as creative people, we look for inspiration around us... the world of blogging and photo sharing has given us the opportunity to "meet" wonderfully creative people... seeing their blogs, reading their words, often encourages us and motivates us to bust out our tools and get to crafting- whatever it may be... however, there is a responsibility with all of this... there are ethics to consider in the process when you are making ideas using other peoples ideas...
the line between being inspired and stealing can sometimes become blurred... or using someone's ideas and selling similar item for sale... [geez, i wonder how cocoa cola dealt with RC!!] either way, there IS a difference... personally, i
don't mind if someone likes an illustration of mine and wants to
mimmick it for their own entertainment.... you know, if they want to
make a card for someone... but i DO MIND when an
illustration is taken, without permission, and used to sell in their
shop or to others... that is stealing, and quite insulting... while it's an honor to know that my work can motivate others, it's frustrating to see my ideas being snagged without even a mention! i'm not saying that you have to blog a 4 page dedication, but a simple "this is a card i am making... it is a revamp of one of ellia's illustration" would suffice...
there have been plenty of people who've followed such ethics! and for that, i am grateful... however, there has been a few instances... i don't want to feel as if blogging will be a way for others to steal my ideas and sell them, when i am having a hard enough time selling my own... creative people understand that it takes time, finances, AND sacrifice to come up with ideas and products... how many pots of coffee did i go through to finish one project? how many tears were shed from the emotions going wild due to lack of sleep? don't my ideas have enough value to not be stolen? i don't want to feel unsafe here... and while i realize that this is the internet, i still want to trust my fellow readers... after all, your support keeps me encouraged and also inspired... your support has helped me get this far...
there are still uncertainties i have too... i don't know all the rules in copyrighting either and am unsure if i've done things that were illegal... i think my superhero kids are pushing it, as well as the video game items... and as far as using stickers, stamps, and special patterned papers, the rules are unclear... so i try not to sell those sort of items much anymore... understandably, this crafting business can be tricky...
anyhow, i have been debating on blogging this... i was quite discouraged in even seeing the fact that the name greenbeanbaby was recently taken for a clothing line... was it coincidence? the line has nothing to do with the work i do, but the name was once my signature... it's even more upsetting because the reason i chose greenbeanbaby was so that it could one day, include a variety of items [YES, EVEN BABY CLOTHES] but now, i wonder... will i have to change my name because someone else has declared it theirs? okay, i am not dr. seuss here who can make up new names and terminology... i understand that green bean baby are three common words- just what are the chances? sigh...
lastly, i must say that all my artwork is copyrighted... do not take my photos... and please do not steal my works and reproduce them for sale... and if you do want to use something for personal use only, email me... not to mention, i would love to see the end result as it's always fun to see how one idea evolves to another... also, the cut paper tutorial and the cut paper kits in my shop are for personal use only.... they are not to be made and sold...
i would love to know your thoughts on the topic and even your experiences... please share!!!!