I'm all sad and into complaining today.
Etsy's getting full of ladies that are illegaly (w/no rights whatsoever) translating individual patterns from Japanese books, scanning the pictures, making pdf files and selling them. It makes me so sad. It's disrespectful to the artists that are in Japan not knowing that they are being ripped off, sad for all these nice, talented Etsy designers that actually do the work and make some beautiful stuff and have all the rights to sell them, and mostly sad for the human race, because honestly, how poor and wrong is your value system if you steal from others and don't even care? how unethical is it?
what is going on with the world people?!
:(
I feel like weeping along with you.
ReplyDeleteAre there ways for those of us who shop Etsy for patterns to be sure we are buying only those that are sold be their rightful owners? I certainly don't want to support such perfidity.
Although I'm still new to crochet, I've actually noticed some of this myself on Etsy. I wonder if it's OK to flag those questionable listings?
ReplyDeleteThat is such a shame. I agree that there ought to be some way to make a complaint and have the sellers flagged. You would think Etsy would want to avoid being used as a front for such illegal transactions. And if they're not willing to get involved, maybe buyers should question them directly and let them know they're on to them. That might make them think twice.
ReplyDeleteHi, why don't you report these to Etsy? No mercy to the copycats.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad indeed :( How can people have the guts to do such things? I also think those sellers should be reported.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'd email the seller and ask them to stop, first. With international stuff it is amazing, people really don't think copyright applies because they want it available in their language. I have a similar problem with many fansubbers on anime websites. They don't think they are breaking the law because they are not 'intending' to.
ReplyDeleteBut selling is a lot different than just 'providing' things for people... Still, I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and if they still don't fix it, flag their butts ruthlessly. Email the Etsy staff and explain exactly why these people are flagged, and why what they are doing is illegal so they have some basis for eliminating the stores.
It does stink indeed. They are just not as talented as you, writing their OWN patterns to sell :)
I live in Japan (well, close enough - Okinawa!) and am the proud owner of nearly 100 Japanese knit/crochet books. My daughter and I labor over these patterns, and find the translations of the Japanese charts to be part of the fun! She and I were extremely ticked off when we started seeing the EXACT same patterns that we see in the books over here - being SOLD on Etsy (and elsewhere as well!). Do these people not know that English is the second language here, and there are people from the Japanese publishing companies who try to monitor such things. As for me, I'll write to Ondori every single day if I have to to get some of these crooks offa here. I'm still stung that people sell stuff made from my patterns without even acknowledging that they came from my site! People use my name, or forms of it, to make a buck, but I have news for them, I don't make THAT many bucks LOL!!! Hang in there though - I truly believe in karma, and it may not happen while I'm alive, but it will, someday they'll get what's comin' to them!
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is sad that people take advantage of an awesome site to illegally sell whatever they want to. I would love to know which sellers these are so that I could flag them as well. This world is not as it should be.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that Etsy - if it is THE professional site for artisans, they say it is - would have a method for verification. I certainly appreciate your one-of-a kinds! Especially the elephant, I fell in love with them the moment I saw them and knew I needed your entire collection! Keep it going.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I love your work as well and I can't wait to get your book. I really think it takes everyone in the crafting community to keep others accountable. I don't think Etsy will be able to do it on their own, but we sure can help them out!
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing up the subject.
It is sad indeed. There are alot of talented people out there, but come on people, give credit when credit is due. If you use a pattern, give credit to the artist(s) that inspired your creation - dont mark it off as your own. And I agree, if at all possible, boycott them. With alot of knits/crochet/amigurumi, the concept is the same, but lets give credit where credit is due. I will cry with you Ana. And by the way, best of luck with your book. I have been a long time admirer of your work.
ReplyDeleteI've just started my own etsy store and am already fuming that I'e had people copy my designs completely outright! It's so frustrating that we all take so much time coming up with ideas only for someone to steal and use in a few minutes.
ReplyDeleteit happened to me 2 months ago, that i bought what i thought to be original patterns from a website similar to ebay in my country, but last week i had a surprise when i found out that many of the patterns where only translations from english and that patterns are mostly for free on the internet. i felt angry not because i paid and they were for free , but because the designers wanted to share them for free (as i do sometimes) and some idiot translates them and sell them. i thought it was very unfair.and these persons also sell copyrighted patterns translated from magazines and stuff. i flagged the seller but nothing happened.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to figure out all of the legal issues so that I can "legally" have my business, Kypress Designs (which I've not really sold anything except to a security guard when I worked at a store in the mall). This is part of the reason why I'm afraid to post to Etsy.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I have to admit, that when I was younger and didn't know better, I would copy down patterns to use at a later date and completely "forget" to write down the original designers name. The past few years I've really become serious about this stuff and I am trying so hard to look up the patterns and figure out what belongs to who so that I can credit them if I make anything for anyone using their pattern. I feel so horrible! I want to apologize right here and now, and I think that I may have done it on my blog already, if not I will: I am so sorry. I apologize to every designer out there. I couldn't tell you how many patterns I have scattered through out notebooks from highschool or how many pieces inspired my own design.