Copying issue on Do's and Don'ts
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Original Post
Hello Admin. If this is an issue you decide to address (please please please) would you kindly start a new thread because this issue is very important to myself and many other Etsy members and don't want your response to get lost in a long thread.
If you are NOT going to have a policy on copying could you please let us know in a new thread as well. Thanks, I look forward to your input. HAPPY TUESDAY!
Posted at 9:03pm Mar 27, 2007 EDT
Responses
It's my personal opinion that Admin should absolutely have a policy on copying - I've worked long and hard on my designs! I've seen some things that while probably influenced by my stuff (a good thing) have not been copied from my work (which would obviously be a BAD thing.) However, I think a code of conduct re: copying needs to be in place to add a layer of protection for the artists on here.
Posted at 9:13pm Mar 27, 2007 EDT
In the short time I've been at etsy, I've seen *3* identical copies of pieces I've made. :(
I don't know how admin could possibly police it though.
Posted at 9:35pm Mar 27, 2007 EDT
I saw something of someone's in a showcase that was very similar to an item I sold. I know I didn't copy them and they didn't copy me. But I guess someone could have been accused and it would have been unfairly so. Unless it's exactly identical down to all the materials used, I think it would be hard to prove copying. And it would be hard to police. You would first have to flag someone you think is copying you and then they would have to look at both shops and make a determination.
Posted at 9:48pm Mar 27, 2007 EDT
I know with baby things it is hard...and policing would be hard but I agree withlittleputbooks that there should be some kind of policy. I see it as a problem with etsiers who have very original pieces but I have a childrens shop on here as well and like pamperingbeki some of your things I have made and sold on ebay in the past...so how would you draw the line of copying? I am just interested in hearing people opinions. Like I said before littleputbooks your items are so your items ya know? But like my little girls dresses..lots of gals know how to make halter dresses so I could not say I created the idea etc...same with hair clippies..if I added some of my silk flower hair clippies would I be considered a copycat.hmm I am just typing/thinking outloud but policing seems hard to do..
Posted at 9:51pm Mar 27, 2007 EDT
Right that sounds right AlbinaRose. But still some have shops off of here and now a days there are so many tutorials on the web so alot of us make similar things.. I don't know..I have heard this before in some boutique groups I am in on ebay but it is just so hard. Just because someone listed it first here on etsy does not mean one was not selling it elsewhere first or that it was either of there original ideas...and alot of us work with the same materials...I dont know. Its a hard topic.
Posted at 9:54pm Mar 27, 2007 EDT
Unless we have a copyrighted design, it is hard to decide who copied who, even if it is really blatant. I dont know how it can be policed.
Posted at 10:00pm Mar 27, 2007 EDT
I think it is almost impossible to police 'copying'. Where do you draw the line? Is your item really a complete original or did you get the idea or parts of the idea from somewhere else? This issue has been discussed many times with no real solution. The only way to completely avoid someone 'copying' you is to not show your work on the internet, which totally defeats the whole purpose.
People may argue that they came up with an idea on their own with no outside influences, but who's to say that someone else in this great big world didn't have the same idea completely on their own too?
Sticky issue and I'm sure admin really doesn't want to have to start trying to decide who's copying who.
There are only so many different things you can make with yarn, paper, clay, beads, glass, etc. etc. Everything is bound to look similar to something else someone has made.
Posted at 10:03pm Mar 27, 2007 EDT
It is a lot easier to prove copying if someone copies your item descriptions verbatim or uses your exact photos (like steals them, not just copies the photo style). Copying the item itself is very hard to prove because if the materials are commercially available, two people can independantly make similar items without ever seeing eachother's shops.
Two people can have almost identical items but maybe they *both* copied a third party who's not even on etsy.
Posted at 10:15pm Mar 27, 2007 EDT
Does this mean that I won't be able to copy from littleputbooks anymore?
;-)
Posted at 10:30pm Mar 27, 2007 EDT