[Jewelry making - Article 00589] - [Orchid] When your work gets ripped....

[Elkka Nland]

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    It seems the subject of "stolen" work is resurrected with frequency
    here, so here is my contribution to the archive. I should preference
    this post by saying it is aimed at those who really do strive to
    create original and unique work and not copies from catalogs or
    internet printouts. 

    How many of you actually worry about your work being ripped off? If
    you do what are a few of your less than secret strategies for staying
    ahead. Does it mostly come down to trying to have fresh designs every
    few years? Some suggestions I've heard aRe: 

    -Only work in limited edition or do custom work 

    -Don't have a web site, if you do, don't show all your designs (a
    self defeating concept if you do all your sales via the Internet) 

    -If you do have all your designs online, only allow customers with
    approved login/passwords to shop (again, self defeating in regard to
    trying to capture fresh sales) 

    -Offer a "finders fee" if someone discovers your work being ripped
    off and it results in litigation and a settlement (guess this would
    work for a Tiffany's or Cartier) 

    -Don't outsource your production 

    -Don't care / Be "flattered" / loose your market share and shut up
    about it because you are a poor/barely making it artist with no
    rights... 

    ...as is evident, most of these solutions border on desperation. But
    is the best policy truly not to care if your designs get ripped? This
    question is asked with the acknowledgment that no-one is born knowing
    how to make jewelry and we learn from watching others, but truly
    creative people know how to take common design elements and attribute
    their own unique interpretation to it. So to rephrase - do most of
    you honestly feel that the best policy is not to care when someone has
    ripped off your unique interpretation?
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