Scam Beading Websites: How to spot them and avoid them
As I write this post, the beading community is reeling from the discovery of several scam beading websites. I would like to say this will be an isolated incident that we can clear up....
I’ve placed this section about copyright in two areas of My World of Beads. Why would that be? Well, if you’re a designer, you need to know about copyright so you can protect your designs and not infringe others’ rights. If you are running a business, you also need to understand this area of the law so you don’t get into any bother.
So, what am I talking about? Well, copyright basically deals with the idea that anyone has the right to protect their intellectual property (their ideas). So, if they choose to share them with the world, they have the right to determine how the world is allowed to use them.
Of course, it’s all a lot more complicated than that. The designer’s rights are protected by law. But laws vary from one country to another. The degree of protection and how that is laid out is also variable.
However, you don’t have to get bogged down in understanding all the legalities. There are some simple rules, which are basically common sense and decency. If you learn how to follow those, then you won’t get into trouble. Plus, the designers remain free to continue creating and sharing.
So, in this section, I am aiming to help you understand what is and what is not ok in the beading world. I am not a lawyer. So, if you are dealing with a specific issue, I still suggest you seek legal advice. But this will help you understand what is broadly right and wrong. It’s important that we all abide by the copyright laws. That way, we get to keep ‘Planet Bead’ a safe and open place that we can all enjoy.
As I write this post, the beading community is reeling from the discovery of several scam beading websites. I would like to say this will be an isolated incident that we can clear up....
I hadn’t planned to write this post, but yesterday’s post generated so much interest and discussion, some here, some on my Facebook page, that I found myself with more to say! So, I want to...
Copying beading patterns is a topic that creates a lot of passion amongst bead designers. In fact, a long and passionate debate within the Beadsmith Inspiration Squad inspired me to write this blog. The...
I have come across a number of instances where copyright has been challenged in the beading world, so I wanted to create a series of blog posts looking at the different ways in which...
If you create bead designs it can be difficult to protect and defend your copyright without coming across as ‘mean’ or ‘jealous’ or ‘possessive’ or ‘money-grabbing’ The simple fact is that if you find...
Beadwork copyright issues seem to surface in my life on a regular basis. I have been a victim of copyright infringement, a witness to friends whose work has been infringed and an arbitrator in...