Copyright and Deviant Art

DeviantArt.com is a website devoted to art, so of course they are very interested in intellectual property rights and protecting an artist's works from theft of various kinds.  Recently they posted a discussion (with many links for further reading) about copyright and the Internet, and much of this pertains to needlepoint designs.  You can see their presentation here.
http://protectart.deviantart.com/journal/The-Art-Theft-Discussion-544490149

We all know the impact that cross stitch designers have felt from rampant copying and distribution of their work.  They have lost thousands (and even tens of thousands) of dollars from this practice, and it has driven many designers out of business.  Needlepoint designs have also been impacted by copyright violations but in a different way.  The most obvious similarities to what has happened to the cross stitch world are the copying of stitch guides and charts to be sold on eBay and Etsy or handed out among friends.  I think the rampant copyright violation of unlicensed logos and brand names may catch up with some painted canvas designers and cause them great financial harm eventually.  But that is my opinion only.  Needlepoint is under the radar to some extent and that may protect the law breakers from being noticed by those they are ripping off as long as they stay away from Disney and Harry Potter items.  (These companies are well known for having legal teams dedicated to protecting their intellectual property and prosecuting violators.)

Regardless of all that, it is smart for all of us to educate ourselves about copyright and what's legal and what isn't.  The best discussion of copyright I know that talks directly about copyright in the world of needlepoint in the United States is on the Needlepoint Now website.  If you haven't read this, you probably should.
https://www.needlepointnow.com/advertising/copyright/

Thanks for staying legal and ethical!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 20, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Frank and HIs Needlepoint Pillow

Frank's Bathroom with Needlepoint Pillow

While doing something totally unrelated I stumbled across the announcement that Frank Sinatra's Villa Maggio in Calfornia is for sale. What is it that makes us stop and stare at celebrity homes?  Whatever it is, I'm glad I looked because I found a needlepoint pillow.  The motto on it says 'One Can Never Have Enough Dogs" and there is a paw print border and three pooches in the center with the lettering.  Now I have no idea if Frank Sinatra actually owned dogs (many of these homes are styled to make them sell) but I liked the pillow and wanted to share it.
http://www.lonny.com/Frank+Sinatra's+California+Compound+Is+For+Sale?utm_source=yaho&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Yaho-LN-US-Desktop-Specials-Home-Frank-Sinatra

The house is in Pinyon Crest in the Coachella Valley and is selling for just under $4 million.  It was built in 1970, but since several people have owned the house since Frank had it built, this probably isn't really his pillow.  I did find a photo of his bedroom in another house and there are four needlepoint pillows there.  The two blue ones both seem to say "Frank" while the chair pillows say "You Dirty Rat" and "Don't Get Mad Get Even."
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/93027548523048208/

Fun!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 9, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.