GUYS! This is important about our patterns!

[IHateThatGuy]

Just noticed this thread. I've seen a lot of patterns for sale on Etsy that are free here. I also hope I can take a pattern I helped with, that I modified further, and hope that doesn't count here.

I'm surprised that Etsy doesn't do anything about the rampant theft of stuff on their site. I've emailed them a few times and have received no response.

Do you have any links to such patterns? I constantly check Etsy. I know there's a guy selling the Light World A Link to the Past map and Dark World map but I think those are his own as the dimensions and counts are different. (256x256 he claims)

[Blink190]

I wonder if it would be possible for the site to obtain some kind of copyright or licensing where if a pattern is found on another website, legal action could be pursued. I feel like that may be a significant deterrent to people. Or at least, you would hope so...

You know, johloh dealt with CBS for the Star Trek book. It's a possibility. Of course, CBS is really happy to license out ST as much as possible to milk the franchise for money; out of the big game studios, Sony might be the most receptive to such an agreement, but Nintendo would be quite reserved. And any licensed work would have to be created within studio specifications, and then reviewed (and altered, or at least have changes suggested) by studio editors, before they'd be willing to put their imprimatur on it.

I'd love to do semi-canon, official work for the big studios once in a while, but I think it'd kill the freewheeling artsy commune feel we have if we used that as a primary mode of protection.

But would there be any kind of way to circumvent going to the big companies? I mean there's so many different patterns that to get copyrights on all the different topics and shows and games, etc, would be extremely daunting. Maybe something more broad and reaching for anything produced by the website belongs to the website. I don't know legal as much so I can't say for sure, but there should be some way to protect our work.

[Kevin18875]

Well, this one I know for sure. http://www.etsy.com/listing/82162681/cr ... oss+stitch

This one possibly as well: http://www.etsy.com/listing/112129897/a ... oss+stitch

This ones a definite: http://www.etsy.com/listing/113768041/e ... oss+stitch

And lastly, this one, but I think Servotron put this up: http://www.etsy.com/listing/123123079/e ... oss+stitch

[Servotron]

Well, this one I know for sure. http://www.etsy.com/listing/82162681/cr ... oss+stitch

This one possibly as well: http://www.etsy.com/listing/112129897/a ... oss+stitch

This ones a definite: http://www.etsy.com/listing/113768041/e ... oss+stitch

And lastly, this one, but I think Servotron put this up: http://www.etsy.com/listing/123123079/e ... oss+stitch

Yeah, that last one is my shop.

[RMDC]

But would there be any kind of way to circumvent going to the big companies? I mean there's so many different patterns that to get copyrights on all the different topics and shows and games, etc, would be extremely daunting. Maybe something more broad and reaching for anything produced by the website belongs to the website. I don't know legal as much so I can't say for sure, but there should be some way to protect our work.

No. Unfortunately, the only way to be legally covered when blithely using someone else's IP is to have their express permission.

[kuja.girl]

Yeah, that last one is my shop.

LMAO. Nice ;)

Here's what I suggest/know:
Etsy is well known for not following their own "rules" so all we can do is hope for the best and follow their reporting rules.

Pattern makers/PDF converters should really think about including a mark that shows that the images are under Creative Commons Licensing. Depending on the pattern, the CCL might be completely applicable, or just something that we hope discourages the blatant piracy of these turds and mooches.

[Kareesh]

I know we're talking about putting watermarks and the like on patterns, but what if you upload a pattern in KG Chart? Is there a way to just put it in Read-Only so you can do that? I know a lot of the people here stitch from their computer and use KG Chart.

[arkani]

Hmm. After spouting words I won't repeat here, I've reported her where I can for my dashie pic. >:(
On the watermark on PDF's thing.. i was given acopy of Nitro PDF creator with my new pc... that, if I remember right (i've only had a quick play) can enable me to watermark all pages at the touch of a button. It'd be a *huge* task, but 'm willing to have a crack at that!
Even if it was putting a SS logo and a creative commons pic on the page,I think I can automate that.

Frankly, i'm not surprised at Etsy, one bit, too. Though i'm glad her shop is down... or at least I couldn't find it.

edit: i've had more of a look, and i can header/footer the website in, and watermark really easily.

[kuja.girl]

Making files "read only" doesn't work - as soon as you download the file (copy) you can change it from Read Only to Write. That trick (usually) only works with networked computers where there are shared permissions across workstations.

I have Adobe Acrobat Pro, so I can password protect my PDFs and make them uneditable. So far this hasn't been necessary as none of my patterns have been stolen. Instead, I have taken to embedding the CC license and my "creator" information into the printed PCStitch PDF. Yes, they could edit it out, but it would take good tools and more technical know-how and time than I think they want to spend. I'm going to attach an example so you guys can see what I mean. I prefer this method over a watermark - but not everyone had this option.

As for the editable files - these are less likely to be "stolen" than the PDFs; PDFs are "read to sell" and the people who do this are lazy. They are using the shotgun approach - put as much up as possible and if anything sells it's a win.

[IHateThatGuy]

I have finally received an email from Etsy.

Hello,

Thank you for getting in touch about this. We take intellectual property concerns very seriously. We also take Etsy’s policies very seriously. Those who do not follow Etsy’s policies may be notified. Please note that to report “copying," "infringement" or a “knock-off” on Etsy, you need to be to be authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright or intellectual property. This is because only an authorized person can decide whether a use is harmful and then decide what to do about it. You may, however, contact the property owner so that they can examine the situation and take appropriate action.

Check out the links below for more information on Etsy’s Copyright and Intellectual Property policy, the procedure for reporting it, and some FAQs and articles on this subject.

DMCA (Etsy's Copyright Policy)
http://www.etsy.com/help/article/482?ut ... dium=email

Copyright FAQs (Frequestly Asked Questions about Copyright)
http://www.etsy.com/help/article/482?ut ... opyright/1

Articles written by our Intellectual Property attorney, Sarah Feingold (SarahSays):

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/?s=sarahsays
http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2009/etsy-i ... ringement/
http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2008/legal- ... al-system/

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Best,
Sara
Etsy Trust & Safety
http://www.etsy.com/policy/dosdonts

It's not like Servotron is the copyright holder or is he? So many legal grey areas with what we do. I just can't imagine someone making $100+ on something that's free on this site that they didn't even make. I wonder if Etsy will refund the people or transfer said funds to Servotron.