Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[JSonnabend]

Rick -

I responded to your email just a few moments ago.  I was in Court much of yesterday.

I'm not sure where you're getting the "design patent" angle on all this.  The best protection for your jewelry is likely copyright, not design patents, although the latter may also offer some useful protection.

- Jeff

[Robert Elliott]

On the subject Jeff expressed 99% of all Jewelry being to0 similar or done before is likely, although I personally own six design Copyrights and will say this if you think you have a unique Jewelry design and although everyone thinks everything has been done why should I bother, well I did to and still sent in the $45.00 fee to find out I could receive a copyright. As Rick posted only 200 designs have their copyright or VA copyright. How many people have  not protected their designs.

[JSonnabend]

On the subject Jeff expressed 99% of all Jewelry being to0 similar or done before is likely, although I personally own six design Copyrights and will say this if you think you have a unique Jewelry design and although everyone thinks everything has been done why should I bother, well I did to and still sent in the $45.00 fee to find out I could receive a copyright. As Rick posted only 200 designs have their copyright or VA copyright. How many people have  not protected their designs.

Robert, you've misquoted me (I think you were paraphrasing Rick) and have some misconceptions in your statements.

First, "unique" has nothing to do with copyright.  Re-read what I've posted earlier in the thread for a more detailed explanation.

Second, people don't need to register copyrights to have copyright protection. Copyright is automatic -- you didn't "receive a copyright" by filing your form and paying your fee.  

I also don't buy the 200 registrations stat.  I'd like to see some support for that.

- Jeff

[A. Shoff]

  I just started to get into the whole beading craft and was almost completely ignorant about the whole copyright issue.  After reading an article in "Bead and Button", Aug. issue; I think I'm very confused now. I know that I can't make and sell an exact replica, but my impression about the copyright is that even if I had no way of knowing the piece of jewelry that I make is in any way similar to something already made by some one else I can not sell it for any profit?  So if I created a seed bead bracelet in the peyote stitch/brick stitch x wide and x long and I sell it, if the same bracelet was already out there with the same or similar dimensions and in a completely different or similar pattern, I've commited copyright infringment?  I don't want to break the law, I need to know what I can and can't do.

Thanks,
A. Shoff