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6/26/2011

Marketing Monday: Copyrights

Landscape recycled skateboard heart keyring
Last month there was a stir about Urban Outfitters stealing a design from an Etsy designer. While Regretsy may not be popular with everyone, the blog's author pointed out that the Etsy artist wasn't the first  to create the design in question in this post.

Recycled copper ring 
I also found a very informative article on Crafting an MBA that explains why "You can't copyright an idea and you can't copyright a useful object." The author, Megan Auman, starts out discussing the Urban Outfitters story and goes on to explain that the US government sees jewelry as a useful object and will not give it copyright protection.

Striped blouse shirt sweater with oversized draped side in pastel pink cream & brown -ready to ship- 
Do you make clothes? The government also sees clothing as a useful object and here's a great video on "how the lack of copyright and patent protection for clothing design has accelerated the creative pace of the fashion industry."

 under the oyster moon- medium silk/rayon sleeveless top
So what to do? I liked what Megan Auman had to say about it: "Your biggest concern shouldn't be getting your ideas stolen, it should be obscurity." and "If you're really concerned about being copied, the best thing you can do is be innovative."

 Red beaded bracelets with words of hope and inspiration charms

1 comment:

anyone's guess said...

This reminds me of something similar Julia Cameron (author of "The Artist's Way") said. We could spend our time and energy going after people who copy us, or we can go on to something new. I think about that and try to focus on creating something new. Thanks for the info on copyright. I wasn't aware of that.
Nancy
Anyone's Guess