I’m enjoying my morning coffee with satisfaction that many of you have come to my aid! I have learned lots about Etsy and would never order any printed material from them because they consider anything over 20 years old as vintage and therefore free for the taking. Copying and putting into a pdf format seems to be approved by Etsy who has completely ignored the crime of copyright infringement.
The result of this has been shocking and an eye opener for sure. We have MANY older patterns that I can make available for sale – should I go to the trouble of posting them for you to buy? I’d make them $5.00 each with a SASE for each one. Do you realize that stamps are now $.73 each and if I have to put the stamps on, each pattern will have to cost more initially.
This means work for me but I’m willing to do it so these patterns are not stolen by vendors who copy and sell them to the public.
What do you think?
I contacted Samanta also and give her my two cents!!! Hopefully your pattern will be taken off her etsy site soon. I feel so bad for you.
If you reprint the patterns, can you renew or update the date, making them ‘new’ so they are not vintage and cannot be copied?
What Etsy is allowing is WRONG. Shame on them.
Happy to buy from you direct and I think $5 is a super fair price to pay. Most patterns today have become more than $10 each. It’s so sad that you have to keep fighting for what is your property. I did complain to Etsy and also to Samantha, let’s hope she stops.
Well now, Miss Mary, that is quite a wonderful offer and a generous price!
When I was browsing around, wondering if others were also helping themselves to a less-than-honest business, I saw one of your patterns listed for $69.99!!! It was pattern #131, Washday, with some adorable overalls hanging on the clothesline. That’s quite a substantial price! It’s clear that your work is still enjoyed by so many of us 🙂
I love your patterns and would gladly cover more postage should you be willing to offer them!
Just heard on the news that postage stamps are going up in July to 78 cents if approved and I’m sure it will. Why not!!
We do have your back, Mary. I went back and reported Samantha, again! Your Country Threads pattern is still up. There is an icon at the bottom of the photograph of YOUR pattern where you can click on to report a problem. One of the options says something like this is being “used without my permission.” I couldn’t click on that but I did click on that it is against the law to copy a pattern, photograph, diagrams and instructions and sell it as your own. Samantha has the nerve to say “Designed by HomeEcHangout”. Guess a lot of us are riled up about someone taking advantage of you and Connie. I made it clear that the Pattern is by Mary Etherington and Connie Tesene of Country Threads and it is copyright protected and Etsy should NOT be selling it and Etsy should remove Samantha.
Mary I just don’t know what to think. If copying patterns and mailing them is something you want to do then by all means do so. But what about immoral people like Samantha? What will stop them? What good is a copyright if there is no reinforcement? You could work your life away but what will stop the Samantha’s? I just don’t know what to think about this situation other than I will NEVER purchase from Etsy.
I have also sent a message to Samantha and expressed my great disappointment that she would steal someone else’s design and pattern. Also sent a message to Etsy and asked why this copyright infringement is being allowed to continue. My hope is Etsy will respond to shut down the offending shop quickly. What’s the saying, one bad apple spoils the barrel. Mary, if you’re making Long Tall Chickens available, I would love to purchase from you! You have my support!
Mary Ellen – yes, look for Long Tall Chickens tonight!
I LOVE your patterns. I regularly cruise through Ebay to check out your patterns on there. ALL have been in their original packaging. And YES, I would buy patterns from you!!
Very strange of Etsy to bypass copyright laws. It’s a nice platform for @ home sewists and crafters. Too bad this gal is doing this. Mary, only do patterns if that is truly how you want to be spending your time.
It’s one thing to buy the pattern and then sell it when you no longer want it. But to actually copy it for sale is criminal. Hope all of the messages she’s received will make her think twice about what she’s doing.
Don’t know if you’re aware-Caitlyn Clark is on the David Letterman show (on Netflix). I just saw it-a fun watch. Didn’t even know David Letterman had a show on Netflix until I saw it in my newsfeed.
I watch that David letterman show often. I really enjoy it. Haven’t watched Caitlin’s interview yet. Looking forward to it!
Ginger – you’ll love Caitlin’s interview – so many funny parts – bowling, tossing grapes into a jar, going to the local coffee shop. I’m going to watch it again.
Etsy can’t legally make that decision. Copyright laws clearly state that quilt patterns are copyrighted until the death of the creator plus 75 years.
It sounds like Etsy is the one to be taken to task. It is not their decision to make “vintage” quilt patterns available to the general public. Etsy is the one allowing this to happen so they need to be accountable for their actions.
I’d love to purchase the chicken pattern in question from YOU, should you decide to make it available. Perhaps you should consider increasing the price point Count me in!.
Mary, I just heard on the radio this morning that the postage is going to go up to 78 cents next Wednesday ( I think that was the day). If things keep going as they are, a stamp will soon cost us $1. It is very upsetting that people do what they do these days to earn money off someone elses work. Hopefully, Samantha got the message.
Mary – The increase was announced Wednesday, but will not go into effect until July 13. Just wnted to clarify that I heard wrong.
I couldn’t figure out how to contact Samantha without logging in to her website.
I hope she is not as stinky as the bullseye pattern copycats were. Keep selling your patterns and we can put in a stamp in with our envelope. I have lots of your patterns and seven books but once in a while a new-to-me tickles my fancy.
I’m thinking she has removed it, I saw it early this morning, but I don’t see it now. I also sent her a nasty comment. I see she has one of Atkinson Designs pattern on there also.
I sent a message and would buy from you.
Mary, I also wrote a scathing note to this seller. I would definitely buy a pattern from you.
Didn’t you go through something like this a few years ago? It’s all about greed now.
I’m not techy enough to buy from Etsy or Pinterest or any other social media platform. I have to call directly.
It’s beautiful here today. I need to water after all the wind we’ve had. It shredded the rope on my flag pole…another thing to get fixed!!
Mary, I couldn’t find a place to leave a comment on that Etsy link which might be a good thing…it would have been triple X rated!!!
What nerve, and to use your name too.
I’d much rather buy from you so count me in. Thank you
Mary, I would buy more patterns from you!
Mary – Oh come on! Vintage is 20 years? Unbelievable! I wonder who made that decision at Etsy?
Samantha notes herself as the “designer”. She is not the designer of the quilt pattern nor is she the author of the books and cookbooks she copies and sells!
Apparently there are no ramifications at Etsy for copyright infringement. So Samantha will keep doing what she’s doing and make money off of other people’s designs and hard work. This is wrong on so many levels!
Have a good day everyone!
I think we can all agree that the greed of some people is just mind boggling. It takes some big cajones to blatantly steal someone’s property like this.
I’m on the bandwagon of ordering patterns from you but personally feel, given the effort involved, that you should be charging more. You have to make that copier earn its keep!
Moral standards have disappeared. It’s all about making an easy buck off someone else’s hard work.
Sad that some can profit from another’s work. I went to Etsy and reported the copyrighted infringement, and noted that in the seller’s details, she stated that it was designed by HomeEcHangout. I will go on and contact her directly as others have done. Sorry you have to deal with this, Mary.
I sent a message to the seller, hope it helps. I would love to purchase “My Sister’s House” if you have it!
Also, have you thought about offering pdf’s for purchase like you did before? I don’t know what is involved in regard to the extra work, cost, etc. Just a thought.
Joy – in the past I have tried to convert to pdf downloads, hired 3 different people to handle it and none would/could do it and there were more problems with people who didn’t know where their download went that I simply am not interested in trying it again.
I also sent a email to both Samantha and Etsy. I would only buy from the designer. I’m not an Etsy fan. Some of the sellers are very sketchy. We have your back
I feel like I’m living in a world where nothing surpasses me, nor the level people will stoop to line their own pockets. I’d pay you, the true designer for a pattern. Some times I wish I had a checklist of every pattern like DMC embroidery floss but that’s not possible. I had never seen this chicken pattern before but I’m not an Etsy shopper. I am thankful for the reader who did spot this for your attention so we all know it’s just another venue not to trust. You we absolutely can!
You should be paid for your work! Anything else is stealing. I would definitely buy from you.
I sent a message to her a well!
Sandra in Virginia
I’ll join the crowd – I would much rather buy from you. I have stopped using Etsy. I have had my credit card hacked after using Etsy and I believe it used to be a good format/platform for years and now it has been cheapened by greed and hackers. Many sellers are also becoming very discouraged and looking elsewhere.
I would much rather get the patterns from you and have in the past. Hang in there, Mary. Most of us quilters are the “nice” people in the world that wouldn’t think of doing something like this.
I woukd buy patterns from you, and gladly pay more than $5,considering what is involved…
I agree with you Beverly! Mary you are a breath of fresh air every day!!
I think my DIL would love that chicken pattern if you have it available.
I can’t believe Samantha would be selling reprints that are copyright material. Your copyright is no different than a book. How evil. I have many patterns that I could copy but talking to pattern designers that come to our guild to speak they are ok with sharing a quilt pattern but NOT coping and reselling
Mary, I just messaged Samantha. I too really get riled up when people do this.
Sandy
You can count me in. I’d be happy to pay you rather than someone else using your copyrighted work!