What would happen if designers collected royalties on the use of their patterns like music in the music industry?
I remember working as a temp for a software company who had to pay a royalty on every track they used in their touch screen business.
Now how the composers or musicians (or whatever) of the music know who uses their works (unless declared by the person using it) then I’ve no idea. It’s the law and that’s what it says. I looked it up and this is how things stand in the UK.
Wouldn’t it be interesting if we (as designers) could collect on our work each time it was used in a similar manner? Maybe I’d be rich? Hmmm, doubt it.
Not sure why I’m thinking and writing this - must be all the rain we’ve been having getting into my 🧠brain!!!!
Not sure why I’m thinking and writing this - must be all the rain we’ve been having getting into my 🧠brain!!!!
9 comments:
It would be only fair. Getting rich? Maybe not, but covering the expenses for the material and the 1st of April treat would be nice... Wish you would get a pence for every time your name pops up though...
Your thinking too much. Otherwise there would be no free libraries.
I'd probably have to hire an accountant to sort everything out. Numbers other than simple addition and subtraction just get jumbled up in my brain!
When we buy a pattern, we are only buying the right to use a pattern for personal use. Some designers employ Angel Policies, and allow , so long as handmade, up to a certain amount to be made per year or per lifetime of the finished item for sale, some say not online , if they are doing it themselves with that design. This applies to graphic design, fonts, knitting and crochet, rubber stamps and dies etc.
Many assume they have the right to do whatever they want once they have purchased a pattern, but they have not purchased the design, just the pattern. Many designers will refuse permission to make a profit from their designs and that is their right, many others will sell licences, standard, cottage, extended depending upon numbers produced.
Copyright laws can be complicated, and sadly many designers find their rights trampled over. Look at Pinterest, it is almost as bad as Picassa Web ALbums used to be, and many Russian forums/galleries still are full of books/patterns scanned and uploaded, from knitting to tatting books, including Marilee Rockley's jewellery ones and Mary Konoir's Visual PAtterns.
Also regarding libraries, no you actually should not be sharing paid for patterns and books with friends, depriving designers/authors of sales, and definitely not running a public library. Authors do get reimbursements from official public libraries, they need licences to operate legally too.
Copyright and design law is a complicated world, but the lack of respect, and the attitudes of some who ignore the fact they are no better than shoplifters can be appalling. Giving credit where credit is due, even here pattern/tutorial is free, by linking to designer when you share your work etc. is just common decency.
You would certainly have a lot of extra cash.
I agree, Corina. Specially for the April 1st treat!! Chocolate, of course!!
Madtatter80 - libraries have to pay for their paper books and a licence for their ebooks too, I believe. I am thinking but that in itself is a rare occasion!!!
Diane - I’m hopeless with numbers too except for those connected to a pattern!!!
Ejay - thanks for your comment. You are so right about copyright/design/intellectual property. It’s a minefield. I hate Pinterest with a passion but realised that if I put links to my own patterns on there then it may help those who are honest and want to find the pattern. I’ve had my patterns published in several places under other people’s names and there’s nothing I can do about it. I have a Creative Commons license on my patterns but (as you know) I actively encourage people to contact me and work on ideas they have to take their ideas forward. I do not allow my designs to be sold online as I like to do that myself from time to time. I also hate copy tatters too who steal patterns by counting stitches on finished pieces instead of buying the actual pattern.
That would be more than reasonable since designers go through so much work that most people can't even imagine!!!
What would happen??? The same thing that happens to musicians. Sometimes that is a positive outcome, others not so positive. I, as an organist, no longer improvise. I found I kept playing music I'd memorized (other composers created) and didn't want to be accused of nefarious activities. I even am a bit nervous designing tatting patterns for the same reason. What if I unconciously channel someone else's design?????
The only musicians who get rich are those whose music is marketed to a public that consumes rather indiscriminately. Often, those musician get eaten up by their own work. Not a wonderful life in my book.
So....tat on....and try not to wish you were richer.
What would happen??? the same thing that happens to musicians. Sometimes that's a good thing, other times...not so good.
I, as an organist, no longer improvise in preformance situations. I found I kept playing things I'd memorized that other composers wrote. I didn't want to be accused of nefarious acitivities, so I have stopped improvising in public.
I'm a bit nervous designing tatting patterns for the same reason. What if I channel someone else's idea?
Musicians do sometimes get rich. Those are the artists who market to a public that consumes rather indiscriminately. Often the musician gets eaten up by their own work. Not a happy life!
So, tat on.....and try not to think about how rich you'd like to be.
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