Is there a site where one can find out what is copyright and what is not. We all know Disney Characters are and some others we are aware of. Ignorance is supposed to be no excuse but this is what happened to me. I was happily collecting that little mouse with the big feet. I had never seen it before and I am 67 years old. I thought it was the cutest thing. Accidently I found out that it is copyright. How can one find out what is and what is not?

Good question. I know someone who also collected the big footed mouse alphabet. I'm sure she didn't know it was copyrighted. I will tell her. We had never seen it before the alphabet came into view. Hugs, Judy

Thanks for the question, most interesting as are the replies.

I know it's difficult to recognise every cartoon and the big-footed mouse is more well-known in Europe than in the rest of the world. But if it's not drawn by the digitiser it should mention a license. The other day my daughter bought a "Hello Kitty" teeshirt and it had a label sewn in with the license number on it.

In DbC the artwork is sometimes given as 'my own' but in some cases it's clear they must have confused that with digitising it. It's a bit of a mine field at times, you have to tread very carefully.

That is an excellent question. I have found the same problem. There are licensed designs from other countries that we are not familiar with. So if it is not obvious we collect blindly?

I guess the old verbal statement of "what you do in your own home remains private".......

Thanks for all the info gained from your Ques.
Maybe one day I have my own site with my own art and designs that says " anyone buying these may do what one would like with them afterwards ".
I might not get too rich because most will be only paid for once but I might be popular :)
From Bev

3 comments

by meganne 21 Oct 2010

Or you could be like me, spend night after night digitising and just give away everything you digitise here on Cute.
It feels most gratifying when your friends use your design on a project and display it here at Cute Projects.

But it is really nice, occasionally, to be paid a little 'something' for all one's hard work. :-)))

hugs n roses, Meganne

by ssampsel 21 Oct 2010

and know that what you share, i stitch and give to people i love or may not even know! and they smile? i usually get paid with smiles & hugs! and if you feel the need to pay, donate to the local food pantry or animal shelter!

by ssampsel 21 Oct 2010

and oh, yes...Thanks to people hat help me!

EVERYTHING is copyrighted, except ideas, small phrases and names.That includes clipart and designs.You will need to get the permission of the artist to use them if you want to sell them as digitised designs.
Disney, Hanna-Barbera, super heroes and every other cartoon or show you see on television, or in the movies, is LICENSED.And that includes sporting logos, car logos and logos used by companies and businesses.These are definite no-nos.You will not find any legitimate free designs for these.You will need to purchase these from a website that displays the license to be allowed to digitise and sell them.You CAN NOT sell items with these designs stitched on them.
Please remember, there is a difference between COPYRIGHT and LICENSE.
It is not the COPYRIGHT on Disney that you have to worry about, it is the LICENSE.

1 comment

by shilly 21 Oct 2010

Good point; many of us are not aware of the distinction between copyright & license.TU

I'm getting more and more confused.
Most sites do say copyrighted on their designs which are also amongst the questionable ones???
Shame that only well known ,like disney,are easily spotted as designs to stay clear of.
Also I think the pot calls the kettle "green" when it comes to advertising your own sites here at cute.
The foreign/New/different sites get a lot of flak from some here at cute {they are viruses).
I would love to know what is really fair!
It is also confusing when you find the same design on different sites.
From Bev

2 comments

by meganne 21 Oct 2010

Bev, it can be confusing when you see, (what looks like), the same design on different sites.
What can happen is, that graphic artists sell, or give away, artwork that they have created and digitisers can purchase or collect such artwork to digitise into embroidery designs. If they have LEGITIMATELY obtained the artwork, they are required to note WHERE the artwork came from and in some cases, put a link (to the Graphic Designer's website) on their webpage.
Legitimate digitisers have no problem doing this because they know they are complying with the rules/regulations set out in the Graphic Artist's License Agreement.

Some artwork may be sold on a limited basis, ie. only five sets will be sold of certain artwork. Other, cheaper sets may be time limited, other, free sets will be unlimited but only available 'free' for a week then they will be for sale.

Hence you will often see the same 'artwork' digitised by many different digitisers.

If you are unsure of a design, look for the artwork licence on the page, then follow it back to the graphic artist and see how many copies of that artwork they allowed for sale. If you can't find it on their site, it may have been limited or discontinued.
If you are really suspicious you could always email the Graphic Artist and ask if they sold "such and such" design or set to ????? digitiser.
That's probably overkill, but it's just a suggestion.

My advice, only download or purchase designs from digitisers you feel are trustworthy and who openly display the Graphic Artist's LICENSE or have no problem answering you if you ask for it.

I hope this helps a little.
Meganne

by fannyfurkin 21 Oct 2010

This is a very good answer. It covers the topic very well.

so question is how do you know????

1 comment

by meganne 21 Oct 2010

See answer to Bevgrift.
:-)
hugs, Meganne

This question brings to mind what I've wondered ever since I heard of pirating designs.
Is it not enough to assume that, say, freebies as are posted on our Freebies List, would be safe to download and use?
It's very scary when a person can innocently download a design and find out later that her computer is harbouring an illegally-acquired design.
Is it not enough to be absolutely certain that a person never, ever passes on, shares, gives, sends any design whatever, to be safe from illegal pirating? .... and what if.... someone sends you a design or two, out of the blue, as a gift ....
Is deleting those designs simply enough, given that what goes onto a computer can usually be found again unless the entire hard drive is reformatted?

Is this just a matter of digitising other people's designs, 'touching them up' and on-selling them, or is this a matter of simple bods, like me, who just collect designs they like the look of, 'come in, sucker', and set themselves up as legal-bait?

Understanding that designs from bought sets must not be passed on, sent, given or gifted to other people is an easy concept - don't do it!!
The same rule applies to all Freebies which are generously made available by digitisers to 'advertise' their style and expertise - passing them on???.... don't do it!!
However, acquiring designs which might be illegal is quite a confusing and different matter and I'm at a loss to know how to safeguard myself from this kind of unethical practice.
AlmaG.

1 comment

by meganne 21 Oct 2010

Again, see answer to Bevgrift. :-)
hugs, Meganne

I have no idea and it is a good question. I read an email from a yahoo group about a group formed to make law suits against people who are copy writing and sharing designs.

I was on a site to-day and it said "International Copyright". So is there a difference to just copyright and does copyright only cover the country it is taken out in. Who knows!!!!!!!!

1 comment

by meganne 21 Oct 2010

There is an international agreement on copyright protection, but not all countries have signed it or joined it or follow it.

Other countries also have their own internal laws governing copyright and/or patents.

Intellectual property is the most contested problem in Courts today and the most difficult to enforce, it covers many things, besides embroidery designs, music, computer programs, artwork, inventions, are just some of the things that come to mind.

MY motto??? If in doubt, DON'T!

You may read The Berne Convention here:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/treati...

hugs and roses, Meganne

Hi Angie,
Sorry don't know of a site.
But I was given a picture from a customer,
and I digitised it for her and posted my project onto "cute" projects and was advised that it was a copyright.
I did remove it right away.
Also advised the customer ,
and told her that I could not do anymore
for her.

Hugs Yvonne

Wow, that is a good question! I would like to see how we can find out these things also.