…there was this naïve little knitter who came up with a pattern she felt like sharing. So, after knitting said pattern and spending some time pulling her hair out trying to figure out how to write it down, she posted it on her blog.
Since the yarn used on the shawl was a gift, she decided to share the gift with as many people as possible, so she released the pattern under Creative Commons. That way, she thought, more people could enjoy it and maybe a few of them would be motivated to try to design too.
The response to her little pattern was amazing. Most people understood what she wanted to say and a few awesome groups came together to knit and help each other.
Everybody was happy, the designer more so than everybody else. Folks were being polite about it, coming to the little knitter asking for permission to write the pattern down, re-chart and/or do mods to it.
Then one day, out of the blue, someone who came late to the party, decided she wanted a part of the action. Without permission or the little knitter’s knowledge, she created files with mods to the original pattern and tried to publish it claiming to be the co-author of it. On her notes she leads people to believe that she was involved with the creation of the original pattern and for some reason wasn’t able to participate in time.
To some of you, this is just a silly atempt at story telling, for the designers out there (me included) this is a nightmare. To the ones out there thinking about doing something similar, don’t. You will, eventually, be caught.
I’m sad to say that it is a true story.
This is something I didn’t want to ever need to write, but if I don’t act now, I’ll end up as the bad guy. It is also a very sad way to come back to blogging.
Oi!
Conheci seu blog através da Receita do Gail, que encontrei no Ravelry.
Ganhei uma lã “handspun” e estava procurando uma receita para ela quando achei a Gail.
Fiquei com uma “inveja branca” quando vi sua engenhoca de fiar. Adoraria poder fazer esse tipo de coisa aqui no Brasil.
Beijos!
Renata S. P.
Jane, I am really sorry this happened to you. I got pretty upset myself when I found out what was going on. I hope this situation gets resolved to your satisfaction and her detriment.
That said, I love the Gail pattern and I’m so glad you shared it with us. It is awesome!
Por essas e por outras que tem coisas que eu nem publico no blog, porque além da mão-de-obra que dá escrever uma receita, correr o risco de acontecer o que aconteceu com você… No meu caso só roubaram duas fotografias de trabalhos meus no flickr e publicaram em uma revista (com uma ‘receita’ que nada tinha a ver com as fotos) e já me deu um mal estar enorme, imagino se roubassem esse trabalho todo!
Dear Madonna,
all I can say is kisssmochsmack! Thank you so much. I’ll hold ground with CC as long as I can. If push comes to shovel, I’ll change the copyrhight and change the file to make into a collaborative effort (with all the approved mods and such)
Solange querida,
qndo eu publiquei não tinha a menor idéia que o xale fosse “pegar”. Não me arrependi, apesar da dor de cabeça – a maioria das pessoas foi 1000% comigo. Eu só publiquei o post acima pra me proteger no caso da madama resolver bancar a coitadinha.
Eu nem acredito no que vou dizer, mas graças a Deus que eu estou na terra do “vou meter um processo nas suas costas”.
O que ela fez é coisa séria e envolve até furto de identidade, já que ela usou meu nome real no “projeto” dela.
Eu acho que vc deve, pelo menos dar um susto nos editores da tal revista. Vc sabia que qndo publica uma foto no Flickr, eles asseguram o copyright? Pode ser que eu esteja te dando este conselho pq estou prostituta da existência, mas vale a pena pensar no assunto. Eu espio suas fotos sempre que posso e a qualidade é muito boa. Tem gente que ganha a vida como fotógrafo profissional e o povo vai levar sua foto de graça? Pode não!
O embroglio ainda não terminou, já que ela está se fazendo de boba. A última PM que ela me mandou dizia “não entendi” (na hora eu até cheguei a visualizar o famoso preconceito da loura burra com o mindinho no canto da boca). Vamo combinar que não é muito dificil entender o diálogo:
ela:vc me dá permissão pra publicar uma modificação da sua receita?
eu: não.
Jane, I’m sorry you have to deal with this as a consequence of creating such a gorgeous, inspiring pattern! I admire you for defending your intellectual property, and thank you for making Gail available to all of us.
Jane,
I read this with my mouth hanging down! That is just awful! How dare people do that! Is there anything you can do?
Maybe for the next design (I hope there is more) you can have us pay for it, we don’t mind! I think if there is $$ involved you can say your designs are copyrighted.
Eileen
Jane, you spin a good yarn, as we like to say.
The type of license, copyright or CC, is not what deters jerks on the loose, it’s their concern that someone will go after them, either in a court of law or the court of public opinion. I think you have chosen the better portion, here, and done it deftly.
Eileen,
So far, I’ve done all I could. Frankly I hate to act like the copyright police and don’t want anyone else acting like that either.
Charging for a pattern doesn’t change anything.
Thanks for your words and concern.
Philip,
I know. I really bothered me was the use of my real name without my knowledge.
I’m old fashion when it comes to that and think that my name is my most valuable asset.
Hopefully, I won’t need to act anymore on this.
Jane,
Do you need me to put on my steel toed shoes and kick someone? This is just terrible, and I can’t imagine how frustrated you must be. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful pattern, and I hope all the yuckiness goes away!
Wow…I came to read your blog when I saw on Ravelry that you had one, only to read about some ass stealing your name AND your pattern(s)!
I really, really, REALLY dislike thieves. They are jerks and should be publicly shamed for their behavior! WHY do people DO this sort of thing?!? What the he** do they get out of it?
Anyway! Glad to’ve “discovered” you, Jane!
Spin On!
Jane ! Que saudades ! Que chato o acontecido ! Abraços
This is a very sad thing to have to deal with. It reminds me of what another “designer” once did, and it really is nasty!
I’m so sorry this happened. I love your pattern beyond belief. I have purchased yarn to knit it and just don’t see why anyone would feel the need to “improve” upon it. I know the moonbeams lady feels the same way.
Fortunately, for every bad apple out there, there are bushels of good ones – like you. Take heart and don’t let it stop you from designing. As you said, when someone does a thing like this, it almost always comes back to bite them in the behind.
Thinking of you often. Really like you. Miss you.
I
Jane, I am so very sorry that this has happened. I remember very well in December 2008 at our last spinning class how you made that beautiful shawl and were offering the pattern for free on your blog for others to enjoy. The kind good-faith spirit with which you offered the pattern as a gift to knitters has been abused. This is a really sad situation. I’m afraid there are just ass-hats out there in the world who don’t have the natural talent you have and will try to abuse others wherever possible. I’d love to get together with you sometime to spin.
sorry it was October 2008, not December. You were in the October class not the December one.
Wow, Jane – that sucks. I am appalled to read this post. And here I came just to figure out how to find your etsy account and your beautiful yarn! I just cannot believe how ballsy that person is – good Lord, what are they thinking? Well, it’ll come back and bite them, I am sure of that. As a friend of mine once said when someone really messed with me and I wanted revenge “Vengeance is Mine, Sayeth the Lord”. That person will someday be forced to own their actions.
Thank you even more now for the oh so lovely Gails on my needles!
Sinto pelo mal estar que está enfrentando!
Espero que tudo fique bem e vc volte ao blog… vc faz falta!
Um abraço carinhoso,
Judy
I am appalled. That’s mean, creepy, and selfish. It happened to me too, but the stealer didn’t bother even giving me an attribute. Fooey on them all.
Also sorry my rule #8 was one day late
.
I have your lovely yarn where I can admire it and figure out what to do with it. Thanks again for it!!
How horrible. I know I am coming to this issue late, but this is unacceptable. Do all that you can to right this wrong.
I have Gail queued up, ready to start in August as part of my summer knitting goals. I will pray with each stitch, that the issue will not cause you further problems. Thank you for a gorgeous pattern!
Bom dia,
Será que vc poderia entrar em contato comigo por em-mail pra tratar de assunto particular referente a receitas internacionais?
Grata
Att
Rosangela