Designers group regarding copyright violations?

Check with Dragon Dreams

Thanks!

Cyn

Is that an urban legend? I know she sued her own daughter for copyright violation, but from what we know of her, nothing would surprise me!

Pat P

violations.

How COULD I have forgotten the pineapple doileys!! We had sooooomuch fun with that one.

Gillian

lizard-gumbo wrote:

Well, to be quite honest, I wasn't around RCTN when all this MLI hoopla was going on, and don't really know the specifics of any of the rumors, particularly the ones where MLI sued NC. A Google only brought up the one I linked to which was interesting but not damning, IMO.

As an aside: I got tired of MLI's L&L stuff a while back, but have recently begun to appreciate her Butternut Road stuff. I like (and own) a goodly portion of Mirabilia's stuff, but when will I ever get to it? (Yeah, I know, that's everybody's complaint!)

With the comparison to Napster, I'll say this: If a song can't be found or bought at all (more than you'd think), I don't have a problem with file sharing; likewise, patterns. But if the pattern can be found and bought, I'd just as soon buy it.

So, what WAS the deal with MLI v NC?

It never ceases to amaze me how people confuse the term "swapping" (which can be perfectly legal) and digitally copying an original for another copy of an original.

There's nothing "swapping" about it. It's thievery.

Thanks for that link! The writer obviously got confused about some of the terminology. :-)

Dianne

lizard-gumbo wrote:

NP. I missed the "swap" reference, I guess. My pay-attentioner is broken today.

To me, a swap is "I have pattern X and I'll trade it for your pattern Y, if you want to."

I don't remember anything about the mother/daughter situation. I DO remember that article though, and jokes about pineapples and doiley's went on for a long time. I remember about that time MLI still posted here, and complained frequently about copyright violation. That was the year Walmart had one of her angels on the sides of display cases. IIRC that was also about time she started "Marilyn's Garden" Yahoo group. I must admit I was turned off by her, but I still would like to stitch Celtic Christmas, and some of the Butternut Rd/ Told In A Garden designs. probably never will, though.

Gillian

lizard-gumbo wrote:

I can't blame her for going after Wal-Mart. Give 'em an inch, and they'll take a mile.

I only have a couple of the L&Ls left (Christmas ones with NO ANGELS). I go through curing periods where what I bought 10 years ago just doesn't appeal to me anymore, or doesn't apply to my life the way it did when I bought it. The Butternut Road (only recently discovered the non-Indian-maiden ones) stuff is more where I'm at today.

I'm toying with trying Celtic Christmas because I'm just so curious about shading with RED. I mean, there is no such thing as "light red" and "dark red."

Yeah, but with PatternPiggies and others of their ilk, it's "I have copies of X that I'll trade for copies of Y, Z, A, B, and C." Darla Sacred cows make great hamburgers. Picture Trail Gallery:

I take it that you consider being a grandmother to be a "avoid jail" card? How very odd.

"What we know of her" - well, I know that she takes protection of her intellectual property rights very seriously, and I can't blame her for that. I also know that she's a talented artist. Most of her designs aren't really to my taste, but they are lovely.

I hadn't heard anything about a lawsuit against her daughter. I can't find any citations as to when, why or where such a lawsuit was filed. Can you point me to anything?

Thanks :-)

Gill Murray had some very interesting things to say about Re: Designers group regarding copyright violations?:

After some of her remarks in here, I'm literally *afraid* to go near her designs. I can't afford to take the risk of getting sued, and she came across so lawsuit-happy it seems almost a certainty that if you so much as look at one of hers without forking out the cover price, she'll target you.

Huh? If you've bought the pattern what would be the problem? The only reason I could see you 'worrying' about her going after you for copyright violation was if you knew you had illegally copied the pattern.

I've done a number of MLIs - original patterns - most I bought, and some I was given (by friends who had bought them and never gotten around to stitching) or swapped (not copied). No problems. And if you like her stuff, but can't afford the cost - she has lots of freebies in the form of the Christmas agels on her website.

To me it simply is a matter of right and wrong - think about how you would feel as a designer if all your hard work went for nothing because some scumbag decided to copy one of your patterns and distribute it to all her freinds.

Marg

Actually, Marilyn was quite thoughtful and generous when we started on the path of our Firehouse Angel using her pattern - even allowing us to make a photocopy for our use when stitching. What we did was ask and received permission. I was the one who made all the contacts with her and found her to be most caring, sharing, and willing once she understood our "mission."

All that MLI is trying to do is retain her property rights. As a holder of many copyrights, I can well understand her protectiveness. I've been trying to negotiate with Spinrite for 1960's designs, to no avail. I won't break the law and copy them . . . even though I have had many requests for a few of these patterns and I have originals of them. I'm saddened at the results of our talks, since these are world-class designs. Spinrite won't sell them, and simply told me to "start designing." :-)

Dianne