Monday, December 17, 2007

As a point of comparison…

© Margaux Lange

© Margaux Lange

© Margaux Lange

© Margaux Lange

© Margaux Lange

© Margaux Lange

© Margaux Lange

© Margaux Lange

…and that's only a fraction of the photos I have of all the hand earrings I've made which are protected under US copyright law. Thank god for time stamps, sketchbooks, Copyright Form VA's and having the law on your side when you need it. Some advice: keep good records and document in all ways possible… especially with the US copyright office! It is easy and inexpensive and there's no excuse not to protect yourself, especially when your designs are your livelihood.

7 comments:

Catherine Chandler said...

Good on ya lady!!! I thought I had remembered seeing your hand earrings but there aren't any in your shop currently.

Good luck with the case!

Catherine

Anonymous said...

A word of advice:

I am 49 and have been a working metalsmith for over 25 years. I just came out of a 27 month long litigation that racked up 162K legal bill. We fianlly ended in mediation and niether side 'won'. In the end both sides attorneys are the benefactors and 'winners' in this case. Regardless of patent and copyright and all that jazz - to take any action is going to cost you ALOT of money. As a working artist, I am throughly depressed over how to pay my legal bills. Good luck!

Andrea

L said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
L said...

this is so discouraging!! copyright infringement and legal bills when all you want to do is create!

Lynette said...

I just want to say thanks for the advice and heads up. Sometimes I am so naieve! I really can't believe someone would do that...

Lynette said...

I am sure you probably saw this, but I thought it may be helpful. The storque had an article about copyright infringement on Etsy and I have the link here. I found your copycat right away on Etsy when I searched for Barbie. That is so lame. Anyway, her work in no way compares to yours. I know you are probably just so mad, but she has nothing on you, really!http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/etsyNews/article/etsys-copyright-policy/859/

Anonymous said...

And your pieces look so much better than hers!!