I’m going out on a limb…..

When I say that, as can be seen from the recent worldwide economic collapse, protectionism doesn’t serve us well.

I believe that sharing is much more sustaining within the artistic community than protectionism.

That’s why none of my photos have copyright stamps embedded in them and I share my ideas freely.

No I don’t believe that anyone should go out and make an exact replica of my work and then claim it as their own.  But if they change any element what so ever and by doing so make it their own….. bless them.  Should they give me credit for the idea…. maybe ……..but I’m not all worried about it.

I just received yet another letter in which someone shares with me their great idea for a felting project but asks me to “keep it a secret” because they don’t want others to steal their idea.

Usually these letters include some form of request for my help in sharing techniques or advice for bringing said project to fruition.

What hubris!

I always answer the technical questions – usually in a post – because if someone is asking there’s probably someone else out there who wants to know too.

But felters let us all please realize

There is nothing new under the sun.

Whenever this happens I am always reminded of the quilter whose course on tessellation I attended years ago.  The course began with a long stern lecture about the evils of stealing intellectual property. I even had to sign a waiver promising not to use her patterns for other than personal use and to give her credit for the design if I were to enter said quilt in any competitions. 

Then she passed out the choices of patterns…….all direct rip offs of the works of Escher.

I rest my case.

I’m off my soapbox.

Feel free to get on yours!