Copy Cats

[UrbanJule]

I just discovered that, not one but several, of my designs are being copied by other shops. Not only that but they're showing up in searches before I am. And, yes, I have all the right words in all the right places in titles, descriptions, and tags. And I've renewed the listings...so I really don't understand how that can be.

And that old saying about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery....forget that....my designs were stolen and I'm mad and scared.

I don't know whether to write to the shop owners and demand that they stop reproducing my designs or just let it go and hope that buyers will see the quality in my rings AND customer service.

Sorry, just needed to rant and tell someone.

[Former_Member]

Hi Martha,

That has happened to me also. Not only did the shop duplicate my item, but they used my pictures too. I have to say, however, that as soon as I reported it to ETSY, the pics and item were down. If you haven't reported the items yet, do so.

Good luck -- your rings are really beautiful.

[krochetlady]

Sorry this happened to you Martha, I hate folks that basically steal from others. Report it to ETSY, but unless they are using your photo's as in Annabelle case, ETSY may not do anything about it.

I sell crochet items, a rude shop once told me if I don't want someting copied, then don't put it on ETSY, they were copying my item and listing word for word.

Your shop is fabulous! Hang in there

[TheSalvagedEdge]

Which designs were stolen?

[Former_Member]

sorry about your designs:-( but on a side note I love your logo:-) very cool

[LUSCIOUSLEATHERNYC]

I'm sorry
It has happened to me
And happening right now
I feel they are basically copying me
Item by item
Like my husband says focus on you and what u do
Focusing on them will drain you
And take away the energy that u need
To do what u need to do

Be angry and use that to create even more kick ass stuff

Hang in there
I'm so sorry

[BlackCrowCurios]

Put your energy into your beautiful work and think karma!

[Former_Member]

Im sorry this is happening to you. I do have to warn you though... that there are tutorials all over the place on how to make rings out of forks and spoons, so dont be too surprised if you see THAT being done by others. With that said, your jewellery is beautiful.

[Former_Member]

Your jewelry is fantastic!

Today, I noticed something that a person I am following faved. It is MY necklace! I swear. They're charging more for them and selling like crazy, and mine aren't selling.
My initial reaction was negative and angry.
"I'm marketing them a little differently, maybe I'll copy their marketing"(kidding).

But then I thought that maybe they had the idea first... great minds think alike maybe? hmm. Just something to think about.

If I kept seeing my items copied, or as another poster mentioned, even using their pictures, I would be very angry and would definitely have etsy take a look.

Good luck to you.... I think your jewelry can stand on its own. It is absolutely gorgeous, you are very talented.

liz

[UrbanJule]

Thanks, everyone, for your support and compliments. I'm still undecided as to what I should do and I'm feeling sicker by the minute about it and starting to doubt myself.

Candice, I'm not worried about the fork/spoon rings....I know there are lots of those out there and that's not an original idea. I really only have them in my shop because one of my daughters encouraged it saying that they were a big seller in the area where she lives. I actually think they're a little dated and have sold very few of them.

And Liz, I thought that too: what if these other people had the same idea and, worse, what if they had it first and listed their item first, unbeknownst to me, and THEY think I'm copying them? That would really suck. (This is the part where I started doubting myself).

Maybe the solution is for me to drop those two designs out of my inventory and go on to something else. So confused; I better sleep on it.

[LunasLuxe]

It's hard to tell sometimes. Before I came to Etsy I thought I had a very original idea. Then I came here only to find out it wasn't so original at all. I actually stopped making that item but I got a lot of praise so I started to make it again. And even though lots of people make them I was in a national magazine and have been contacted by some stores to sell them as well. So just because there are others out there doing similar things doesn't mean people won't appreciate your work or all your customers will go running to competitors. Part of buying from and artist is just that buying from THAT artist. Many of us develop a relationship with our clients.

That being said I have also been copied. Not one or two designs. And most of the things if not all that I make can certainly be thought up by another mind. However I found a shop making the same items selling for less than half what I am and even adding new items the same as mine as I added them. At first I was outraged but hey what are you gonna do. I will just keep focused on my business and being the best I can be. Not only that they can't possibly be making much money at those prices. Anyone who has ever been good at what they do is going to be copied at some point. It's just the way it is. And in this day and age just about everything is some variation of something that's already been done.

[loveofdrawing]

Sigh, I am sorry this is happening to you. People are unreal. Karma has way of showing up. I would contact Etsy and let them know.

Try to still have a wonderful holiday! I wish you all the best!

[Untwistedsister]

Remember that old TV commercial where the advertiser claimed they were 'often copied, never duplicated'? Just do it better. Make your shop or yourself the one the potential customer wants to shop at.

[Former_Member]

I am sorry but your shop is beautiful and at the end of the day the creativity and quality is yours and no one can take that away. By the way your husband is right. I read this quote a long time ago and it has helped my let go of any anger towards others; hopefully it can help you.

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
Buddha

[PithAndRootStudio]

I think it would be tough to be a jewelry maker on Etsy. I've seen quite a few trends catch on where, suddenly, a bunch of shops are making the same thing, especially if it's easy to make- like those clay beads that were so popular in treasuries a few months ago.

Looking at your shop, though, I think your designs not only look very unique but are perhaps difficult to execute. You have certainly developed your own style and that can't really be copied.... not really. I agree that you should focus on your own work and offering exceptional quality and craftsmanship... that will win out in the end. Those shop owners who feel they need to copy others will either get a clue and start producing their own work or they will soon be copying someone else, but you will still be here, making your own work.

[UrbanJule]

Well, I feel better after a solid night's sleep and have decided to allow karma to take it's course.

It's gratifying to know that for every dishonest person out there, willing to step on others to make a buck, there are 20+ decent, supportive people who actually WANT to see others succeed, as evidenced by the comments by you all here.

I have to admit that I wasted too much time looking at the copied items yesterday to the point of making myself sick. Today I can see clearly that one can see just from their pictures that the quality is not as fine as mine and I know I have great customer service 'cause I'm terribly co-dependent and bend over backwards to make other people happy. ;)

Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone! This is me going back to work and resuming the business of just being me.

[DorothyJanePaperie]

I have had a similar experience. However, I realized that what I do really can't be copy righted - Anyone can do it with the right tools and experience. 99% of what I make I fully expect to be thought up or made by other other people. It is only one of my concepts that I considered to be copied that really hurt, stunned me. I have had to deal with it. Now, I am fine with it and even appreciate the variations in other's work - somedays - I even wish I could collaborate with similar shop owners and work as team - I think we could accomplish so much together!

[NutfieldWeaver]

The sad and sorry truth is this: copying is going to happen. And it happens on Etsy and, if you haven't already completed a broader internet search, it is highly likely that you will find your pieces on blogs, independent websites and/or other selling venues. People feel completely entitled to copy designs and will often do so under the guise of "inspired by...."

[AuraRosesTreasures]

I'm sorry like everyone else. That just pulls on my heart strings because it's happened to me.
I looked at your shop - no offense - please don't chop off my head for this - I didn't see anything that hasn't been done before.
I would suggest creating your original story to go with each item.
YOU sell the item - it's you that you sell. The item is a reflection of your energy - tell them more about the YOU in the item.
hope this helps!

[Former_Member]

I am sorry people are copying your items... I can understand how you feel. :(

It is tough for us jewelry makers out there because we are competing in such an intense market... I really had no idea until I started how many people make and sell jewelry! I know for a fact that there are some items in my store that are similar to other items on Etsy simply because they were made when that particular style was a hot trend. I don't base my designs on what other people make, but when I get an idea I also don't go through every listing to see if it has already been made... I just make it.

I am totally with Aura... figure out what your story is and start setting yourself apart from the others! You will make it work because your items are great quality and obviously made with care.

[AuraRosesTreasures]

Your workmanship is lovely in the items you make. I forgot to add that to my comment, which is addressing the originality of the designs. Hope I am being helpful and not hurtful.

[GracefulRosaries]

This is sooo frustrating. I know a lady 'who was once a friend' who followed me to etsy and duplicated the item that she knew was my best seller. I emailed her and referenced the item saying that it was a duplicate of my design. She said, "great minds think alike!". I responded that Etsy has rules about copyright infringement. She went ballistic on me and started accusing me of harrasing herself and her family. She blocked me from her facebook, and was as dramatic and rude as she could be. It bothered me a great deal, but I knew I had acted rightly and that she was admitting her guilt by acting like a juvenile.

So now many months later she has LLC (limited liability) after her shop name, which means no one can come after her personal assets in a business lawsuit. And I am thinking....So you want to advertise that you are afraid of a lawsuit? In her current shop she still copies my style but changs one medal on her design, so she can call it her own. And there is other evidence that she stocks my shop to see what idea she can take, and make 'her own' by changing one thing. Yes, it annoys me! But here is the good news... I have 1087 sales....and she has less than 100. Moral of the story! Try to ignore these people. Do what you do. Challenge yourself to always improve. Your sound business practices will pay off in the end, and their dishonesty will have its own consequences.

[UrbanJule]

Wow, Mary! That is just crazy! I really admire you for having the fortitude to rise above what that woman is doing. Here I am going crazy over just two little ring designs. I don't know what I would do if someone was stalking my shop!

I know that some of the TYPES of rings I make are not original, but those that aren't, like the stacking rings, I try to put an original twist on them. And some of my rings have definitely not been done by anyone else on Etsy (or anywhere else that I can find, for that matter). And if someone questions my originality, well, they're not looking close enough at my items.

I just have to ignore those people who are potentially hurtful and, again, let karma take its own sweet course.

[Untwistedsister]

I'm sure you know that fashion designs are neither copyrightable nor patentable. Instructions for how to make them would be copyrightable. It's all,in the perspective. Mary feels she is being copied because someone is changing up an element of her design while Matha feels justified that by changing something in her stacking rings it is her design.

There is more than one gas station on the corner, selling the same gas, but both can be successful.

I don't know whether one view is right or wrong but I do think the solution is to enjoy what you do and that selling is more than making and by concentrating on our own business we will be successful.

[WintergreenDesign]

Martha... I'm going through a bit of that myself... it's very frustrating and disheartening. I would never think to copy someone elses designs. We'll just have to keep ahead of the game. Obviously these copy cats aren't that creative or they wouldn't need to copy someone elses work : )