Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to give you all a heads up on a certain issue that has taken place over at the scrapbook.com site as of late.
Some of you may have no idea what I am talking about and some may already have heard a few things - So I wanted to let you hear the whole story.
There has been an enormous debate over at sb.com regarding scraplifting. I have had some issues in the past with a certain individual (who will remain nameless) blatantly copying my designs and not giving credit. Before I go on, I wanted to clarify my stance on the entire "scraplifting" debate. I personally think its perfectly normal and even expected to occur in this industry. I am actually quite flattered when someone wants to copy a design or technique they've seen on one of my projects. It means I've done my job as a designer for a manufacturer. They want to buy the product and make what I've made with it. Perfect! What I'm NOT okay with is having someone copy MY layouts and passing them off like they're their own. It's theft - plain and simple. Without giving credit (credit meaning 'inspired by' or 'lifted from') you are stealing intellectual property - this is not okay with me. Some people are fast scrappers. I am NOT. It takes me DAYS to create pages and for someone to lift it in a matter of 30 min and not give credit breaks my heart.
Okay.... on to the story...
I privately emailed the lifter about the problem and she flat out denied it and continued to scraplift my projects as well as many other designers' projects without giving proper credit. There were tons of designers who would email me on a daily basis to report another lift that this lady had done. There were a LOT of angry designers (including myself).
Needless to say, I just left it alone as it was causing me more stress than necessary.
LONG STORY SHORT: a forum thread was created on sb.com by some anonymous user "Tattle Tale" about scraplifting and it was targeted at the same lady who had lifted my designs. Of course the lifter assumed it was ME who created the thread. It was not me. The lifter then began posting accusing comments on her layouts stating that this "Tattle Tale" person was me, etc, etc.
Finally I had had enough.
I sent an email to the VP at SB.com as well as their Tech Support staff about the entire issue and how it had gotten totally out of hand and how this lady was basically creating a bad name for me and my manufacturers as well as slandering my reputation in this industry.
I am PLEASED to report that SB.com has since removed this individual's profile(s) and all her images from the site.
Many people are pleased. The lifter and a handful of her anonymous 'friends' are not as pleased and are now trying to make additional trouble for me - some have actually emailed my Design Teams in attempt to get me 'fired' I suppose?
SO..... just wanted to give you a heads up if you see any emails, blog posts, forum posts, etc. from people about how much 'trouble' I've been causing on the SB.com forum and site... Its not true. I simply took a stand against an individual stealing my intellectual property and not giving credit where credit was due.
Hopefully other 'lifters' will realize the hurt they cause designers when they copy designs without giving credit - that's all we ask. Lift away until your heart's content. Just a little 'inspired by' would make all the difference in the world.
So sorry for such DRAMA!!!!
Any thoughts on this? (oh lord, do I even want to open up these flood gates?? LOL!!)
PS - If anyone wants to educate themselves on Copyright in general or is interested in additional ways to protect 'original' works of art, etc. I find the following sites very useful:
U.S. Copyright Office
Creative Commons
Hello! Welcome to my blog. My name is Tara and I am a wife and mother to 3 beautiful children who are the heart and soul of my projects. I started scrapping in 2008 and loved it immediately. What a wonderful outlet to explore my love of crafting and photography. Thanks for stopping by.
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