Hello my wonderful friends. This is a little public service announcement to remind you that if you are going to alter a design, please check the terms and conditions and copyright terms if posted separately at each web site to be sure you are not illegally altering a file whose copyright says you may not.
Other site owners become very irate with us for ignoring their rules and we want to be good neighbors.Love ya, mean it!
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Is adding a name to personalize a design altering the design?
1 comment
by jrob
03 May 2016
No. Altering involves taking something from the design, making it not a complete design or adding to it another dimension that changes the original intended look of the design. Remember not all copyright owners have these rules. It's our job to read them and determine whether what we want to do is acceptable.
255054So folks on this site post photos of projects they've made using designs from other sites. In some cases, they alter the designs before stitching them out. Digitizers from those other sites see the photos. In the cases where the designs were changed contrary to the terms of use for those designs, the digitizers get upset at... this website? That doesn't make sense to me. It's neighborly to have reminders such as this, but it's impossible for one website to (a) know every rule of every digitizer and (b) enforce every rule.
7 comments
by sewist1
03 May 2016
Most digitizers have better things to do than spend their time with a magnifying glass inspecting projects on other peoples websites. In the event that digitizers use the same clipart how would they prove it was in fact their own design being used.
by nutshell
03 May 2016
@sewist1 - Yea, I agree. Also, if digitizers =are= going to spend their time looking for ToU violations, wouldn't they be more concerned about folks selling and/or giving away their designs vs folks stitching out their designs with an extra flower? Well, I guess the "other site owners" who are "irate" with this site have a lot of time on their hands.
by sewist1
03 May 2016
nutshell I think most are happy to be able to sell designs in today's economic climate. They are not going to impose too strict conditions as they will not survive. A lot I purchase from are happy to see the ways their designs can be used and ask for photos.
by jrob
03 May 2016
The clipart which may be the same is not the identifier. It's the digitizer's individual way of turning the design into embroidery. It's usually very easy to see. Some digitizers even have their trademark stitched into every design.
by sewist1
04 May 2016
The ones who did start to put their initials into the designs put it into the underlay which wouldn't be visible when the design is on a project. They thought they would catch design "sharers" that way not someone changing a colour, adding text or leaving part of a design off.
by sewist1
edited 04 May 2016
Wouldn't it be fairer if a digitizer wants to impose strict conditions that they display those conditions on the website with the designs so the customer is aware before he/she forks out their hard earned cash only to find when they open the file that they can't use the designs for the purpose they intended. Some copy write statements are rather hard to find on web pages as they are hidden away under other headings.
by jrob
07 May 2016
I've never had a problem finding them. If there's a particular site you are interested in, I'll be happy to help you find the copyright terms.
223I am always happy Vicki @basketkase designs always tells me to do whatever i wish with her design ****That kind of a site i love to buy from hugs Carolyn
1 comment
360648Thanks for this reminder Jerrilyn. It's a great help for all of us. Love Chris
23450010296Jrob, we both have the Bernina oval hoop 6x10, 145x 255. Many times , I have to make a design a bit smaller because the corners don't fit. I know not to do this with cross stitch as the sites say so, but I never considered it wrong. I must be more observant in the future. Would it offend the sites if we posted a list of the known sites that strictly prohibit alteration. I would not want to post any project that would get Veronika in trouble. Kay
6 comments
by bevintex
02 May 2016
Posting the sites wouldn't help. it all comes down to the consumer. What you do with it after you buy it. I don't think the embroidery police are going to come to your house with their magnifying glass and rulers to make sure you haven't shrunk or enlarged a design.
by jrob
edited 02 May 2016
Most of the sites say that their designs can not be increased or decreased by more than 10% or 20% so there's your permission to do that. We just need to watch the wording in the copyright area. I am concerned about posting in our projects area something that can not be altered without express permission. Altered being changing a design so that it isn't what was intended by the digitizer or copyright owner. Maybe you remember the cow we had here several years ago? Miss V had to go back to the person who created the artwork for permission to add another eye.
It'd be fine to pos
by jrob
02 May 2016
to finish that dangling sentence.....
It'd be fine to post a list but it would include hundreds and hundreds of sites to figure out who required what and that's a lot of work. Want to volunteer? :) Hugs!
by sewist1
02 May 2016
The 10% to 20% limit is to maintain the integrity of a design. Some designs just don't do well when re-sized. Sometimes designs have to be altered slightly due to the differences in hoop sizes of the different brands. They are not all exactly the same.
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743303Most digitizers are very glad to answer questions concerning use of their designs. If you need help with that -- just ask us. We just hope you all remember to read the rules for using any designs (here or elsewhere) as there are a few digitizers that really don't want you to change anything. I know some designs cannot allow changes as the original artist does not want any changes -- including colors.
57675If you reduce or enlarge the design for your own personal use, is this considered to be altering the design? I know that adding or subtracting to the design would be considered altering. I'm just unsure about the reducing or enlargement of a design to fit the item being embroidered.
Thank you for the help. Hugs, Maxine
4 comments
by rescuer
01 May 2016
When in doubt, ask the digitizer. Some will gladly say OK while a few do not want any alterations done at all -- including colors.
by bevintex
02 May 2016
I have never seen a design that says you cannot change colors, if I ever do they can keep it . Has anyone seen a designer with this stipulation?
by pennyhal2
02 May 2016
I no longer purchase from sites that have such high restrictions on their designs. Trying to figure out whether or not I can edit a design to meet my needs was too stressful.
by sewist1
02 May 2016
No Bev I haven't seen a designer with that stipulation. If that was a stipulation would that mean we have to buy the same threads used by the digitizer?
15626If I did anything wrong please feel free to delete my post in projects. I will give more thought into posting projects in the future.
Bev
I didn't know if leaving the handle off,omitting the button holes or even adding a button was considered altering the design. It can get confusing
4 comments
by sewist1
01 May 2016
Do you mean the bags Bev?
It says on the website:
<<3D Flower Zippered Bag. Fully lined with no raw edges on the inside. Flowers can also be used for other projects like pillows. Finished size of bag: 4.72 x 6.29 inch>>
by rescuer
01 May 2016
Bev, you know we would contact you via your Inbox...this is just a friendly reminder. Please don't take offense as I know none was intended.
by jrob
02 May 2016
It's just what I said, Bev, a reminder that we need to be cautious. Many such sites have absolutely no disclaimers and then some of them are as rescuer says, you can't even change the colors. I will never pitch out a hint directed at someone- I contact each person individually so please don't take offense.
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