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!
Barb, I am so sorry this happened. I have always treated 5-minute crafts as click bait, but also i don’t watch u-tube videos because I’m deaf. I’ve followed you for quite some time mainly because I admire your work and find what you do beautiful and with amazing creativity. I don’t have your talent, and the most i’ve done is attempted the coasters. I also want to say I look for things like coasters because i can make gifts inexpensively and i wouldn’t be able to do that without you and your teaching here on the web. Just want to let you know I’m grateful.
As an artist, my work has been copied for decades. I have learned to look at it as a compliment from someone who needed my talent because they had none of their own. When someone steals my designs or methods and then seeks to become my competition or claims they invented it, I get steamed.
I completely feel for you, but what I have to say may not be easy to hear, but a few points:
1> You share/give-away-for-free your ideas and tutorials. You teach people how to do these things and this “group” learned what you taught them.
2>They cannot steal something that you gave away for free.
3> Legally this is not copyright infringement unless they make the claim that they are the inventors.
4> They are not selling your IDEA/METHOD for profit.
5> Once you teach the method, it is perfectly legitimate for someone to make the objects and sells them for a profit; but they can’t sell the method.
I’m not saying that they have been ethical, I’m saying that they have done nothing illegal.
Now, if you made your ideas a “pay for instructions” deal with a copyright distribution warning, you might have some leverage. Post a pic of the finished object and charge $1 to view the instructions.
Ethically, this site/page should be giving you credit and a link to your page for instructions. This might be the best approach with both FB and 5 Minute Crafts.
Unfortunately, when we teach others to do something, we have no control over them taking that info and teaching others unless there is a formal licensing requirement to teach. They do not have the right to claim that they invented the information, but you can’t keep people from using what you taught them.
The whole concept behind teaching is to “give” your skills to others.
Not giving you credit is the real issue here. You absolutely should get credit! Maybe they will listen to that.
Don’t give up! Don’t waste your creativity over being angry at this. I have found, after 40 years of being an artist, that the best revenge is to keep the juices going and be even more creative. Staying a step ahead is very satisfying.
When they put these projects in their video all who view think they have designed them. I read the comments. If they were paid for that probably would not stop them. Frankly, I don’t think they care in any sense of the word or there would be some reply. I have had dozens use and link or give credit, not these parasites!
Ugh so awful. I am so appreciative of all the information you publish about eco printing. It is so hard to find detailed information about the process without having to buy a book, Ecourse or workshop which may or may not have enough information. I guess I know why other artists have put their knowledge into a paid format. It’s a way to compensate for all their hard work and experimentation. I sure hope you can find a way to have this outrageous copying removed from those websites.
I still hold some hope. Yes, the eco printing has been quite the struggle! The creative part of me does not all the selling, but It may come to that. Thanks
How horrible for you! Facebook is not doing its job, in my opinion. They are allowing this to happen. Hopefully YouTube will have a better reaction.
For whatever it’s worth I did comment and left links to each of the two projects they stole from you.
Awesome thanks!
I love your site and content. I am a closet creative who works a fulltime job in healthcare and can’t wait until the day I am able to devote more time to having fun trying different techniques. You put so much into your work and share so generously- I am always amazed and inspired. It work has raised the bar for me on several fronts. I think when we possess a strong moral compass, it is even harder because it hurts so much more when we are taken advantage of. I couldn’t afford to subscribe to every creative that I follow, but would totally understand if this becomes something that you need to do for your site. You post high quality content and your anger and hurt are surely justified. You should continue to speak out as you are able. It’s your work and it’s really shameful for others to profit from it without compensation.
Wonderfully said. It will be tough to get this out of the back of my mind when being creative. The whole world at your fingertips; and the whole world able to take from them… All the support today is reassuring!
Barb,
This is awful, I have always enjoyed your site and tutorials , I can not believe they are stealing your content and facebooks response, I have had friend have their facebook comments /posts removed for silly reasons, they should be standing up for the original artist
Oh, really? I was so surprised as well. I’m really wary now.
Barb, I think these people make money from advertising. I agree with what someone else said, that the only way to monetize what you create is to show a picture, list the level of expertise needed, the supplies needed, and then sell the directions. If it gets too expensive you may lose your target area…DIY people. Wealthy people just go out, generally speaking, and buy artwork in a finished stage. What is amazing to me is, first of all, these are not five minute crafts and anyone can see that the quality of what is produced is not like what you produce. The question I have is what is the monetary gain of the people who are trolling the Internet for ideas and then going through all the work of making the finish project, photographing, writing, etc. and uploading to 5 minute crafts. I doubt that the company in Cyprus is hiring people to make these in a workroom on Cyprus/. So, if you could find out…maybe you should sell it to them first and put your logo and website address on the images. You probably can’t do anything legally because the company is in Cyprus. .There has to be a way.to beat them at their own game. I saw someone on you tube who creates really wonderful content on a youtube channel. from films that are in the public domain. What this person does and shares with the public is indeed a work of art. He makes his money, I gather, by advertising. Well, son-of-a-buck, I saw that another person transferred all of this man’s work on to CDs and was selling the CDs under his own Brand. There is a snake under every rock on the Internet. I had another idea about starting a Facebook Group for people who have been victims of parasitic scroungers to GATHER hundreds of people who will post CONTENT STOLEN from so-and-so comments. on the offending website. I have an acquaintance who created the original KATWIzE SWEATER COAT. When other people stole her ideas and started selling under their own brand, she started selling the patterns. She said she expected it and had already decided she would sell the directions. The problem of all of this is that artists just want to create. If they wanted to deal with Facebook Groups, organizing movements and selling and promoting, they probably wouldn’t be artists, they would be PR agents. Good luck, Barb. And, just want to add, that you wouldn’t have received all of these comments if people didn’t see the value in your work whether it is something whimsical, beautiful or has a utilitarian function and always beautifully designed. Ok, I’m too tired, too.
Wait -what? I am NOT trying to pile it on, but frankly and a little jealous that you are just now being ripped off. I am not a successful artists or blogger and have been ripped of many times over several years.
I have nothing positive to say about Facebook.
Please know that if I saw your work being copied like this I would do as I have in the past: try to get YouTube, Pinterest, Etsy, etc. to remove obviously plagiarized content. But since I am not the copyright holder, I can’t.
I let the artists know when I find their content stolen by someone else and I sincerely hope you and everyone else being exploited get some justice.
I do not spend a lot of time looking for my stuff. I have seen whole posts stolen and even with each image watermarked. It’s mostly far-off countries. I may have missed some as I usually find out from a follower of mine. I need a lot of reporters! Thanks
Barb I am so sorry this is happening to you! The theft is a horrible violation of your soul!. Most people luckily are not this dishonest greedy. Best wishes going forward. God bless.
I hope most are not. The problem is when it’s a huge entity like the parasites 5-Minute Crafts. I’m not done yet… as you all know I am quite stubborn.
It is so very sad to see and say that some people cannot have any ideas of their own.
I can understand if they don’t, but acknowledgement would be proper!