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You may recognize the design on the left, as I first shared it back in February in this blog post. The image on the right is from a fellow card seller, blogger and acquaintance of mine. She is closely connected to my internet circle and was a sponsor on my blog in February, when I first shared this stamp design.
I have had issues with this seller before and without going into too much detail, this was the best representation I could share of what has been going on. I’m most upset at this blatant lack of respect for creative integrity.
I hope speaking out about this will, in some small way, help reduce this growing problem more and more of us are facing. Originality and brand differentiation are key to having a successful business. Your work is protected  by copyright law the moment it is introduced into commerce and does not have to be registered to be protected. Do not be afraid to speak out for yourself when it comes to protecting your brand’s integrity. xo JA

**Just to clarify, the seller was NOT one of the sponsors included in my February group sponsor post.**

Join the discussion 28 Comments

  • thank you for being bold and true to yourself!

    lots of love to you!!

  • i love that you posted this. i have had my blog designs and other graphic work copied too and it’s not a nice feeling. i’ve never said anything, however, but sometimes i think the copiers are pretty stupid to think that i wouldn’t notice… especially being in the same “community” of people. kudos, friend!
    xo dana
    thewonderforest.com

  • Well they say some one copying you is the greatest form of flattery but it just shows a lack of creativity.
    Good for you, on standing up for yourself.
    Pippa xxx

  • Anonymous says:

    shameless

  • Unfortunately, one of the trade-offs of internet success: copycats and thieves 🙁

    I’m sorry this happened to you, I have definitely been there – though not with branding rips, but my illustrations have been ripped and sold/marketed by others. It’s infuriating. Especially when (like this) people are using your work to make money for themselves. Just shameful.

    People with no artistic integrity make me really, REALLY sad. I’m so sorry 🙁 But good for you for sharing this and speaking out.

    In my opinion, imitation/copying/stealing/ripping is NOT flattery, it’s downright douchey.

  • wow! you can’t get any more obvious than that! I hope you are able to get her under control. maybe this calling out of sorts will be a wake up call

    (ps there’s something wrong with one of your right sidebar ads…huge size on my screen for “affairs of the art”)

  • Wow it looks like they didn’t even make much attempt to maket his design their own. So sorry this happened to you.

  • Anonymous says:

    wait, i’m sorry, i can’t get over what you said in the first paragraph: this person is a fellow card seller and and an acquaintance of yours, AND she was a sponsor on your blog?! how does she sleep at night? she should be ashamed of herself.

  • Shannon says:

    Oh man, that is terrible. 🙁

  • Dawn says:

    I’m working on trying to develop a brand for myself. Though I do take inspiration from others, I still make a point to make something my own. I may like one element from this blogger, another element from that blogger. If I mix and match those ideas with my own creative thinking, I believe it is a solid creation. It is flattering, rather than stealing. I, too, get frustrated with branding and plagiarizing (mostly because I have had academic writing stolen). This image here is far too similar to be of another mind. I do hope that you are able to resolve this, and that the other individual can reach the ethical conclusion that she cannot do this.

  • this is one of the worst feelings in the world. i’ve experienced it and it is such a pain. so proud of you for standing up for your work! love you, girl and keep going strong!

  • Sydney says:

    I think this was a very classy way to go about blatant theft. Good for you Jewels for maintaining your integrity when (you know who) was unwilling to.

    Karma catches up to us all. So from that perspective, I feel sorry for what she has coming her way!

    Keep on keeping on and doing what you do. It’s original, it’s wonderful, and it is your dream and NO ONE can take that away from you.

    XOXOXO

  • Ami says:

    Having grown up in a family of crafters, artists and musicians I am sad at her lack of personal integrity and talent. It’s one thing to get an idea from someone, but completely different to balls-out steal their entire idea.

  • Heidi says:

    So, so sorry that this has happened!!! I know the feeling– two of my stationery designs were completely ripped off down to the last detail. One designer conceded and took their design down. The other bullied me by telling me that her husband was a copyright lawyer and said that I was trying to bully her despite her stationery being the EXACT same, even down to her sample colors in her listing being the same two colors.

    Anyway, I have to say that despite it all, your design is waaaaay better. I love your creativity and designs– they are so original! Keep up your hard work and good things will continue to come your way. And those that are trying to take that away from you will reap what they sow in the end.

  • emily says:

    This is so lame, Julie — I’m sorry you have to deal with it! It’s definitely a yucky feeling and experience. 🙁 Photographers do this too! It’s a fine line between inspiration and plagiarism, but a fellow L.A. photographer on Etsy and I are always checking in with each other to make sure our photographs of the same landmarks are different enough to maintain some artistic integrity. In a community with so much crossover and collaboration, this is definitely a challenge that everyone faces: getting their awesomeness ripped off by someone who can’t come up with it on their own! Not cool. This particular example is just SO blatant! I hope this is the end of it for your experiences with her.

  • i’m so sorry to hear that this happened, but good for you for posting this and getting it out there. creatives should have some integrity.

  • Tori says:

    Good for you!

    -Tori
    torigjohnson.blogspot.com

  • Brooke says:

    I hate that someone did this so to you, and so blatantly no less! It’s really not cool.
    I’ve recently come across a blogger of similar nature and am doing my best simply to distance myself from any association with her. It’s unfortunate.
    I definitely think you’ve taken the high road here.

    Hopefully this wont happen again!

  • Sandy D says:

    Preach it sistah! I’ve had blatant copying happen a LOT! it’s so hurtful and frustrating. Too bad people can’t just be original and feel they need to ride on others coattails. Let it slide off and keep your head up. Your brand and your cards are very recognizable and no one can take that away from you!

  • Gina says:

    Oh no, that sucks! You put your hard work and creativity into something and then someone just…takes it. I am sorry you have to deal with this!

  • Jenny says:

    That’s really too bad. My soft heart likes to give people the benefit of the doubt, but that is some pretty blatant copying. Good job pointing it out.

  • mistergandme says:

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  • Wow! That’s pretty darn similar…crazy! It’s really unfortunate that people are willing to steal people’s ideas like that… 🙁

    http://munchtalk.blogspot.com/

  • Laura Vale says:

    Part of what I do on my own blog is put my own spin on other creations I have found in some way (and a few I’ve thought up entirely on my own). First thing I do is name the post, second thing I do is say where it came from. The absolute LEAST she could’ve done is said that she got her idea from you and give you some kind of public homage.. but that’s to the point of identical copycat that she surpasses anything the crafting community would consider acceptable.

    Oh, and yours is much cuter than hers. 🙂

  • tia says:

    First off I want to thank you for your inspiration.. I read your blog religiously and hope to run one that is as successful one day. Secondly.. I agree with Laura.. you deserve credit for your work and more respect than that. Keep up the good work and thanks for informing us all on this.. I just wish I knew who she was for future reference 🙂

  • Hannah Teej says:

    It’s great you’re bringing this to attention! Is there any information on what you do when the copier is outside of your country? Do different rules apply? Say you’re in the US and they’re in Germany…?

    I haven’t experienced copying but I do want to gather as much information as possible on this. If you know the answer to this off the top of your head, I’d love if you’d pass it along.

    Hannah @ http://www.thelemonhive.com

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