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Another lesson learned the hard way........

3/15/2016

10 Comments

 
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I’m perturbed.  I’ve been caught committing a copyright infraction and although I pleaded innocent through stupidity, I was forced to pay a fine of $178.00 for the use of a cartoon I found on Facebook to use as a picture for a blog about gardening.  The blog was personal, and I wasn’t using the image to make money but apparently you can use CARTOONSTOCK images on Facebook, pass them around like canopies on a tray for all to sample and enjoy, but stick it on a blog, even a personal one and you’ve been caught with your copyright pants down. 

I know about copyright, I’m in a business that knows full well what it means and it annoys the heck out of me every time I discover I’ve been ripped off, but somehow I thought this was different.  I was wrong.   Shane gave me a lecture about what I can and cannot use from the internet so now I know.  I’m smart in some things but this totally went right over my head. 

All the pictures in the internet are untouchable if they contain a company label.  In my stupid brain, I believed if I used a cartoon I was advertising them.  What a putz! I didn’t know you had to purchase the rights to use them on a blog.  I’m angry with myself for not thinking it through and of course, I will never do it again.  But…. paying $178.00 today was excessive for the use of their itty bitty drawing of two stick women discussing weeds.  Perhaps these companies splash their cartoons all over the map to trap people into using them so they can then track and fine them.  Really, who would pay $178.00 for such a dinky design?  I can’t get that price for detailed patterns that take hours to draw, let alone a poor sketch that took five minutes!

So from now on no funny cartoons with my stories.  I called the License Compliance Service company that is working on behalf of CartoonStock Ltd. today to see if I could get a reprieve for my first offense but I could tell they were well prepared. It was icy and they were firm.  They said it was not to be used by Social Media.  I asked why their image could be plastered all over FaceBook but not a personal story on a blog.  The woman said I own my website.  Apparently we don’t own our FB pages?   It sure hurt to pay that money; the costly lesson is like a stab to the heart, after the blade ricocheted off my wallet. 

I think wow, if I went after everyone that copied and ripped off my designs over the years, with that kind of sledge hammer attitude, and collected that kind of penalty for each, why I’d be down in the Bahamas sucking on Goombay Smashes through a big long straw.  I’d be retired and sitting on a cushy bank wad.  
    
I’m one of those people who respect copyright law in all walks of life.  Others are out there ripping stuff off all over the place and get away with it….I feel sort of picked on. Like getting pregnant the first time you have sex at 15, not fair!  It wasn’t like I was making money off my weed story.  This wasn’t a major crime, but the heft of the fine seemed a bit over the top.  I would have paid $25.00, said “oops I’m so sorry, I will never do it again” and not let it burn my arse for the rest of the evening.  I just think $178.00 is excessive.  Yes, I know I’m wrong and don’t have a leg to stand on….I’ll get over it….. 

I’m writing this for cathartic purposes and to spread the awareness so no one else has to learn the hard way! 

On a happy note, I'll finish my "Hook Nook" Pillow this evening.  I'm loving how the two K's connect. 


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10 Comments
Pam
3/15/2016 03:40:20 pm

Wow thanks for sharing and very sorry about the fine.

Reply
Adena
3/15/2016 03:40:48 pm

Ouch!

Reply
claire
3/15/2016 04:35:56 pm

WOW..just when you're feeling better -they kick you in the walletus..meanies but interesting for those of us who tend to use what we like freely. You pay but we learn from it ..
Don't stress and Gombay Smashes are terrible fattening!
Claire

Reply
Betsy Boltik
3/15/2016 06:58:43 pm

Damn that seems excessive. 178.00 is a lot of money to most of us. Sorry this happened to you.

Reply
Tina Toney
3/15/2016 08:21:52 pm

I too have had designs copied without my permission but never bothered to track down the offenders. I just decided to not let it bother me. I thank you for posting this as its good for all of us to be aware of. Plus I had no idea of the loopholes you described.

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Patricia
3/16/2016 10:22:37 am

Geez that is a chunk of cash! I guess it is meant to make an impression. Sorry this has happened to you.

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Dick Barr link
3/17/2016 11:01:00 am

Dammit! Sorry for your trouble.Probably some bastard from NJ or LA without a heart or soul. Rack it up to a lesson hard learned. (easy for me to say , huh?) I tell you what, I will send in a bit of an order next time I need something to defray some of your cost and show my appreciation for the time you took to clue us in. Keep fighting the good fight, Christine

Reply
Katzcradul link
3/18/2016 04:03:46 pm

Noted! I'm glad to learn this lesson...I'm sorry it's at your expense.

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Karen Owen
4/7/2016 10:42:34 am

I know law, patent and intellectual property law, and, you don't even have to know what you did, and look at the Canadian Company who paid millions for an idea written on paper. Not even a photo type made yet, but, it was a licensed idea.

Had "they" known what I made in Art 101 at college, I guess I would have been paying fines, too. Really, so persnickety!

And on a stick figure. I am grinning though with the memories of how many of my elders saying things like and the call the ART! POOEY. Some days you got to wonder...Thank you for sharing your smarting story.

Reply
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    Max Anderson, Australia, recipient of my Nova Scotia Treasures rug.  An award of excellence for promoting Canada through his writing.  
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