I had no idea that things would escalate to such proportions when I wrote about my egg cosy problems earlier today. I need to sleep on the whole matter and consider some of the very valid points that have been raised. This is a matter for me and one that only affects me and my very little business. To see things snowballing from a small and personal matter is a little disconcerting, and the reason I've taken my post off-line for now.
Thanks for your understanding, and for the kind and supportive comments.
little cotton rabbits 
I’m very sorry for you. I only today saw your post (I use Google Reader, it was there in “cache” – I didn’t see the comments.) I think, because of the price and the volume there must be, that the replicas come from China. My DH works in a business where they have problems with some Chinese copies all the time. It seems to be so that there is a totally different attitude to copyright issues.
I don’t believe the “normal” readers of your blog would do that.
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I’m sending you lots of love, Julie.
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Hi Julie,
I am sure that you will deal with this in your own way ~ I didn’t read all the other comments, as there were so many, but I did get a sense of outrage from those that I saw.
It is a sad reality that there are unscrupulous people in this world who feel no compunction about stealing work/ideas that don’t belong to them.
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I was one of many who Twittered your situation. I am now concerned that I may have made a bad situation worse. I am also concerned that you may have been threatened in some way, and it was not my intention to make things difficult for you.
I don’t know what other people said to you, but from my point of view, you had a hard case for intellectual property theft.
Anyway, take care and do what’s best for you and not what anybody thinks you should do.
Best wishes
Lorrie
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Oh Julie, this sucks, frankly from what I can gather. Saw your original post on bloglines but not the comments so not sure what happened. I hope that you can get some resolution. xx
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Oh, Julie, huge hugs. Only you can decide what’s right for you – and it goes without saying that for what it’s worth, you have my support whatever that decision may be.
Wish you could have been at Gina’s yesterday. Soon?
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Can I just say, I saw them and as a reader of your blog thought of contacting you too. I didn’t buy one… they were nasty acrylic and all I could think of was sweat shops. I wouldn’t let it lie.
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I’m sorry you are going through this. I also get your blog through my blog reader so didn’t get to read the comments. I think it is terrible that a big company is ripping you off. Shameless!!!
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I’m so sorry Julie. I hope I’m not too late in submitting my support for you. If it’s any consolation, the copy looks awful to me. The copy cosy looks like it was made by someone who obviously doesn’t appreciate your pattern ~ a product of poor workmanship made of poor quality materials. I bought your pattern & only had time to knit one for my daughter…I know what effort goes into making one is worth. Anyway, take care & best wishes x
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Wow, I’ve missed something horrible that has happened & I have no idea what. I wish I understood how to subscribe to blogs & bloglines & all that.
Whatever happened, Julie, I hope it gets resolved.
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Hi Julie,
I didn’t see your post, or the related comments, but I’m sorry you’re having problems.
I honestly don’t know what you can do about someone copying your work, but I do know that your work is unique and beautiful, and no one else can truly duplicate it.
Take care,
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Oh sorry to hear this has all gone a bit messy Julie. Hope you wake up refreshed and decisive.
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Julie…….I didn’t see your post either but I have picked up a bit here and a bit there that I’m sure isn’t the full extent of what you initially posted about. No matter what happened or has happened since. You are a wonderful, caring and supportive woman who I have always been thankful for befriending….and being befriended by! Know in your heart the kind of person you are and find your next foot hold from there.
I’m thinking of you.
Jen
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Hugs to you Julie. Sorry you had to deal with this.
Happy thoughts!
Love,
Debbie
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good luck – the right answer will come to you – a very sad situation indeed
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😦
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I am sorry that I have missed the previous post but gathering from the comments above copying is definately not acceptable and I’m sad that it happens. I hope you manage to find a solution. I love seeing your beautiful animals and the little egg cosy was so cute. Jane x
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Julie I’m so sorry that you’re having to deal with this, I also saw your post via bloglines so didn’t see any comments but I definitely think you’d be wise to at the very least take some advice from a copyright specialist.
hugs
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I am pleased that you are dealing with this in your own way. Good luck with whatever you decide to do and the way you persue it.
Esther x
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I’m sorry you’re having this problem! It’s the same with Rosa Pomar, whose adorable stuffed toys have been copied almost exactly by Oililly. You may want to contact her about that.
I’ve faved your pattern in Ravelry–I think it’s downright adorable. I appreciate handcrafted quality much more than mass-produced, any day!
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I not sure what has happened but I love your animals and know one could make them the way you do!!! Yours are make by loving hands with a giving heart.!!!!
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Thinking of you Julie. Take care. lots of love Lucy xxx
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i saw your original post through bloglines, but not the comments. copyright is such a huge grey area, the best you can do is to arm yourself with as much information as possible. i’ve given this link to many other bloggers who’ve been put in the same/similar position. it’s an organisation called ‘own it’, they have some interesting podcasts which cover things like protecting your intellectual property, it may be of some help to clarify where you stand.
http://www.own-it.org/ – the website
http://www.own-it.org/knowledge/23/category – the podcasts, go through the whole list, there are quite a few!
i really hope this is all soon resolved.
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sending you many, many hugs lovely lady
t x
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I know that I left a comment about the egg cosies.I can’t see it now though. I hope I didn’t get you into trouble. I honestly hoped that you had sold your pattern and made a few pennies. I missed your post about all the trouble but I do hope it isn’t too bad. So sorry if I added to the problem. x
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hugs
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I have no idea what is going on but I hope it is resolved very soon. XO
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Well, Julie, I take a week off from reading you and it appears a dastardly deed has been done in the meantime!
Shame on them!
Hoping that all will be resolved and that you rest easier!
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I’m so sorry that this has happened to you. I was able to read your original post through Google Reader, but could not see the comments left.
I hope you are able to resolve this situation. What a shame that there are people out there who do this to others.
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Hi, Julie
Your bunnies are certainly what brings people here for the first time – and that copy was obviously inferior. I don’t know what you’ll decide to do after all, but I think you should know that also happened to another great crafter from Portugal. Her work has been used by a store in Netherlands. She has got the store to take the products away from the market and is now fighting for reimbursement – 60K euros. And if you decide that’s not the path for you, just keep this in mind: your work is absolutely in another level.
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