I recently visited a site and noticed the pictures there were "borrowed" from Embroidery Library. Is this legal?

I'm a bit surprised and disappointed I have not heard from EL regarding my inquiry. I've sent two email and no response.

If you are talking about Marion Ecker at Murphys designs, yes, she has an agreement with EL to split their designs (not all, there is a list) AFTER you have bought them. I assume you have to show her proof. I was just referred to them by Deb, after wanting to make a certain Christmas stocking.
Jo

4 comments

by maryanns66 20 Oct 2010

No it is not Murphy's Designs. Does any one have the email for Deb @ EL? I sent them a email hours ago and haven't heard from them, so I'm not sure who got it.
Thanks

by jofrog2000 20 Oct 2010

Hmm. That's the only one I have ever heard of that has an agreement. All I can find is stitch@emblibrary.com to send to.

by maryanns66 20 Oct 2010

Thank you, that's the address I sent my inquiry to. Still have not heard from EL, so I sent another one a couple hours ago.

by jofrog2000 21 Oct 2010

When I wrote to inquire about a pattern, it took over a week for a response.

I do believe there is a site that has permission
from EL to split their designs if you can prove
your original purchase of the design you can then pay this site to split the design for you.
but I am sorry the site name escapes me for the moment :-)
also as others have said many digitizers purchase the same artwork.. but I would imagine that their images of their designs would be different as we all have our own interpretations ..
I know If I were not sure about a site I would ask here fist
as you have done to gain opinions..
certainly would not purchase until I was sure.
I only want designs I can use..
thats why i dont even purchase any designs
that uses graphics and graphics clipart as I have no intention of then purchasing a licence to use the design.
Big hugs from London
Maria xx

I would send Deb from Emblibrary a mail that you have found these pictures and you just wonder because they look like their own. Deb is such a nice person (like the rest of the emb-site) and I think it is just fair to give her that information. Maybe they have a permission to use the pictures then nothing happens.
Greetings, Bettina

2 comments

by maryanns66 20 Oct 2010

I will probably do that, because I was a bit shocked to see the exact same pictures. But I don't want to cause any problems if they have permission. I had seen sites that steal clipart, etc, but this just got me wondering.
Thanks

by bevintex 20 Oct 2010

You are so right, Deb at EL is a great help she answers emails and will get back to you. They really care about there customers.
bev

it depends on if the design was from a clipart site or not. If it is Embroidery Library's own designs and they don't have permission to use it, then it is illegal.

1 comment

by maryanns66 20 Oct 2010

Not clipart, these are actual pictures EL has on their site. I just wondered because I was so shocked to see them.
Thanks

What do you mean the Pictures??? Was it the designs that were copied or just some pictures that you recognised as being similar to the ones at E.L.? You did not make this clear.
I do not think it is illegal to put up a picture and say, I got this design at E.L. but if it was one of their designs, yes it was very Illegal! We do have alot of digitizers that get their designs from the same sites but if you look closely, you can tell that they are the same design but not digitized the same.
Not so awfully long ago, we had a Russian site that had wonderful designs and many many free ones, that was brought up on charges of stealing the designs from a company that he had worked for. He shut down his site and opened another that had some of the same designs as the first one but most of the designs were new ones. The company that Brought up the lawsuit sent Cute a notice of what was going on was out of Australia and this guy was in Russia. I have never heard the outcome of the law suit and come to think of it, have not seen anything from his new site in many months. I know that if the designs are saved on your computer, they can be traced but not sure if once they have been removed if it can be traced back to you. I am sure there are ways for anyone that wants to can get ahold of enough info to do damage to any wrongfully gotten designs. I know I would not like to ever have to find out! I know that most of the cute group that had these designs, cleaned house but what they did with them is not known. It is not a good idea to try to get the designs that are copyrighted or registered without going through the proper channels and paying for them. Right now, there is a WAR going on in the Yahoo Groups about one site stealing designs. I have no idea which party is right but it is a big turn off to get involved in the fights between two sites. It was late last night and way past my bedtime when I read what was going on again, as this has been ongoing for several yrs. but intended to go and cancel my membership in both of the groups. I have no idea which is right or wrong but do not want to get involved or even have to listen to such. Stealing designs or acquiring them from someone that they do not belong to can be vicious among the owners. It makes for a bad day to get involved in it or even to read about it.

2 comments

by maryanns66 20 Oct 2010

What I mean is these on the site I saw are exactly like the EL pictures of the designs they sell. The ones I saw are supposed to be designs this other site made..to sell. That's why I asked.

by danababes 21 Oct 2010

I'm a member of both the sites in the "war" and hope I dont have to choose one side or the other. :(