It’s been a busy week this week with the latest batch of toys getting ready to go to their new homes and Toby’s annual statement review meeting – more of that in another post. I’ve had loads of emails about the copyright issue and I’m really grateful for all of the support and advice. There was also a lovely email from Sena who
wrote to me on behalf of a group of Russian ladies, one of whom had made the toys that were copied from mine and written up a pattern for them. The email explains that although the pattern was shared on a forum it was never their intention to sell the toys or the pattern and they’ve apologised. I really appreciate that they took the time to
write to me in english to give me more information.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about ‘re-branding’ my little toys for a while and thinking about copyright has been the catalyst to concentrate my mind again. I’ve
re-designed the labels that I attach to each toy and they will now have specific details on
the back including the toy’s name, when they were made and what they
are made from. I’ve also ordered a batch of ribbon labels which brings
me back to the title of the post above. Popping them into a fabric
softie would be simple as you’d just sew it into a seam but on a
knitted toy it needs to be attached afterwards.

I’m thinking probably
in the centre of the back under the clothes is the best place but
thought I’d ask your opinion – where do you think I should stick it?
clean answers only please 😉

I just wanted to quickly thank everyone for leaving such kind comments on the previous post. It shouldn’t happen to anyone – it’s not nice to be reminded that not everyone surfing the internet has good intentions at heart. It is however something faced by most crafters creating individually styled work. It’s demoralising but it definitely won’t stop me from doing what I love.

Anyway, I shall go into the weekend feeling high as a kite by all of the supportive and complimentary things that you took the time to write. So here’s wishing you a wonderful weekend from Penelope and me!

PS: Remember there is still a week until the close of the 2nd Annual Softie awards so there’s still time to make your softie, photograph it and get it entered. I’ve entered Penelope in the pink or plaid section and there are 4 other categories too.

…and I’m really sad that it obviously does but copying another person’s work and selling it on as your own just isn’t right. I really didn’t want to bang on about it here as it seems a highly contentious issue but discussion about copyright has been cropping up in lots of blogs recently and I wanted to be clear on my views.

I have no problem in people copying the look of my toys
for personal use or for gifts. Neither do I have a problem in people taking individual elements of my designs and incorporating them in their own – that is all part of the normal creative process. What I, and most other crafters find demoralising and depressing is recognisable* copies of our work being sold without our consent.

The reason I’m mentioning this now is that I’ve had several kind and concerned emails recently about toys similar to mine being sold. The most blatant example was this which was found on a russian website with a claim that the designs were their own and instructions of how to make them.

The copies…

My originals…

The lovely Barbara at Fuzzy Mitten has written up some of her views on copyright too – we’ve been comparing notes as recently some of her patterns have been adapted to copy some of my designs. I think her views are very similar to my own and really what we, and other crafters find upsetting is recognisable replicas of our work sold with a claim that it is someone else’s.

Ok, getting off my soapbox now… and ending with a big thank you to everyone who has sent me concerned emails with links to copies of my toys. It’s good to know that I have friends out there who are looking out for me.

PS: I’ve had lots of emails in the past about knitting up my free patterns to sell to raise money for charity and I always say a categorical yes – I’m really pleased if you want to use my free patterns for charity fundraising and I’ll be trying to write up some more.

* Addition: I’ve changed the word above (see *) from exact to recognisable – as someone pointed out in an email the copies are never going to be exact. Thanks so much for all of the comments – will write a proper post tomorrow.