Hi Carol, I have searched this person out and it seems she has a forum where so sells copies of all designers charts, PS, CCN and more...not sure how we can report it!

Dear Carol more and more designers are having problems with people copying their designs wish I had a solution.

So sorry to hear that. Hope you'll find a solution.

Carol, I am so sorry this is happening to you too. I have read so many blog posts and articles about this problem and it makes me very sad.

I am so sorry, Carol. I wish people would be honest and upright but I guess its just too much to ask.

I believe people reap what they sow. They will get their own back in the end.

Oh, I hate that this has happened to you!! I have heard about those pattern sharing sites through some other designers blogs.
I sure hope you figure something out. Please keep us posted!

As a fellow designer, I am so sorry to hear this. Call her what she is - a thief! :( Cathryn

What a bunch of cr#@! Makes me angry to read there are such wicked, dishonest people out there! Perhaps a letter from an attorney to cease and desist is in order. IF you contact other designers she (?) is pirating, and work together... I don't know the rules about international copyrights. But I do know that one time a designer lambasted someone publicly and that stitcher was taken out of commission! Hugs to you!

Carol = that is just wrong. I hope you find out who she is and put a stop to her copying. Sending hugs and lots of support.

I am so sorry to hear that someone's stealing your gorgeous designs and selling them elsewhere. I hope karma gets them!

Carol, you can go to the admin of the sites she's "selling" them on and ask them to take them down and cite her copyright violation. And if you can figure out which of your customer's it was you can have your legal representative send her a cease & desist letter. Not sure if it will help, but it's always worth a try. Good luck!

Carol,
I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope something can be done. Thinking of you.

So sorry to hear this Carol! Seems like it's become a big complaint lately. It's greatly affecting the needlework market and community.

Carol are not selling any of yours at present? I was just wanting to see which ones I haven't got. thanks kath

Oh man! That really cheeses me off. Definitely get some legal advice on this. X

There's an article about copyright in World of Cross Stitching this month.
The problem with the "gold coin" forums is that they are based in countries where US and UK copyright rules aren't legally binding so it's hard to do anything about it.

There was an email campaign recently aimed at the person who passed on GoS's designs. Loads of people emailed her to give their opinions on her actions.

I am just flabbergasted! I would like to say I'm shocked, but I'm not. We hear of such thievery & dishonesty numerous times & it's absolutely disgusting. This nasty person has really put the kybosh on us consumers who presently are unable to enjoy your new designs. We're here for you Carol!
(Maureen in Canada)

Dear Carol,

I am so sorry this has happened to you. You may want to consider adding the person's email address to the pdf file in the design portion of the chart. Jardin Prive does this for their pdf charts and I've never had a problem with it. It's done in a manner where it doesn't interfere with the chart. I'd be willing to wait longer for the charts I purchase from you if you did that and heck, I'd even be willing to pay extra for it. :)


Hope you find a solution!

Oh no Carol! I am so sorry this has happened to you. It's terrible when it happens to ANY designer, but I think especially so to the 'smaller' designers so to speak.

I have drooled and lusted over many of your designs, but have not been able to buy anything new for quite some time. I was so appreciative when you offered the SAL not long ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I can't imagine purchasing charts in this manner. I hope it doesn't prevent you from continuing to design in the long run, you do such beautiful and simple designs!

I'm sorry this has happened. I think the thing you need to do is publicly shame here, as was done a while back with the Gift of Stitching magazine - the owner of the magazine published the name of the person who was selling her designs online. People in the forum searched her out, and came up with her e-mail address and blog, and called her out on it. She was pretty humiliated.

I'm sorry that she's put such a damper on your designing fun.

I'm sorry to hear that someone is copying your designs. Please don't stop creating designs for your fans ;)

Oh Carol, so sorry to hear this has happened to you. Hope there is a solution soon.

Sheesh, not you as well, Carol, I am so sorry.

I checked out that pattern-sharing illegal site when I heard about it on Ellen Chester's blog. It's totally disgusting and what really ticked me off is that is claims it has something like 23,000 members! They get credit for charts they illegally load up to the forum, then they spend their credit downloading other illegal patterns. What is the real topper is there is a copyright statement on the website itself!!! It's just plain awful, it is happening to most all of the designers.

Carol,
What a shame this woman has spoiled your enjoyment in designing and interfered with everyone else legitimately buying and enjoying your designs. I think she would have to be very naive not to know that sharing patterns is illegal. They are all doing it in a big way on that site and also don't seem to be bothered who knows about it. Then, they have the gall to be nasty and spiteful because you made a complaint!!

They are not a completely private site and even though you have to be a member to download charts anyone can see what's available and what people are blatantly asking for.

Maybe if she removes the images and apologises directly to you then this would help and it can be left at that. Once other designers hear that their charts are on this site I'm sure some of them will not be as forgiving.

I do hope it gets sorted out soon and this illegal site is closed down as others in the past have been.
Warm wishes. Angela xx

Dear Carol, I am so sorry and deeply saddened to read of the theft of your designs and those of so many other designers! What a truly shameful and deceitful thing for this person, who is a fellow stitcher at that, to do to you! Shame on them! I hope you are able to get your lovely designs off the sharing sites and put a stop to this theft! You will be in my thoughts and prayers... {{{Hugs}}} and Blessings ~ Lizzy ~

That is just awful.....your designs are lovely and the fact that someone thinks it is ok to steal them just makes me mad as heck!!! If you find them, go after them!!!!!

Carol I'm so sorry to read about this. For years I was totally oblivious to the fact these sites even existed. It saddens me you've been forced to stop selling your pdf charts, both for your loss of income, and the fact that pdf charts are the only way I can get designs from some European designers. I know The Primitve Hare puts the name and email of the person purchase the chart as a watermark on each page of the pdf. Maybe this is something you can look into.

Carol, I am so sorry that you are dealing with this. I am glad that you located the thief and called her out. Shame on her.

Hi Carol, I have not been reading blog updates for a couple of weeks (no time) and have just started again.
I am so sorry to see this happening, I just wish there was some way of actually prosecuting these people.

I get very upset as I have very limited funds and can only buy a new design every couple of months (of course my wish list gets longer all the time) but I do buy them and really appreciate all the hard work that goes into the designing.

I hope that this doesn't put you off producing new patterns, there are still people out there who buy and I do love seeing your new designs.