirs and put stickers on it...but I am not bitter LOL) and sent it out...6 months after I sent mine. I *****ed to my husband and that was it. But obviously I still hold a grudge and think it is tacky.
I agree with Joan B, being "stampers" we look at things in an entirely different way than people who don't stamp. She probably didn't even realize what she did would offend you. I'd take it as a compliment if anyone ever copied anything of mine. If I didn't particularly care for the person to begin with though, I'm afraid I'd look at it differently... as in "the NERVE of her!!!" :rolleyes:
I don't know that I would be mad really. There is the part of me that thinks she liked it enough to copy it even if it was scanned and printed. Usually a person wouldn't copy something if they didn't like it.
I've also discovered that (generally) people with the money to burn won't burn it on hand-crafted items because it's so-called cheesy or whatever (I won't get into how cheesy I think scan & copy is- the quality can't be near as good as an original). I have family members that have money to burn so to speak and I have family members that live comfortably enough. Guess who buys my stuff more? Not the money burners.
I say it's okay for you to be a little indignant about it but don't let it bother you for more than a day or two. Your energy is better spent on creating :-)
Big Ditto! She said it perfect!
Then, I'd drive over to her house and put dog poop under her car door handles LOL
__________________ �:*�*:�My next house won't have a kitchen. Just a bunch of vending machines and garbage cans.�:*�*:�
I would be mad. I would call her. Be nice about it. Say something "Thank you for the invitation. I am truly flattered that you liked my creation enough to use it for your DD's or DS's graduation announcement." If she ever asks for another one of your stamped creations again smack her upside the head.
Heck yeah, I would be mad! Right off the bat, I would be really mad...then I would vent to someone or a lot of someones! Start to feel a little better, maybe get to the place where i think that she must have really liked it to save it and copy it. BUT, I would try to find a way to sneak in a little snarky comment to her about copying it...and I would find a way, LOL!
But then I would try to out do myself with her graduation card....something she couldn't scan or copy, all bumpy and stuff!
Sorry you had to feel this way and glad you could come here to SCS and vent.
The same way you'd be flattered if your car was stolen. They must really like your car!
LOL, my thoughts exactly. Nothing flattering about that.
I wouldn't be mad so much, just flabbergasted that people think it is okay to do something like this.
I have to say she probably has no idea what she is doing is wrong (or she wouldn't have sent it to you because she knew you made the original right?),But didn't we learn in kindergarten copying is wrong, here is a chance to teach someone about stealing designs and images and photocopying them. I would approach her and say something like, "Although I know you didn't probably realize it.... but copying designs and images are violations of copyright laws and I really wouldn't want you to get into any trouble"
__________________ Michelle
Last edited by michellesscrap; 06-10-2011 at 09:23 AM..
Reason: typo
I'm probably more of the mind of Joan B and Bugga, but I have to say this and the little scenario in red plays out nicely in my mind, LOL!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lylacfey
I would be mad. I would call her. Be nice about it. Say something "Thank you for the invitation. I am truly flattered that you liked my creation enough to use it for your DD's or DS's graduation announcement." If she ever asks for another one of your stamped creations again smack her upside the head.
I'd shake it off. The person who scanned your work and sent it off as her own creation should have a guilty conscience about it because she knows what she did with the hand-crafted work you gave to her. On the other hand, "they" say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and she's obviously flattered by what you created to copy it. As far as having "money to burn" I too have heard that those with money to burn tend to not want to spend it on "frivolous" items like hand-crafted creations. (I think that implies that they are too busy trying to be "like the Joneses".....)
When you see her again, you could compliment her on her work ("oh Joan, I received your invitation, it's really creative and reminds me of an invitation I created previously. How clever of you that we think alike...").
Complementing the offender is like heaping coals over her head and she may acknowledge that she used your original creation as the "springboard" to make her invite. If she doesn't acknowledge it, at least you recognized her plagiarism and gave her the chance to own up to it and acknowledge that she was inspired by your creation, but you can't make her or expect that she would understand your offense if she doesn't hang out in forums like SCS.
Last edited by DigitalStamper63; 06-10-2011 at 02:30 PM..
Yes you are completely in the right to be peeved! I'm with all those who have previously said that they would have to mention it in some way. As you have received one of the offending "stolen" invites on replying yay or nay I would definitely write a little comment about how flattered you were to see that she had used your design. I think I would be even tempted to say that it is one of your best selling designs (ie: the fact that you do make a little on them) and that lots of grads will be having similar invites this year as you have sold so many!!! I am purely guessing here but the sort of person who plagiarises others creativity will be more than a little miffed that her invites are maybe not as exclusive as she thinks they are!! Of course only you will know the truth!!
Childish?? Undoubtedly, but I would feel a whole lot better!
I would never do that to anyone so yeah, I'd be ticked off but.....I would have to let it go because there would be nothing I could do about it at that point. My life's motto is if you can't change it, screw it. It works. I'm selective about what aggravates the crap out of me - lol.
Scanned and printed on an inkjet printer??? Sounds like crap!
Without knowing ANYTHING about you, I already know that the one you made is so much nicer than the one she sent out. I scoff in her general direction for you!
HARUMPH!
Now check the freezer - got any Ben & Jerry's? It will make you feel better. Trust me.
__________________ Work is for people who don't know how to stamp.
Jen, I am so glad you have all of us to commiserate with........we can understand your frustration and yes we all would have been miffed at the very least. I have read all of the responces so far and have found a lot of wisdom in them as well as a few laughs. I love the sence of humor we have and are ususally able to .....let it go....
Besides all of the things I have wanted to so very sweetly say to people that tick me off would never come out of my mouth sweetly..........so wisely I keep my mouth shut, at least most of the time. And you know what, I get over the things that make me angry and I did not look or sound foolish to the people that just don't get it anyway.
Ladies, i'm laughing right out loud at some of your responses. It's good to know i'm not overreacting or being pompous about my work. I really like wenchie's suggestion - dog poop under the car door handles. That's a riot.
I am thinking of making her a hand stamped replica of the grad announcement as her card. Then if someone says "oh that looks just like the invitation" i'll just say "it dooooeeesss, doesn't it???" Hmm...
My DH actually picked up the invitation and said "hey, isn't this from the invitation you made a couple years ago?" How's THAT for a DH??!! He thought it was downright wrong too, but said he thought the gutsiest thing is that she actually sent us one!
Oh well, life goes on, right? But i really do think i'm going to make her a replica card!! Thanks for commiserating with me, ladies. You guys are all awesome on SCS!!
__________________ Jen Z. in Elysburg, PA...not quite stampin' in Atlas anymore!
Times like these call for the closet U suck card--you know, the one you keep in your craft closet and take out only when someone has earned the dubious distinction of deserving it.
Put it in an envelope with her initials on it and then stick it back in the closet. THat way, her 'U suck' card worthiness had been duly noted--but not in a way that might one day lead to her sticking it in your face and saying 'Look what I found at my cat burglar cousin's garage sale!'
If/when someone else ever proves worthy, just change the initials on the envelope. . .
I admit I'd be peeved too. I think tho, I would, when I next spoke to her, say something along the lines of ' I was really pleased you liked my design so much that you used it for your invites, but I did just want to warn you that stamped images have copyright issues, and scanning them & printing them out is strictly forbidden by the companies. You know how seriously people take any form of what they see as piracy these days.' That should wipe the smile of her face,lol.
I would be ticked! In the nicest of way would corner this rat and tell her you are thrilled she liked YOUR work so much.....and smile......................
I admit I'd be peeved too. I think tho, I would, when I next spoke to her, say something along the lines of ' I was really pleased you liked my design so much that you used it for your invites, but I did just want to warn you that stamped images have copyright issues, and scanning them & printing them out is strictly forbidden by the companies. You know how seriously people take any form of what they see as piracy these days.' That should wipe the smile of her face,lol.
Keep this in mind too ... yours was handmade and the people who received it KNOW that ... and those people will probably keep your invitations forever as a keepsake because they know you put time and effort into making such a beautiful invitation for them to enjoy. The people that she sent the invitations to will end up just tossing it out after the party is over, nothing from the heart went into making them. Just another party invite.
Times like these call for the closet U suck card--you know, the one you keep in your craft closet and take out only when someone has earned the dubious distinction of deserving it.
Put it in an envelope with her initials on it and then stick it back in the closet. THat way, her 'U suck' card worthiness had been duly noted--but not in a way that might one day lead to her sticking it in your face and saying 'Look what I found at my cat burglar cousin's garage sale!'
If/when someone else ever proves worthy, just change the initials on the envelope. . .
Ladies, i'm laughing right out loud at some of your responses. It's good to know i'm not overreacting or being pompous about my work. I really like wenchie's suggestion - dog poop under the car door handles. That's a riot.
I am thinking of making her a hand stamped replica of the grad announcement as her card. Then if someone says "oh that looks just like the invitation" i'll just say "it dooooeeesss, doesn't it???" Hmm...
My DH actually picked up the invitation and said "hey, isn't this from the invitation you made a couple years ago?" How's THAT for a DH??!! He thought it was downright wrong too, but said he thought the gutsiest thing is that she actually sent us one!
Oh well, life goes on, right? But i really do think i'm going to make her a replica card!! Thanks for commiserating with me, ladies. You guys are all awesome on SCS!!
Yeah, I wouldn't take it out on the graduate but I would be so tempted to just photocopy the invite and cross a few bits out, fold it and send it.
In reality I would make the elaborate, bumpy card and feel better for it. Of course I would probably hand it over very publicly to be opened by the graduate right that minute in front of everyone too...
Would this make you mad?...
