Wednesday, September 21, 2011

You won't believe your eyes!

I was getting ready to do a blog post when I received an email from Kim H.  You won't believe what she found on EBay!!

Someone had the nerve to make note cards  of my designs using my copyrighted photos!  Yikes!!  Can you believe that??

The four samplers on the left are mine.  In fact, one has my initials and another has my entire name!   The sampler in the upper right corner is one of Catherine Theron's teaching pieces.  I'm not sure about the one in the lower right corner; it looks like either a Joanne Harvey or Essamplaire reproduction sampler.

If the samplers look distorted, they are  indeed so that the culprit could get them to fit her note cards.


I think that everyone who reads my blog knows how wrong this is. 

Looks like as a designer I have a new battle to rage.  Not only do I need to stop pirated charts but now photographs that others are making into products.  Thank you very much, Kim, for making me aware of this.

If you should ever see any item which you think is illegal, please let the designer know so she can handle the situation.  Thank you on behalf of everyone!

I'll try to do another blog post once I cool down.  Please bear with me!

32 comments:

Kate said...

This is just WRONG! I hope you have a good outcome with your fight. I will be rooting for you.

Cindy said...

It is utterly disgusting that someone would not know how wrong this is or choose to do it even when they knew it was wrong.

Good luck.

Faye said...

We support you ALL THE WAY!!!

John'aLee said...

Oh that is absolutely horrible! I am a designer myself..and I know how this affects you. Pursue it with audacity! Especially...with all that work you put into them. I wish you all the luck in the world with this.

Edgar said...

I am just dumbfounded!! I would have to get a big old can of whip-ass going on this eBayer!!! You go girl!!!

Laurie in Iowa said...

This is just so wrong. Yet another thing that designers have to be concerned about. I'm so sorry you have another fight on your hands Ellen.

KsMaryLou said...

Oh good grief some people are so stupid and greedy. Did you notify eBay of the illegal items to have them pulled? Sic an attorney on this creep.

Kay said...

OOOH! I don't blame you for being ticked off! Go after them, for sure.

Pat said...

You are right to be mad. I have noticed that you do not watermark your photos. You might want to consider this. The internet is so great,but can also be soooo scary.

KC'sCourt! said...

That is awful.
I hope you can get them removed
Julie xxxxxxxx

Mouse said...

well what I could write would not be fit to publish ..... are these people thick or what ????? you go and get them for all their worth ... love mouse xxxx

Deborah said...

This stealing other peoples work is way out of hand. Way to go, Ellen!

N E E D L E P R I N T said...

Dear Ellen, How upsetting for you - what a sad old thing to do when they could have created something new and enjoyed the thrill of that. Big hug for you. Love, J

Barbi said...

OH MY G*D!!! That's unbelievable! I don't even know what to say to that!

Jackie's Stitches said...

Wow...so glad you found out about it and can hopefully take some action. I can understand why you're in need of some calming.

Barb said...

I do know how you must feel. I mentioned that my daughter, a fiber artist, has also had such problems. We are behind you artists and designers all the way!

Margaret said...

Oh Ellen. This is just awful. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. :(

Ine M said...

This is........

but Ellen, can't you do the same??
Printing cards from some of your lovely designs and sell them?
I would buy two sets of them: one to send to my stitching friends and the other to keep.
When I visit a museum or an exhibition I like to buy a sampler card. At home I put them in my special album, and it really is a pleasure to flip through the pages.
(is that the right word?)


Maybe you didn't think of something like this before.

greetings from the Netherlands

diamondc said...

Ellen: on monday I was surfing Ebay and found a lady selling patterns from the new Just Cross Stitch fall magazine except she had the pattern and color code also printed so why buy antthing just copy.
I Contacted Just Cross Stitch Magazine and let them know about this, I do hope they do something about her.
If you want to know the ebay sellers site name please email me.

Catherine
diamondc

CalamityJr said...

That is unbelievable! Hope you can get to the bottom of it quickly and easily.

Anonymous said...

I am shocked! Too bad that someone doesn't see the harm in this. Good luck to you.

Peggy
www.neverenoughstash.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I think that you might have a case with Ebay to at least have that persons account pulled that sold the note cards. If not mistaken that falls into a fraud category with Ebay. good luck.

Robin at The Primitive Hutch said...

That's just not right.
Go get 'em
Prim Blessings
Robin

Sheila said...

Another go-get-´em from me too!
On a happier note, I love the photos of your grandsons on your previous post...they are both gorgeous :)

Jonette said...

Sorry this has happened. About a year ago, someone took my picture from the employee directory of the college I teach for and used it to make fake facebook pages with horrible stuff. Even lifted pics of my son, grandsons, etc from a photographer's site. It was a complete nightmare and has totally changed my life. There are crazy people in this world who will do anything to hurt good people. Please be careful what you post that is made available to the public.

Angie Burrett said...

How low can people stoop - this is disgusting. No wonder you are cross (putting it mildly) - hope this sort of thing can be stopped. Keep us updated on what happens.

Catherine said...

So sad that this goes on! Hope you get it all straightened out!! I loved Edgar's comment!

Sampler Fran said...

I just checked, and the note card listing hasn't yet been removed by ebay! So I reported it, too.

This is appalling, but it's just one more instance of people considering everything they find online to be fair game.

And unfortunately this sort of attitude seems to permeate every facet of life nowdays. Perhaps it's time that people start demanding that ethics be a required part of our school curriculum, beginning with kindergarten!

barbara r-g said...

i also wonder when i read on blogs how people share charts? i know you can and it probably isn't illegal but when you think of how little each artist makes off their chart it is a shame not to buy your own. so many things happen out in this crazy big world and all we can do is know we are doing our best to be truthfull and good human beings.

Robin said...

You go get 'em! It is ashame there are people who try to profit off of others hard work. Keep us posted on your success with ebay.

Merry Wind Farm said...

Ellen,I recognize the one on the bottom right. It is Eliz Telfer or Telford and it is sitting stitched in a drawer somewhere. I think it might be SL. Melinda

Dianne said...

Yes, that bottom right sampler looks to be Eliza Telfer from Threads of Gold, perhaps stitched in different colours.