Comments on: Dealing with Copycats

By: Vee

Vee — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 21:47:31 +0000

In reply to kayla. Not illegal unless someone copies a copyrighted item you created. Even then, the item must be exactly copied. Even one small change, color, different pattern, added one unique item, does not infringe the copyright. It’s okay, as long as it is not exact.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 22:35:18 +0000

In reply to klondy guerra. Klondy, thank you for sharing your thoughts about similar jewelry designs throughout history, and how those similarities might happen. It's a fascinating topic!

By: klondy guerra

klondy guerra — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 22:17:18 +0000

I also think of one heavy duty consolation we should all take into account. Jewelry has been around since the stone age, at that time it was bones, ropes, etc. I evolved throughout ages and history. So, sometimes, even if we think our own creation is unique, doing a little research, we can find that perhaps something similar existed in our history books, maybe a picture of a queen or king or a slave, etc.
the beauty of jewelry is that is for every taste, every fashion and maybe it came from a previous creation making an impression on us during childhood, studies, etc.
i.e. tassels – tassels are so old, but before they were used for curtains, burlesque, graduation hats, etc, they are so old… 🙂 – so people have copied ;my creation of tassel earrings, I only say bravo, and not get hurt about it, because its history. Maybe I saw something when I was a child and now its come forward in my brain. I have a few styles, and of course, they have been copied…. next….but am so creative… I just keep on trucking.

By: klondy guerra

klondy guerra — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 00:03:20 +0000

Oh gosh, am so happy to read this article because this is happening to me always AND I have been doing exactly what you say, imagine, without knowing, I continue to create because I love it, even though all I know on how to do jewelry, with the least equipment is all from YouTube or sites where they teach jewelry making.
by learning a technique, I then do all my own thing and combine many techniques or invent creations and improve them, etc. I love doing this, and you’re right, they copy to the smallest detail, and they are true jewelers, because they have businesses. I only do this because I love jewelry and cannot afford it and it’s my pastime not my job, but GOD only knows, I keep getting better and better, and I started December 4, 2015 – now its August 2017.
Thank you for this post. It makes me so happy, because unknowingly, I have been doing the right thing to cope, let go and move on.

By: kayla

kayla — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 02:43:58 +0000

may i please ask it is illegal if they copy your designs?

ect copy right?

By: Rebecca Casey

Rebecca Casey — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 23:24:36 +0000

I have a question what if it is for a good cause? like for your friend for her birthday and yowu can’t find the same necklace at the store and you want to give it to your friend as a gift but I would never copy a design to sell it that is just wrong I understand if you want to copy your necklace to give it to your friend as a gift but to just copy someone’s design in a negative way that on the other hand would be copyright and that’s ilegal not all copying is negative

By: Jodi Nobles

Jodi Nobles — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:34:44 +0000

Angela, I’m so sorry you have had such a hurtful experience. One question I have is, “Are the pieces selling for double, or does she simply have them listed for that price?” If they’re selling, then (1) Raise your prices, and (2) design some new pieces. You designed the first ones and they were good enough for someone to go to a whole lot of trouble to find out how you made them. If she doesn’t have the ability to make them without the designer’s input, she will probably fall by the wayside eventually. Part of the joy is designing something original and then creating it. Keep doing that, because she probably can’t.

When you do something kind for someone, you will get that back at some point, even if her intention was wrong. Your intention was pure.

Keep your chin up.

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:07:33 +0000

This was a great article! I really needed to read it as I am very upset and hurt by someone that has completely copied my original designs. I even helped teach her how to make the pendants because she said she loved mine and wanted to start making some of her own creations. I spent a lot of time helping her. A LOT OF MY FREE TIME out of the kindness of my heart. She played me for a fool for a couple of months, pretending like she had no idea what she was doing and that her pendants looked horrible. I asked her to send me photos several times but she never did. Finally, I felt like something wasn’t right so I decided to look up her facebook page and lo and behold she was posting pics of her duplicated replicas of my EXACT design pretending like she came up with it! To make matters worse she was selling them online for double the price that I charge! I felt so hurt and deceived. I had worked very hard for the last two years on this little jewelry business (my only income) and she knew this. She befriended me then took complete advantage of my kindness to steal my hard work and pretend it was her creation! If it was some random person that I didn’t know off the internet it wouldn’t be so painful. I would have never expected this from a fellow Reiki Master (energy healer) who claims to be a very spiritual person. Her specialty is yoga sound healing and she says she is finally honoring her life purpose. If her life purpose is to manipulate and steal from other people I don’t think she will get very far…lol! Bottom line is it hurts to be manipulated, stolen from and taken advantage of and my heart goes out to anyone else that has been through this!

By: Chuck Norton

Chuck Norton — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 01:41:26 +0000

I’m wondering how many designers are making a point of letting people know that their designs are their property. Are their signs? Something like “These items are designed by … and may not be reproduced without express written permission”? Are we talking about designs that are actually copyrighted? If you make something and don’t do anything to protect the design, I think you’re asking for knockoffs. I think most often it’s people that are just uninformed, not malicious.

By: Pearl

Pearl — Wed, 20 May 2015 14:54:20 +0000

Spot on! The key is constant evolution. Those who cling to past successes not only eventually fail but are most impacted by copycats.

By: Joann Nobles

Joann Nobles — Sun, 17 May 2015 03:22:23 +0000

I enjoyed reading the level headed approach of the contributors. How miserable would it be to make jewelry without your own original ideas? How boring!!

Over time, that is not the path to success or to a fulfilling life. Almost certainly, that kind of theft will not prosper long term. Generally, that type of person will find the grass greener somewhere else and will be copying another art form or business endeavor before long.

By: Sandra Smith

Sandra Smith — Wed, 13 May 2015 16:39:45 +0000

I tried asking a variation of this question earlier, but it never showed up. basically, I am just learning how to make jewelry so am taking classes and reading books. When I learn a technique, at what point it is copying? Early in my life I was a painter so understand the creative product belongs to the artist. Right now I am working through a book, but many of the projects are not to my liking but I change the item to suit my tastes. Please clarify as I do not want to fall into that class of being a “copycat”!

By: Anne Mulligan

Anne Mulligan — Tue, 12 May 2015 14:20:23 +0000

I had an experience recently at a show. I make a very stylized open-ended necklace out of aluminum wire and was making some of them at a show, partly to pass the time between sales, but also to engage an audience. A woman came up and told me, “I’m going to go home and make a bunch of those!” I was too stunned to come up with an answer on the spot. The next year, the same woman proudly told me that she had copied my design and given the results to friends. As politely as I could, I told her, “Maybe you can come up with something original next time.” It went right over her head.

By: Noel

Noel — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 05:25:20 +0000

Very helpful and positive article!! I’m dealing with this very problem currently with one of my necklace deigns but unfortunately the person copying my work is networking with the right people at market to get her necklaces sold. It’s definitely upsetting but nice to hear that all real artists deal with this and sometimes the best thing to do is let it go and move on! Positivity is the best defense and karma will take care of those people copying the creators!

By: mallory

mallory — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 00:09:00 +0000

I love this article very much.. it’s nice to know that I am not alone !!! 🙂
thank you,
Mallory

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 05:53:33 +0000

In reply to Diane. You're very welcome, Diane - and thank you for your comment. If you're looking for ways to make your jewelry more unique (and harder to copy), I have a list of ideas in this post that you may find helpful: How to Sell Jewelry in a Saturated Market. Good luck, and keep developing your creative vision! :)

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 05:10:55 +0000

I cannot thank you enough for publishing this article. I’m a theatrical designer and I began taking a metals/jewelry class last year at a community college. A fellow student with years of metals experience copied one of my designs earlier this year and of course didn’t tell the new instructor where she got the idea. And I’ve heard through the grapevine that several individuals in this group are noted for stealing other’s ideas. One person actually went so far as to copy a design from a project book and sell the jewelry as her own work (the book clearly says you may not sell any of the projects – and what kind of artist could be proud of passing off someone else’s designs as their own work?).

Your suggestion of incorporating unique elements into my projects will be a great help. I’m at a disadvantage because I am not as skillful with metal (yet) as this group, and as they are not artists, they are constantly looking for ideas for their jewelry. I’m not actually interested in creating a line of jewelry for sale, but it is discouraging to see your idea passed off as another’s and then entered in an art contest. I guess I should be flattered that the piece was accepted, but it still stings. My mom says not to worry as I have lots more ideas. Thanks again for publishing such a useful article. 🙂