The Good, Bad & Ugly of the ‘Net
This post is not like my others. ‘And I’m feeling violated! So absolutely violated! I can’t believe how infuriating it is! This ‘internet thing’ is so unbelievable sometimes! I’ll tell you; the good, bad & UGLY of the ‘Net! and maybe you can help me. (NEW UPDATE! See below!)
First, the Good:
Since starting this site I have made a lot of friends sharing my projects! I get emails daily from very kind people who actually thank me for posting projects and patterns for free. Some share something about themselves and also feel a kinship to me. It’s so sweet. I’ve even had an 80+ lady offer to ship me leaves from Australia for my eco printing. One wonderful lady sent me some silk that she knew I could use. How amazing is that!? There’s a world between us but they feel like they know me through my words. I really love that feeling of being connected and appreciated. My readers enjoy my projects and I feel good about that.
The Bad, really really BAD:
I am super busy designing my projects, photo editing, writing, answering emails, digital media and all else that goes with this blogging thing. I don’t have the time to cruise the net for ‘fluff’. One of my readers recognized my projects and gave me the heads-up.
OMG! I almost fell off my chair, when I saw the exact copy of 2 of my projects in a click-bait video by 5-Minute Crafts! I mean EXACT! Each piece and method to the absolute ‘T’! But Don’t let me sway you, look for yourself: or on YouTube.
Do you remember this Rock Eye Peepers project (Oct 2018)? It is completely designed by me, each aspect from using the tin foil and the glass pebbles…
Compare the screenshots to my photos. U N B E L I E V A B L E!
This video is running rampant through Facebook and gaining massive views by the second. Again, OMG! Some people with integrity actually ask permission to link to my site; (how very ethical of them) 5-Minute Crafts did not ask any permission!
How can this company (5-Minute Crafts) just steal a project and publish it as their own?! Can this be possible?
Come on, tell me, is it the same? Could it be a fluke that just happened?!
How coincidently they used all the same materials, same order…
…same outcome:
I think I hear your answer! Am I insane?
What to do?!
I NEVER thought this type of blatant theft could happen! Yes, I know you are saying I should report it. I first emailed the company which gets confusing as they are under a few names (figures) to which they did NOT reply. No reply to many attempts!
5-Minute Crafts is a fairly large firm with more manpower than I have, so why do they need to take MY MATERIAL? Design your own! If this happens with mine, then where did all their other material come from?
Not just one Project, but 2!!!
To my horror 2 of my projects were ‘taken’ and copied in the same video. The Concrete Lighted Step Spook has been one of my popular designs as it uses such easy materials… The use of every single jar and styrofoam meat tray all copied. How is this possible?!
5-Minute Crafts flies through the video so fast and people question if the projects even work. Well, the consistency of the mix and the improper referral to ‘Cement’ tells again that they have no true idea, just that they found a great project and copied it (ya, I said that a few times)
The UGLY:
Well, the ugly part is what can be done about this blatant copying. I filed a Facebook copyright violation and the following day I was asked for more info. After a couple hours a quick response: ‘Thank you for your report. Based on the information you’ve provided, it is not clear to us that the content you reported infringes your copyright. The reported content appears to embody a similar idea that’s expressed in a different manner from your work.‘
Can you believe it?! ‘Similar idea, different manner’??! Unbelievable!!!
I also filed a YouTube Copyright Complaint Submission but have yet to hear back. I suppose Instagram may also follow…
UPDATE: YouTube has come through!!! – ‘Thank you very much for your notification. The content has been removed.’ See for yourself: I have some faith again and hope this sends a message to ‘Stay away from my content!‘
Please help me:
This is my Concrete Step Spook in progress, ‘similar’ seriously?!
If you see my point and can’t imagine that they really dreamed this up please post comments to that fact. We need to become aware of where these companies get their content, cool projects or not.
Does this one not look exactly like mine??!! I know it’s a great design now as this video is going on 60 million views. Does that not say anything about my projects? Let’s step up and take notice of what we watch on the ‘Ugly ‘Net’! This can happen to anyone… as I never imagined it could happen to me. But then again I believed most people are good and have ethics. I guess my bubble is bursting.
Has this happened to you? I’m looking into legal action. Tell me I’m not crazy. I’ll update when I get info. Sadly this may impact how/what I put my effort into and any future posts.
UPDATE: Justice was reached!
So sorry your ideas were stolen and made profitable for these idea thieves. They look identical to yours. i don’t know how you can prevent theft of ideas once they’re on the internet. It’s a shame a few bad apples ruin it for the rest of us. Please keep up your creative projects, – you are so very talented!
I’m sorry your going through this. I saw those posts from them on Facebook and it was confusing. They were just like yours! You are such an inspiration to me and so many others, how ever true artists / crafters should take those ideas an techniques and make their own creations with their own twists! Not copy exactly and with out permission post it like their own. It’s sad and I hope you can get some recoarse.
Steph
Yes amazing! I was appalled that even the photo was set exactly in the same setting… 5-Minute Crafts has no ability of their own. I hope they can look themselves in the mirror.
Dear Barb……this is shocking! I would take legal advice. The 5 min craft videos are great – now I know why!!!
Good luck! xxx
Much of the methods is sketchy as they don’t really work or have the job of being accountable. It’s garbage.
I have been following you since I discovered you. I live your innovative work and your instructions are spot in. I appreciate you sharing the how-to. I really enjoyed the fabric tests with concrete. How helpful for us who are new to this art. I am so sorry that your original ideas are being stolen and passed off as someone else’s work. To me, that’s akin to stealing your child and claiming it as your own. FB is wrong. It’s like stealing a song, but changing a single note and claiming it’s original and not blatant piracy. So sorry!
Yes, it did feel somewhat like my child since it takes so much testing and effort.
So sorry that your ideas were copied. I know it can be frustrating. But as for any “legal action”, I hate to be the one to tell you, but you’d just be wasting your time – and probably your money as well. I know that’s probably not what you wanted to hear.
Let me explain a bit. I come from a professional publishing background, so I’m somewhat familiar with copyright and some of its nuances. What FaceBook has told you is essentially correct. Ideas and concepts are not protected by copyright. Only specific implementations are protected.
For example, consider the implications you would face in communications if somebody were able to, say, copyright the alphabet. That would be a bit problematic, now wouldn’t it? The concept of certain basic shapes for communication is public domain. A specific font though, is another matter. A font is protected – but ONLY the specific implementation of it. If somebody makes a copy of the font using only the concepts – then that’s free game.
Where this comes into play in your situation is this. IF they has actually used the pictures YOU made for your blog, then it would be violation of copyright. But because they only used the ideas and then made their own video, they unfortunately get a pass on this one.
As I said, I understand your frustration. It’s creative people such as yourself that make this world a beautiful place to be in. But hold your head proud. YOU are the one with the originality and talent. The copy cats are just that.
I understand that ideas can be copied, but these are such specific instructions that one would happen on without copying. So if what you said is true they are truly a PARASITE living and ‘eating’ off others, no ethics needed. Glad that you chimed in. The ‘good’ is hopeful!
Processes are protected with patents. They’re applied for, and a search is done to see if it’s already in public domain by anyone else. People/companies go through this expensive patenting process, usually because they want to take it to production, and/or license the method for others to use.
This space, copyrights and patents, is horrendous, for all involved. Wild West, the internet, undermines all aspects of that. Because the concept of “owning” an idea, or a process, across the globe of billions, isn’t realistic. Particularly given something as complicated as Calculus, was developed by two different people in different countries, at the same time.
Patent grants are a matter of who makes it to the patent office first, before a process/concept is public. At one company I worked for, I was deliberate about releasing the information in public forum, while my coworkers tried to push me to patent, for credentialing, patents on my resume.
This is wrong on so many levels – especially Facebook’s response of turning a blind eye. I hope you left a comment on the site about your stolen content. I would encourage everyone reading this to do the same.
I have left dozens and 5-Minute Crafts just ignores them, no response at all.
It’s not surprising they haven’t responded. I did leave a comment too.
You should ask your supporters to leave a comment so at the very least viewers would be aware of what they’re doing. It may not be a ‘copyright’ violation but it isn’t ethical that they are raking in $$s by ripping off of YOUR hard work (and others). If no one complains about it en masse, it’s a free pass for them to continue doing what they do without any consequences. There’s strength in numbers!
Some people just suck!!!! Karma will surely get them… think I need to go leave a few comments on their site. So sorry…
Have a look at https://www.justwannaquilt.com It is a research podcast, website and now publishing project by Elisabeth Townsend Gard from Tulane University. She is a law professor and although see interviews and talks a lot about quilting there is a lot of information for creatives about copyright, branding, trademarks etc. It is American based but at least would give you information about what you can do with their law system and look up a parallel in ours. She even seeks out people to talk of their experience for her podcast. Creatives need to learn what to do to protect themselves.
I am an eco printer and love your work on eco printing. I do teach a basic course based on what I have learned and practiced.. I have put two years into just learning basics. And plan to do my own systematic research to see what works in my area. We all learn from so many sources. I do explain to people when I do a class that I have put the work into what I do and the notes I give the students. I always cite references . My words are copyrightable. Technique I understand is not. But to make things stand up in court you have to in the US at least register the work. For creatives that makes things an expensive venture or maybe not. I am not sure in Canada. Also with the internet it makes things even harder do to other laws in other countries. It is a complex world we live in.
Do your best Have you thought of setting up a subscription based format. You could make it low cost but it may help you avoid the trollers who just use your content.
Off to support your blog. By the way I live in Niagara once I get my parameters in place to start studying ecoprinting in a more formal way I would love to share with other printers like a study group.
Ok, I’ll look into it. I’d rather spend time on the creative than this other mind-zapping stuff. I have a few patterns that are very inexpensive and are hardly bought. The free ones are taken by the thousands. It’s a changing world, I wish I could say for the better. Thanks for your help
The Internet is definitely a two edged sword, so I googled “websites that steal ideas” lots of info but this https://www.dreamgrow.com/prevent-content-theft/ in particular caught my attention. The article talks about tools you can use to block theft, register content etc.
There is something you can do to protect yourself, if content providers won’t stand up for copyrights. ‘
Maybe this website is the start of how you fight back. You’re damn mad and you don’t have to take it anymore.
I’ll look into it! More costs will make for content that will no longer be free or not complete enough to copy. It is already a struggle to keep this pace. Yup, I’m damn mad!
I’m sorry for the violation of your ideas. Maybe it would help to make your post in a closed group that requires a fee to belong to. I’d pay to be apart of that. I bet slot of others would to. Thanks for sharing your wonderful creativity.
It might well become that! Glad to hear that you’d feel it’s worth it. Thanks