It seems the subject of “stolen” work is resurrected with frequency
here, so here is my contribution to the archive. I should preference
this post by saying it is aimed at those who really do strive to
create original and unique work and not copies from catalogs or
internet printouts.
How many of you actually worry about your work being ripped off? If
you do what are a few of your less than secret strategies for staying
ahead. Does it mostly come down to trying to have fresh designs every
few years? Some suggestions I’ve heard aRe:
-Only work in limited edition or do custom work
-Don’t have a web site, if you do, don’t show all your designs (a
self defeating concept if you do all your sales via the Internet)
-If you do have all your designs online, only allow customers with
approved login/passwords to shop (again, self defeating in regard to
trying to capture fresh sales)
-Offer a “finders fee” if someone discovers your work being ripped
off and it results in litigation and a settlement (guess this would
work for a Tiffany’s or Cartier)
-Don’t outsource your production
-Don’t care / Be “flattered” / loose your market share and shut up
about it because you are a poor/barely making it artist with no
rights…
…as is evident, most of these solutions border on desperation. But
is the best policy truly not to care if your designs get ripped? This
question is asked with the acknowledgment that no-one is born knowing
how to make jewelry and we learn from watching others, but truly
creative people know how to take common design elements and attribute
their own unique interpretation to it. So to rephrase - do most of
you honestly feel that the best policy is not to care when someone has
ripped off your unique interpretation?