Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
When you list items for sale on Etsy should you give credit for your idea if it came from someone else? For example I just saw the onsie card on there made by Lauren. what about all the tin ideas from Papertrey? etc... What is ethical?:confused:
Tough one - because once an idea is out there in the world you have little control over what it inspires people to do. I love Lauren's card and truthfully intend to make a couple myself for family friends. I think if it came down to a legal argument she would have a tough time saying that the shape of card is entirely unique so in reality you are free to use the shape for a card you wish to make. Also I believe there is a card recipe attached to the blog so it could be argued that you are being allowed to recreate and there has been no limitation placed on what you do with your own creation.
while this is not a law-binding rule, it's generally a good idea to not sell items that are copied exactly. many designers have taken a lot of time with their artwork and may well be in the process of selling them to magazines. you'd be taking that away from them.
Tough one - because once an idea is out there in the world you have little control over what it inspires people to do. I love Lauren's card and truthfully intend to make a couple myself for family friends. I think if it came down to a legal argument she would have a tough time saying that the shape of card is entirely unique so in reality you are free to use the shape for a card you wish to make. Also I believe there is a card recipe attached to the blog so it could be argued that you are being allowed to recreate and there has been no limitation placed on what you do with your own creation.
Was that as clear as mud?
most if not all blogs have disclaimers posted in their sidebars that ask you not to sell their work or enter it into contests
I know, but wouldn't you want to honour that request?
I know this isn't addressed to me, but I CAN honour that request because I don't Copy anything exactly. Even a card I CASEd recently I can show 3 distinct differences off the top of my head.;)
I would say that a person that would sell on ETSY a completely copied card probably wouldn't be too worried about a request. IMHO
I know this isn't addressed to me, but I CAN honour that request because I don't Copy anything exactly. Even a card I CASEd recently I can show 3 distinct differences off the top of my head.;)
I would say that a person that would sell on ETSY a completely copied card probably wouldn't be too worried about a request. IMHO
If it's not exactly the same, then none of this matters. I just don't think an exact copy should be sold.
I have seen people post that on their blogs that's why i was curious. I was just looking thru Etsy to see what it was all about and stumbled onto quite a few things that I have seen here. You know you are obsessed too when you see the cards and know all of the stamp companies that they represent I agree with the above i never copy anything exactly because I love to use my own stuff and my own color schemes.
I can tell you the onesie shape is not a new "idea"...I have a card from about 3 years ago shaped as a onesie....
because it has been featured on a prominent blog it is hot right now...
yes, when I read the OP I thought the same thing...onesie cards have been around since I have been stamping at least. (8 years)
I saw the super cute one on Lauren Meaders blog and agree it should NOT be copied exactly and sold by someone else. I have not seen the card the OP is speaking of so I cannot say for sure it was not copied exactly.
I wanted to add......that although I LOVE Papertrey, they did not invent covering tins.
Nichole Heady is ****brilliant **** IMHO but covered tins have been around for years.
Are the items you saw on Etsy exact copies or just covered tins and a onesie card? That is where the issue is.
Even if they were very close to the same...who is to say that the person selling did not make theirs first? If these ideas have been around for years there is really no telling what came first unless there is a patent or copyright filed right? JMHO. Dont know anything really.
IMHO, I don't think that you need to give credit. As long as it's not a CASE. I only consider something a CASE if it's an EXACT copy of someone else's work. I have seen things on blogs and gallleries that have come from inspiration from other places (like Martha Stewart Living, etc.) that people aren't giving credit to MSL for. If you change it, it becomes yours because something from your brain had to happen to make it different. HTH!
__________________ Lauren
Obsessed with all consumables, but mostly paper groppi girl blogs
It's so hard because things go in cycles. I've been a ctmh consultant (dots) for 13 years and so many of the things that are hot right now....are just updates of projects we did 10+ years ago...paint cans, onesies, sourcream containers, 6x6 baskets, gift bags (many styles), jiffy pop...and on and on and on... It's rare that you see a truly unique idea/sketch. Mostly they are updated versions of past projects. (not "we" as in CTMH, but "we" as in people who were crafting, stamping, scrapbooking.)
Man, if only we had coined the term "altered" back then. LOL
I don't even post the "please don't copy" thing on my blog because it's virtually impossible to say who made up what and what inspired what.
I do agree that credit should be given if someone copies every aspect of a design...stamps, inks, placement, papers...etc... But if you see something and are inspired and adapt it to your own style or your own "stash" then I say "go for it!"
The other day someone at my workshop went on and on about a cute project they had seen posted on the internet. As soon as she said that it said "Volleyball is s'more fun with your peeps," I started laughing. It was mine. She know's me and still didn't remember that it was mine that she saw. Sure loved that she was talking up my art though. LOL
Etsy and credit given
