Stolen pics

[PetiteTuques]

I want you all to know that there are stores in China that have stolen pictures from fellow iCrafters and Etsy. So I'm wondering how we can protect ourselves from this theft, because even the pictures that have a signature have been altered.

http://www.alibaba.com/

[Fairy Cardmaker]

Uhmmm.... I don't know?  For as long as there has been retail, there have been knock offs.  There will always be people who will deconstruct your work to be able to remake copies to sell.  Some people can deconstruct with their eyes, never having bought your product.

The only thing I do is that I have installed "my free copyright" on my blog.  My new, original die cuts are almost always posted there first.  My Free Copyright emails me info when I blog that I could use as supporting documentary evidence that I am the original creator.  However, I would have to catch somebody infringing in order to enforce anything.

[PillowThrowDecor]

Copying is such a problem and most people haven't a clue or don't care to know that they are infringing on someone's copyright.

Do you have any examples... I went and had a quick peak but didn't see anything... I hate creating traffic for them.  Grrrrr...

[PetiteTuques]

The are three businesses here that are affected, and I've been in contact with them all.. it's mostly crochet hats.. I'm sure you can figure out who It's really too bad, because the site doesn't care and the people coping don't care.

I was told by someone who just came back from China/Hong Kong that there are sooo many street vendors selling copied products, from Nike shoes to gucci bags. They look around to make sure cops aren't around, and do their business...It's really unbelievable!