by jrob Moderator 01 May 2016

Hello my wonderful friends. This is a little public service announcement to remind you that if you are going to alter a design, please check the terms and conditions and copyright terms if posted separately at each web site to be sure you are not illegally altering a file whose copyright says you may not.

Other site owners become very irate with us for ignoring their rules and we want to be good neighbors.
Love ya, mean it!

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by airyfairy 03 May 2016

Is adding a name to personalize a design altering the design?

1 comment
jrob by jrob 03 May 2016

No. Altering involves taking something from the design, making it not a complete design or adding to it another dimension that changes the original intended look of the design. Remember not all copyright owners have these rules. It's our job to read them and determine whether what we want to do is acceptable.

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by nutshell 02 May 2016

So folks on this site post photos of projects they've made using designs from other sites. In some cases, they alter the designs before stitching them out. Digitizers from those other sites see the photos. In the cases where the designs were changed contrary to the terms of use for those designs, the digitizers get upset at... this website? That doesn't make sense to me. It's neighborly to have reminders such as this, but it's impossible for one website to (a) know every rule of every digitizer and (b) enforce every rule.

7 comments
sewist1 by sewist1 03 May 2016

Most digitizers have better things to do than spend their time with a magnifying glass inspecting projects on other peoples websites. In the event that digitizers use the same clipart how would they prove it was in fact their own design being used.

nutshell by nutshell 03 May 2016

@sewist1 - Yea, I agree. Also, if digitizers =are= going to spend their time looking for ToU violations, wouldn't they be more concerned about folks selling and/or giving away their designs vs folks stitching out their designs with an extra flower? Well, I guess the "other site owners" who are "irate" with this site have a lot of time on their hands.

sewist1 by sewist1 03 May 2016

nutshell I think most are happy to be able to sell designs in today's economic climate. They are not going to impose too strict conditions as they will not survive. A lot I purchase from are happy to see the ways their designs can be used and ask for photos.

jrob by jrob 03 May 2016

The clipart which may be the same is not the identifier. It's the digitizer's individual way of turning the design into embroidery. It's usually very easy to see. Some digitizers even have their trademark stitched into every design.

sewist1 by sewist1 04 May 2016

The ones who did start to put their initials into the designs put it into the underlay which wouldn't be visible when the design is on a project. They thought they would catch design "sharers" that way not someone changing a colour, adding text or leaving part of a design off.

sewist1 by sewist1 edited 04 May 2016

Wouldn't it be fairer if a digitizer wants to impose strict conditions that they display those conditions on the website with the designs so the customer is aware before he/she forks out their hard earned cash only to find when they open the file that they can't use the designs for the purpose they intended. Some copy write statements are rather hard to find on web pages as they are hidden away under other headings.

jrob by jrob 07 May 2016

I've never had a problem finding them. If there's a particular site you are interested in, I'll be happy to help you find the copyright terms.

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by noah 02 May 2016

I am always happy Vicki @basketkase designs always tells me to do whatever i wish with her design ****That kind of a site i love to buy from hugs Carolyn

1 comment
pennyhal2 by pennyhal2 03 May 2016

Meee tooo!

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by pennifold 02 May 2016

Thanks for this reminder Jerrilyn. It's a great help for all of us. Love Chris

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by liliana1 02 May 2016

Thanks for the information all

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by katydid 02 May 2016

Jrob, we both have the Bernina oval hoop 6x10, 145x 255. Many times , I have to make a design a bit smaller because the corners don't fit. I know not to do this with cross stitch as the sites say so, but I never considered it wrong. I must be more observant in the future. Would it offend the sites if we posted a list of the known sites that strictly prohibit alteration. I would not want to post any project that would get Veronika in trouble. Kay

6 comments
bevintex by bevintex 02 May 2016

Posting the sites wouldn't help. it all comes down to the consumer. What you do with it after you buy it. I don't think the embroidery police are going to come to your house with their magnifying glass and rulers to make sure you haven't shrunk or enlarged a design.

jrob by jrob edited 02 May 2016

Most of the sites say that their designs can not be increased or decreased by more than 10% or 20% so there's your permission to do that. We just need to watch the wording in the copyright area. I am concerned about posting in our projects area something that can not be altered without express permission. Altered being changing a design so that it isn't what was intended by the digitizer or copyright owner. Maybe you remember the cow we had here several years ago? Miss V had to go back to the person who created the artwork for permission to add another eye.
It'd be fine to pos

jrob by jrob 02 May 2016

to finish that dangling sentence.....
It'd be fine to post a list but it would include hundreds and hundreds of sites to figure out who required what and that's a lot of work. Want to volunteer? :) Hugs!

sewist1 by sewist1 02 May 2016

The 10% to 20% limit is to maintain the integrity of a design. Some designs just don't do well when re-sized. Sometimes designs have to be altered slightly due to the differences in hoop sizes of the different brands. They are not all exactly the same.

katydid by katydid 02 May 2016

Well, I was just trying to keep Veronika stress free.

jrob by jrob 03 May 2016

Thanks, Kay and we all appreciate that.

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by zoefzoef 02 May 2016

thanks for the reminder !

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by gerryvb 02 May 2016

thank you for tyhis advice, have a nice day yourself too :)

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by rescuer Moderator 02 May 2016

Most digitizers are very glad to answer questions concerning use of their designs. If you need help with that -- just ask us. We just hope you all remember to read the rules for using any designs (here or elsewhere) as there are a few digitizers that really don't want you to change anything. I know some designs cannot allow changes as the original artist does not want any changes -- including colors.

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by haleymax 01 May 2016

If you reduce or enlarge the design for your own personal use, is this considered to be altering the design? I know that adding or subtracting to the design would be considered altering. I'm just unsure about the reducing or enlargement of a design to fit the item being embroidered.
Thank you for the help. Hugs, Maxine

4 comments
rescuer by rescuer 01 May 2016

When in doubt, ask the digitizer. Some will gladly say OK while a few do not want any alterations done at all -- including colors.

bevintex by bevintex 02 May 2016

I have never seen a design that says you cannot change colors, if I ever do they can keep it . Has anyone seen a designer with this stipulation?

pennyhal2 by pennyhal2 02 May 2016

I no longer purchase from sites that have such high restrictions on their designs. Trying to figure out whether or not I can edit a design to meet my needs was too stressful.

sewist1 by sewist1 02 May 2016

No Bev I haven't seen a designer with that stipulation. If that was a stipulation would that mean we have to buy the same threads used by the digitizer?

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getEdited - SELECT
by bevintex edited 02 May 2016

If I did anything wrong please feel free to delete my post in projects. I will give more thought into posting projects in the future.


Bev


I didn't know if leaving the handle off,omitting the button holes or even adding a button was considered altering the design. It can get confusing

4 comments
sewist1 by sewist1 01 May 2016

Do you mean the bags Bev?
It says on the website:

<<3D Flower Zippered Bag. Fully lined with no raw edges on the inside. Flowers can also be used for other projects like pillows. Finished size of bag: 4.72 x 6.29 inch>>

rescuer by rescuer 01 May 2016

Bev, you know we would contact you via your Inbox...this is just a friendly reminder. Please don't take offense as I know none was intended.

jrob by jrob 02 May 2016

It's just what I said, Bev, a reminder that we need to be cautious. Many such sites have absolutely no disclaimers and then some of them are as rescuer says, you can't even change the colors. I will never pitch out a hint directed at someone- I contact each person individually so please don't take offense.

bevintex by bevintex 02 May 2016

No offense taken. Thank you for the reminder

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