I was just reading a post on Facebook from a digitizer. She is fed up with people stealing her designs. One will purchase and then "share" it with family and friends or other members of a group. That is STEALING!! Sometimes the one that buys the design will give it or sell it as their own because they add one component or change the color. That is stealing and breaking several other laws as well!

I agree with you 100%, well said!
Hugs, Lidia

A timely reminder, Thank you.

And YES, there is a RIGHT way and a WRONG way of doing most things!

I recently had someone here at Cute looking for one of my designs, I PM'd her asking for an email address so I could send it to her but never did hear from her again???!!! To me, this begs the question...... did someone from here see her request and send her a copy of my design, or did she just not bother making the urgently needed articles???

I digitised designs, for free, for Cute members as an ongoing thank you for supporting me through cancer, I DON'T have a website, I don't sell my designs and I readily digitise for any Cuties who need a design they can't find, but it still annoys me to think of someone sharing my designs and not even giving credit to me for my work, when all it takes is a PM to me so I can be the one to GIFT it.

On many occasions I have contacted other digitisers asking permission to purchase a design, or set, to GIFT to a friend and never once has a request been refused as I always give the digitiser the name and email address of the recipient and I have usually already purchased that design or set previously for myself anyway.

A few months ago, I purchased a set of 36 designs from a digitiser and then realised I had already purchased seven of them previously, so I wrote and asked if I could "Gift" the first 7 to a friend, supplying friend's name and emad, Her answer was a resounding yes.

So you see.... digitisers are PEOPLE, we aren't ogres, we aren't selfish monsters but we also are NOT huge corporations with money to burn, all we really ask is that you (the embroiderers of the world) do things the RIGHT way.

If you ask US we won't bite your heads off, and if we say no, then you haven't lost anything, it hasn't hurt you in any way and at least you will feel better knowing you showed us the same kind of courtesy you expect for yourself.

Please remember though, if you want a design or a logo digitised from artwork, and you are providing that artwork or logo, then you need to also provide written permission from the owner of the artwork or logo, if you remember this when you make your request it will save time and embarrassment.

Hugs and blessings and happy embroidering,
Meganne
(Melide Menschen Designs)

Great post! Love Chris

Rescuer thanks for this interesting and informative posting.

Thanks for sharing this. I know as a beginner I was not made aware of copyrights and file sharing either. At the time I didn't know anyone else that did machine embroidery so it didn't matter. I was glad to join cute as that's where I found out loads of information including design copyrights and not sharing.

Thanks again as this may just help another new embroiderer before they do anything they shouldn't

2 comments

by rescuer 02 Nov 2016

When I started doing embroidery I didn't know there were free designs. I spent $45-60 for a single CD with less than 10 designs. My budget would never allow that now -- but I just wait for sales. Most websites have sales often enough to make the designs affordable.
I do hope the newer Cuties will avoid the pitfalls of collecting stolen designs.

by Sewmum1 02 Nov 2016

Me too, and then I found Cute. Oh so much to learn and so much fun!

heartily agree. Not a digitizer myself, but have much admiration for those who are.

Thanks for this post. I am still finding embroiderers whose dealers neglected to tell them about copyrights and design sharing. They actually can't know what they don't know and its good for you to give this reminder. It seems unbelievable to me, but it happens.
When you go to a car dealership, they do still show you where the brake is don't they?

Thanks you for posting this. Some new to machine embroidery may not realize this and should be made aware of it. I am neither a digitizer nor have any commercial interest , simply one who loves this part of the sewing world. It just amazes me when someone starts talking about "borrowing" a design cd or asks to send them a copy of a design, etc. They see absolutely nothing wrong so I usually explain about copyrights,etc then ask, "Would you go in to Walmart and "borrow" an item from them?" Usually they will say "Ohhh" I get it.

1 comment

by rescuer 02 Nov 2016

I do hope all Cuties "get it" but I am afraid some still might feel that they "paid for it" or it was given to them and so they own it -- which isn't true. When we buy a design or get one for free -- we are buying (or given) the right to use the desi

A lot of people dont think what kinda work and expense goes into digitizing, they only see free and thats were the thinking stops, but if it was them, they would holler very loud. People just dont care about others anymore and that is very sad.

Wow, Rescuer.......what a fabulous post........I am speechless and can't add anything more except that you are right on!! Thank you for looking out for all of us!