2.16.2012

Ebay thieves...

Sorry about the quality of the below photo
 it is a scan
 of an ebay auction
 of mine back from 2007.
 So thus 
the poor quality of the photo...

This was a piece that I designed for this particular ebay auction. 
It was a one of a kind. 
There was never a pattern published for this design. 
I repeat, there was never a pattern published for this design...
hold onto that thought.

You can imagine my surprise while police-ing ebay, 
category Punch Needle
 when I came
 upon this auction...


I do allow my customers
 to use my designs
 for purposes of selling the finished items,
 on a small scale.  
This is with the understanding
 that they have purchased the pattern.
   Not stolen it
 from my ebay auction,
 blog or website.


   It is also always appreciated
 that the seller list the name of the designer,
 of the item, that they are selling on ebay. 
 Seems fair doesn't it? 
 I watch many of my designs
 fetch a pretty hefty sum
 (not trying to toot my horn, here) 
on ebay
 and that is wonderful!
I'm always happy for the seller.
  I don't ask any commission from this...
  And this posting isn't directed at those who do this fairly.
Unfortunately,
there are ebay sellers who are doing this
un-fairly.


It does frustrate me to the max
 when I see  my punch needle design on ebay
 and
 I am 99.99% sure that the seller doesn't physically
 have the pattern
 in their possession,
 rather "borrowed" it from my website, 
blog, etc.    
They feel that this sort of "borrowing"
 is okay,
 if they just list the name of the designer...
  This is NOT OKAY.  
OKAY???


So my point is, 
if you like a designers work,
 so much
in fact,
that you want to use it to profit from,
just simply support the designer
by purchasing the pattern.
Seems fair doesn't it?


I don't like negative posting
 and
 this post only applies
 to the .1% of my readers/followers.
I'm only posting this here
 because those few people
 obviously
shop here,
on my blog,
rather
 then their local craft shop
or website.



 Feeling slightly cheated today,
Brenda

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Theft of design is never a good thing. But who's to say that this seller didn't come upon your pattern by way of the person that originally won your ebay auction? I would hate to be called a thief if I really wasn't one.

~Laurie~ said...

Good for you for posting this- always a few bad apples out there that need to be reminded of their wrong doings. You are completely fair in your requests. Keep up your great work - many of us put here truly admire your work.

Anonymous said...

Brenda
I can relate to how you are feeling. I recently saw an idea of mine presented on PinInterest as original to the writer... Just yesterday, a blogger presented details of Valentine Tea...the favor was, again, my EXACT design presented as her own. It would have been courteous to acknowledge the source, even without copyright in place.
Yes, it stings!
Busy Hands...Happy Heart
Patricia

Lynda Ruth Bowers said...

What a bitch to sell your design. Can't people respect others who spend hours working to make lovely items so we can buy them and make ourselves and have bitches steal them and say there theirs. I am so pissed for you. I never buy anything on ebay, you never know where it came from. Keep up the great work. Hugs

gracie said...

Why do people post anonymously?
Anyway, you certainly have the right to feel as you do. I recently found a design...a feebie...but I can not find who/how so I am hesitant to stitch and post it!

Nan ~ Threadwork Primitives said...

I believe this kind of thing is ramped and it is so sad. I know I've had that Punched in the gut feeling too.

Robin Leuschen said...

I totally understand !! I am nowhere near your amazing talent or sheer volume of sales for your designs, but have had this happen way too many times and it is frustrating and maddening !!
It really does stink that folks just can't be honest and have some integrity ....
Robin
Bird In The Hand Primitives

ThreadsandNeedles said...

So many thoughts… briefly: Ignorance is not a justification for steeling an artist’s work. Choosing to remain ignorant is intent. Intentionally ignorant people are in a class all their own. If this person is informed of their error in judgement, they should make ammends. Love your work, Brenda! I'm a hugh fan!!

Shirlee said...

I'm so sorry this happened to you. It's unfortunate that there are people in the world who are so lacking in honesty & integrity. Blessings, Shirlee

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately this happens in every forum where creativity is at a premium. I create units of study for my students and often see my work in the hands of students who I haven't taught. The best was when my son brought my work home as a assignment. I assisted him using my standards for assessment and he didn't receive a satisfactory grade. i had to chuckle.
Rest easy that many of us admire and can't wait to spend our hard earned dollars to replicate the musings from your creative mind.

Patti said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Labbiegirl said...

While I was finishing my post, we lost power in bright sunshine with no snow, so I lost my post. Now, the short version...

Anyway your incident is equal to plagiarizing. Too bad this person can't be fired or expelled for robbery of your creative design/project !!

May you see a rainbow today to lift your spirit. :-)

ohiofarmgirl said...

All I can say is you are only responsible for what you do or don't do and they are responsible for what they do...it isn't fair but we both know fair is where you go to ride the rides and eat lots of food....it is very disappointing though. Hope your day gets better. Dianntha

Anonymous said...

I want to share that you are not alone today. Please pay no attention to your "anonymous" first comment. They just want to get you rilled up. I guess you found and hit a nerve with that one percent you were taking about. Congratulations on your accuracy. Take pride in it today.

Also checkout Humble Quilts and Twisted sister's blog posting today and the wonderful comment by Annie O. on Humble Quilts comment section.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Patti said...

Sorry, deleted my earlier comment because I see you had mentioned that the seller did list you as the designer. Anyway, I am so very sorry this happened to you.

On a lighter note, I love that design! Have you considered releasing it in cross stitch?

Patti said...

I went back to that auction and clicked "sellers other items" and she had another auction of a design of yours. Not sure if it is a design of a pattern that you have released or not, since I don't do punchneedle

denise said...

i can under how you are feeling. that is just not right. denise p.s. i love tour stuff!

Unknown said...

Brenda ~ I hear more and more of your type of concern. And now I see online newsletters with fuzzy photos, hardcopy newsletters with the same or no photo at all. I'm glad you addressed it. Shame on those who cheat on such a wonderful community of designers. Hold strong!

Penny said...

It makes me very sad and somewhat angry at the people out her that are doing this kind of thing. I feel the needlework industry is suffering from the people that think this kind of thing is o.k. Well, it is not! I respect the talent of you and other designers as well. I enjoy your designs and blog and would hate to see it go away because of the selfish acts of others.

Jenny said...

Brenda, I hope you will turn this into a positive by releasing this pattern to those of us who are on a mission to collect all of your punch needle patterns!

P.S. I am hoping you will consider teaching at a retreat this year.

Lynn said...

I see more and more of this and it saddens me. The needlework industry has suffered greatly here in Canada and I no longer have a local needlework shop in large part due to this kind of action. I'm so sorry this has happened.

Denice said...

Brenda--I feel so terrible about this! The pattern was sent to me YEARS ago by a friend, so I had no idea that it had never been published for sale! I have ended the auction--is there anything else I can do to make this right? I am so sorry--Denice

GeeGee said...

Perhaps the person who bought your pattern resold it on eBay and this person was the buyer. It happens, you know. Maybe you should contact her before accusing. It is not right to steal another person's design but it also is not right to accuse someone who may have obtained the pattern legitimately