I’ve been thinking about this new endeavor, and wondering how long I could sustain it, and also the ethical implications of it, so I’ve created a few rules for myself.
1) I won’t post something made by the artist. If someone is hand making artwork, I think it would be totally scummy of me to come along and say “I can totally make that myself, why spend the money?” Because it’s their artwork. Maybe I could have made that collage if I was copying it, but I didn’t make it because it’s their expression and their idea.
2) I won’t post something sold by a designer owned company. I’ve started businesses in this market before and I know what an uphill battle it is. So I won’t undermine anybody who is trying to get started. I may use something from this group as inspiration, or a jumping off point, but I won’t copy it.
3) I will post stuff that is mass produced and/or crazy overpriced. Since the intent behind this search is to inspire myself and others to make something artistic with our own two hands, to save money and use existing materials instead of consuming consuming consuming, to spend more time in my own personal expression instead of adopting someone else’s, I don’t see anything wrong with “knocking off” something mass produced. Especially since I’m doing this for personal use or instruction. If anyone disagrees with me I’d love to discuss it.
4) I won’t sell anything recognizable as a “knock off.” I hope to develop an etsy shop in the future, and I won’t put anything up there that I copy from another source. I might use stuff
as a jumping off point, but if I sell it, it will be a pattern or style I develop, in accordance with copyright law.
5) I will post updates and finished projects. If I don’t follow through on some of these things, then really I’m only encouraging others to copy for no good reason. I don’t plan to copy a design from start to finish, but to discover new ways of production, interpret designs in my own way, work some bugs out and instruct in craft techniques. If all I do is post pictures that look reproduceable, then all of my talk about lofty ambitions is just to make me feel like it’s OK to copy someone else’s work.
That makes me feel better. I’m kind of fascinated by the thought of this. Where is the line between inspiration and stealing? What source can I use and what sources would be unethical? Am I totally overthinking something I might not follow through with anyway? Probably.