Every creative and DIY blogger has their own unique style, right? I’d like to think so…And when it seems like they don’t? Perhaps some have just not found their sweet spot quite yet.
When it comes to hot trends in the creative world, sometimes the line between a copy and inspiration can be a bit blurred.
Everyone knows what a trend is…Whether it’s burlap, chevron, pennants or ruffles when something becomes very popular everyone wants to use it for inspiration in their own home.
We’re talking design trends and inspiration on the blog this week. Before we get to that though, I am interested. Where do you draw the line between what it means to follow a trend and what it means to copy? And, is it ever okay to simply copy?
Discuss.
P.S. Speaking of inspiration. Did you know that SNAP! is on Pinterest? Would love to connect with you there.
Tauni Everett
Creative Director at Tauni Everett
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Oh boy. Inspiration vs. copying is a lot like the art vs. craft debate. I’ll be interested to read other opinions.
For me, inspiration is taking an element of someone else’s creation and using it to guide yours – – maybe their color combination, a new material that they introduced, or just the vibe of their piece. Inspiration is a really beautiful thing … and a bit overwhelming now that we have the internet full of it! 🙂
Copying is seeing what someone else made and making that exact thing. I don’t have a problem with copying if you’re just doing it for yourself. As I type this, the “you may also like” section of your blog shows the fabric covered embroidery hoop inspiration boards. If I made those today and hung them in my workroom, it’s copying, but no big deal to me. I’m not presenting someone else’s idea as my own or taking traffic from their idea. If I made them this afternoon and then wrote a blogpost where I featured my big embroidery hoop idea, then that is copying and not cool.
That being said, I think if you make a project & blog about it, if you give proper credit/links to where you found the idea, you are still copying…but that to me seems more acceptable. Maybe for me, it’s just about your motivation & intention.
In that case, embroidery hoops are the trend. Using embroidery hoops would keep you on trend – – using them exactly as someone else did makes you a copy.
Well put, Catherine!
Perhaps the better words to use here are “plagiarize” and “paraphrase”. Forever and a day these phrases have had rules associated with them when we write. I would think (hope!) that same “rules” apply when we “plagiarize” or “paraphrase” someone’s idea when it isn’t written work.
Love that way of thinking about it, Camille! I would think that “plagiarize” has the same negative connotation for most people. I was always taught to think of it as stealing someone’s creation…and that’s what copying is for artists, too.
I like the way you put that, Catherine! Gold star.
Even if I give credit back to the ‘original’ designer, whose to say their design is ‘the’ original? I do believe in giving credit where it is due, just saying that can be a tricky thing to figure out.
Copy infringement is especially bad in my home state of Utah. I once had a boss who left one of my high-end landscape design plans with a prospective ‘client’. I never leave my drawings with anyone who doesn’t ‘own’ them. The guy made a copy of my plan, including the detailed planting list, then told us pick up my plan as he decided he didn’t need a professional design after all. That’s stealing. I have learned from this mistake though. Whenever I post one of my drawings on my website, I never include the planting plan or the design details- just a general overview.
I think people will always take inspiration or downright copies of your work. If you don’t want to be copied, be careful in how much detail you post. Sometimes we make it easy to steal from us. I give away A LOT of professional advice regarding design for free online and in person but if something represents a ton of work and effort that’s custom to a client, I keep most if it under wraps. If you post a tutorial, it’s assumed that the intent is for others to copy it and use it as they wish (like the pettiskirt tutorial I posted a few years ago- I did that with the expectation others would make them and use the information however they wished).
I believe that a big part of why we chose to be public bloggers is so that we CAN inspire others with our creative works. Every photo we post, every sketch or color combination, even our words are at risk every single time. It really is saddening to think that way, but it is true. All we can do is hope that we are targeting readers who WANT true inspiration. It really is all up to the reader at this point, and their choice. I am still fairly new to blogging, and I still have much I can learn about watermarking, and other precautions, but having been copied before, I know that awful feeling of shock. But the positive feedback I have gotten from people who’ve enjoyed my creations is worth so much more to me than one person who wronged me. 🙂
Its okay to copy so long as you give credit where credit is due. You can’t claim your idea as an original if you know its not! Even if you slightly tweak an idea or use it as a source of inspiration, you should always give credit to the original. Good karma. 😉
I get annoyed when people copy an idea AND provide a tutorial for it. Even if they give credit, they’ve stolen the traffic the original project deserves because who’s going to click through to see the exact same thing when they have all they need right in front of them?
I agree on this one, I think showing the finished item then sending them to original tutorial is best.
I agree as well, and I did just that for some no-sew roman shades I made (following a tutorial by 365 Days to Simplicity). I said right on my post – I’m not going to write a tutorial because I got this from *here*.
I also figure…why re-do work (take the time to write a tutorial) that someone else has already done!?
Ashley, Loved your comment. I think that is a great way to not only share your creation, but give credit to the inspiration!
xoxo
Tauni
I have nor problem with copying…unless you’re claiming it as your own.
I really think Cynthia has a very good point. I have tried to do some research into actual copyright laws- especially where patterns and such are concerned. Some people try to put restrictions on what you can or can’t do with their tutorials. The fact of the matter is- you can copyright the images and text, but the actual knowledge and physical object you created can’t be copyrighted (unless it’s actual art) Anything useful- ironing board covers for example or clothes- cannot be copyrighted. This is why you see knock-offs of the Oscar outfits seemingly the next day. (and also why they are secretive about it leading up to events) There is nothing the designers can do about it. If you don’t want someone making the same thing you did- don’t post the step by step instructions of what you’re doing. If you don’t want the item copied exactly- be careful how many and what kinds of pictures you post about it. It’s similar to “If you want someone to buy the cow, don’t give them the milk for free”. You can’t post a tutorial and say “you can use it for this, but not for this”. It’s like saying “you can buy this car, but you can’t drive it on Sundays or over 80 mph”. That being said, you CANNOT copy someone pictures or text from their blog. You can’t take their tutorial and simply change a couple of words and call it your own. If you’re putting something on the internet, you need to know what rights you have and what rights you don’t have. But as others have said, Karma has a way of getting around. If all you’re doing is stealing others’ ideas and passing them off as your own- you’re not going to get very far before it comes back around to bite you. 🙂
Well put, Amy!
Amy, thanks so much for your comment! It sounds like you’ve put a lot of time and effort into considering this…I love it! I really appreciate your willingness to weigh in and share your thoughts here. You should write up a guest post on this topic. I think people would love your perspective.
xoxo
Tauni
I had an English teacher once say to me the that every thought and wirtten idea has been done before. You just put your own spin on it. I think the same can be said of the crafting. We just put our spin on the craft. But I think if you know that someone has done something like what you have presented you should give credit. There are times when I have this great idea and later I found it worked up by someone and posted. I think this is a tricky issure. With blogging coming on so strong there is going to be more and more craft toes stepped on.
So what is the answer ? In the old days most of our crafts never made it out of the neighborhood and now hit a button and the whole world can see you creation. If in question give credit.
Personally, if you think of something on your own and later find out that someone else created a similar item and has postede it, I don’t think you need to credit their work as you didn’t use their work to make yours. You didn’t copy their idea – – you just thought of a similar one, perhaps at a similar time. Great minds do think alike and most things have been done before, so it’s difficult to be completely original.
Catherine,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on copy versus inspiration. I tend to agree with you. It’s difficult to be completely original, even when you’ve made something you’ve never, ever seen before. Many times when I show my mom something I think it completely innovative she says she’s seen it before…years ago!
xoxo
Tauni
Valerie,
Thanks so much for sharing your insight. I agree, this is a tricky subject which is one of the reasons I felt so strongly about posing this as a question to the community at large.
At the end of the day, I feel that if we simply err on the side of support and sharing we’re bound to do well.
xoxo
Tauni
I have actually been thinking about this a lot lately.. I have been copied, and I have to say, I agree with those above that if we put our stuff out there, with details, we are bound to be copied. I also like to look at it as being payed a nice compliment in a way.. Someone must have really liked what we did to take the time to copy it.
However if people are copying your craft or whatever, to make a bunch and sell them, that infuriates me.
I also live in Utah, and feel that we are amongst lots of copycats! I have been a crafter for years, I have sold things at numerous boutiques. I stopped making and selling things about 3 yrs ago, when a girl took a diaper cake I had made apart right in front of me, to see exactly how I had put it together. She looked at her friend, who had been studying something else I had made and said, “let’s go see what else we can find to make for our boutique.” WHAT! I was so mad, that was the last straw for me.
Now I just make things, decorate or paint things to inspire, and if you are going to totally copy me, I can’t stop you, but like someone said above.. KARMA!
No matter what, there are going to be lots of different versions of a craft, even when you think your idea is totally original, I bet you find something similar if you search for it. We are humans, we are smart, and ladies, weather you like it or not, we are VERY similar!
I look at the blog business as a way to lift each other up, help each other out, and doing what we can to make someone else’s day a little brighter. The negative nancy’s and selfish copycats are out there, no matter where you go, but we can chose to take the high road every time!
*I love you all my fellow crafty bloggers, and I can’t wait to be ‘inspired’ by you!!
Andrea,
What a great perspective! I too live in Utah and I think every time I have been to a market I have heard, “I could make that,” but wow, someone going to the lengths you experienced is CRAZY!
Perhaps my favorite comment was the last bit. I think that we do have a great opportunity to lift, inspire and support one another.
Thank you so much for being a party of this conversation!
xoxo
Tauni
I think of copying like using a Xerox machine. The picture that comes out is an exact copy of the original. Inspiration is when you see something that gives you, well, an inspiration. Like in my stuff, purses are all basically the same thing. A pouch to carry our stuff. But the difference comes in size, shape, color, etc. I may see a purse that blows me away because of it’s shape, but I would never dream of making a “xerox” of it to sell. I have been known to blog about something terrific I saw someone else make, but I would never try to pass it off as mine. Not only is that copying, it is stealing!
Lynda, Yours is one of my favorite comments. What a great analogy. I think that you are exactly right.
Thank you so much for sharing and being a part of this conversation!
xoxo
Tauni
I, too, have been thinking about this topic a lot lately. I like to think I am very original, and like to contribute fresh and unique content to the blogosphere. Why post something that has been done millions of times. I sometimes get very attached to my ideas and get grumpy when I see similar things elsewhere–only to go back to my original post and realize that my very original idea was inspired by someone else. I sometimes wonder if I am as creative as I think I am, or if I just have a really good memory.
My children had to create their own invention for a school project. They came up with some pretty great ideas, but each time we googled their ideas, we found a similar product was available somewhere else. It was an original idea to them, but others had come up with the same original idea.
As much as I think it is important to be unique and use your own imagination and originality, I will say that copying isn’t all bad. Here’s why: Can you imagine if no one was allowed to used previously discovered or invented technologies in their inventions? If everyone had to start at the wheel? There is no way we’d have the amazing technologies that we have to day. They are all built upon layers of innovation from those who went before. Sometimes originality can be taking lots of other people’s good ideas and putting them together for a powerful effect. Or adding a layer of innovation on someone else’s fantastic idea.
Kendra, Thanks so much for your very thoughtful comment on this issue. I think the very best stand upon the shoulders of those who’ve gone before them…Whether it’s children building upon their parents success, or a great designer building upon great design!
xoxo
Tauni
When I went to fashion design school years ago we had access to something called trend reports, a service the school subscribed to that would give detailed reports and drawings of what styles and colors would be fashionable in 2 to 3 seasons. Many designers from places like Anthropologie and Gap use these reports. Now who starts the trends? There are little seeds planted in cities like New York and Paris and Tokyo. Micro trends that are picked up by the researchers from the trend companies. That burlap that is so popular now? That trend probably first started in Tokyo or Paris 4 years ago and is now found in mass produced stores. Once it is in Target it’s already on its way out, sorry!Like owls and Rachel Ashwell. I love both but they are over exposed now. I realize this is off subject but I guess my point is, is copying an idea another blogger perhaps copied from a store like Anthropologie REALLY copying? They probably stole their ideas from some random blogger anyway. We each have our own way of making something and if my tutorial is similar to something someone else has posted it doesn’t mean it is copying because it is a rare idea that is totally original. I guess that is where creative copyright laws come in . Now using someone else’s photos, writing and content is pure copying and should be protected by law. How horrible would it be to see your photos on someone else’s website being passed off as their work?
Justine, I think your comment was right on point and I am really glad you are putting this out here…I think you’re right. There is so much out there, it can be difficult to be TOTALLY original. AND I though I’ve seen too much of it, I was a little sad to see chevron all over Target last week…It is definitely on its last leg.
Having said that, it would NEVER be appropriate for ANYONE to completely copy and past a blog post.
I wish the darn trend reports weren’t so expensive. I checked into it and they are thousands of dollars per report! Prior to posting this week though, I searched and searched to try and catch as much of the reports that were made public as possible. Jealous you’ve been able to see them.
xoxo
I am new to blogging. I was just browsing regarding inspiration and how to give credit to the tutorials from youtube from which i got inspired ,and made two popup greeting cards(i made modifications according to my need and using the cards for personal use only but wanted to give credit to the original video). I just came across this post. The comments are very informative. Thank you for intiating this topic.