Who's been ripped off?

[David Patchen]

Anyone here had their original designs ripped off? I stopped updating my website over a year ago because I was getting concerned that my newest work would "inspire" someone a bit too much and I'd get ripped off. Some ppl think I'm paranoid, others think it's warranted.

Anyone ever actually get ripped off? (Other than the Kaindl/Chihuly thing).

[Brian Gingras]

We update our catalog section weekly...it's the only way to keep the new accounts rolling in. If we were to stop updating it, we wouldn't have the volume of orders we have now.

[Ben Solwitz]

Rick Satava sued Chris Lowry for ripping off his jellyfish, didn't go so well though, they're both still making them. I don't think not updating your website will keep anyone from ripping you off, just make it a little tougher. People have to find out about your work somehow if you want them to buy it, and some of those people will probably be glass artists looking for something to sell.

[Steve Stadelman]

Chris started making jellies because he got it from working with Bill and Sally Worchester, there are many examples that predate the last century.

I like Rick and both Chris's and Bill and Sally.

[David Patchen]

Point of clarification: I do keep an updated "Available work" website that I direct galleries to so they can place orders for work. This website is private and not linked from my normal for-the-public website. This public one is the one I don't update.

[Ben Solwitz]

I imagine some of those galleries that carry your work put it online don't they? I saw some pieces on Kela's website that I didn't see on your personal site.

[Brian Gingras]

our gallery site, and public site are the same, except only registered accounts can see the prices. We get requests for pieces on the site, and direct them to the gallery near them that has it...keeps the gallery happy. If we only had old work, then the public wouldn't see anything new that we offer, the "brand" would start to look stale, etc etc...

[Wes Hunting]

Push your work to a level where no one can rip you off.

[Brian Gingras]

or where no one can afford to rip it off :)...We keep getting the same line "We couldn't make it for that"...my response has always been "good, then you won't, will you?" :)

[Doug Sheridan]

I guess the answer to your original question is no? Were you meaning by the asians? Or by Americans? It usually takes evidence of an enormous amount of sales to get ripped by off-shore folks. Or are you worried about your peers?

[Brian Gingras]

well, you can block foreign IP's from even seeing your site if you wish...I routinely block entire IP blocks if I see any access from that area. I have not had the time to lookup and block most countries, but will eventually narrow it down to only allow IP's in the US, Canada, and UK more than likely.

[Eben Horton]

My wholesale business is called Perpetual Flux for a reason. :) always flowing.. always changing...never stagnant.

[Jordan Kube]

You're joking right? Who "inspired" you?

What exactly are you afraid of people copying? You already have a body of work that is time consuming to make. It seems to me that you set a high standard for yourself as far as defects. Wes has it right on the money I think. It always seems like "copies" of work usually come out second rate anyway. The copier not having the drive and intial creative inspiration in the first place.

[David Patchen]

I was thinking more American artists, not China.

Joking? Not at all. My current designs are inspired more by stuff under the sea than anything. If you're referring to Italians, they have done just about everything with cane and murrine. If you don't want to be inspired by Italian glass, then you might as well never work with cane and murrine. I gladly credit them with a great deal of inspiration--especially the time I spent in Murano, but more for technique then design.

EDIT: Jordan, one of the things I've not yet updated on my website is removing wavy-necked pieces as I don't make them anymore. Perhaps this is what you're commenting on. I've not made any for a couple of years because while my composition/design is significantly different and the shape was done by many before Lino, no one seems to get that. When it comes to glass (unlike other art) people don't seem to acknowlege both the influence *and* what you've done to take it in another direction. Painting, metal, etc. are all more sophisticated than our market.

[Jordan Kube]

My point was not to worry about it. :)

[Garner Britt]

Who's been ripped off? Those that came before us, at least the ones that passed on the traditional craft and techniques, and those that invented new approaches which we use all the time. My point is that I don't think there are many original ideas left in art and especially in craft.

I can think of a bunch of glassblower's work that I admire (your's included) but can't think of many that are doing anything truly their own, totally original, absolutely unique and ground breaking. If one was to make work such as that, who'd want to or be able to copy it? Even if they did/could, would there be enough demand in the market to justify doing so? I suppose that if there was, the "original" maker should probably make more work....

If you get knocked off by someone, take it as a compliment, if they make a ton of money off it and you can prove that they ripped of your original design, sue em....

.I routinely block entire IP blocks if I see any access from that area. I have not had the time to lookup and block most countries, but will eventually narrow it down to only allow IP's in the US, Canada, and UK more than likely.

Ok, for fear of offending, I feel this is bordering on paranoia. If you fear your work being ripped off by China that assumes that they would be able to make it and that the market demands more/cheaper glass of the style you make. If that's the case, maybe your business model should include moving some production to China. Outsourcing production would allow more design time and creation of new bodies of work and techniques, and the money would roll right in.

Just my thoughts, I am not trying to make a living blowing glass, just trying to get it to pay for itself. I'm sure I'm ripping some glassblowers off by making shapes like drinking glasses, vases, and bowls. I mostly don't envy those blowing glass as a day job, trying to make a living at it and trying to compete in ever tight markets, a poor economy and skyrocketing energy prices.....



Rant over

garner

[R. Scott Johnson]

i heard a story of a kaleidoscope maker in the 70's that had a nice business going with really original designs. he then got knocked off by a Chinese company that came back here and sold the things for half the price. his business was really hurt, but he was not to be undone though. so he went to China himself with some of the knockoffs, and the end of the story was he found another company that could knock off the knockoffs. he finally made big bucks here selling the second generation knockoffs.

i hope its a true story because i really like the outcome.

[Wes Hunting]

IMHO artists are just not as important as we all would like to believe.

Leave all the "who is copying who" to the glass art enthusiasts, it jazzes up thier lives, gives them something to discuss, and helps keep them mentally regular.

[Brian Gingras]

Ok, for fear of offending, I feel this is bordering on paranoia. If you fear your work being ripped off by China that assumes that they would be able to make it and that the market demands more/cheaper glass of the style you make. If that's the case, maybe your business model should include moving some production to China. Outsourcing production would allow more design time and creation of new bodies of work and techniques, and the money would roll right in.

Just my thoughts, I am not trying to make a living blowing glass, just trying to get it to pay for itself. I'm sure I'm ripping some glassblowers off by making shapes like drinking glasses, vases, and bowls. I mostly don't envy those blowing glass as a day job, trying to make a living at it and trying to compete in ever tight markets, a poor economy and skyrocketing energy prices.....

Rant over

garner[/QUOTE]


Well part of it is a bandwidth issue...we use the internet for marketing, and when we get hits from these areas they tend to take away from what our overall marketing impact appears to be ...I sent an email newsletter 2 hours ago and we are tracking the responses currently. I looking to see what regions of the country seem most interested, who's looking at what on the site, etc...now if we get hit with an overseas ip, and it happens to scan the site 300 times, it really messes with my analysis of the effectiveness of the email campaign...plus we only ship to a select area, so why would I want other regions having access...when you pay for bandwidth on a site, it becomes more of an issue. It's also about blocking rogue spiders from crawling the site over and over and over again, and those all seem to be originating from the same sections of the world recently.

By the way, I spend about 10% of my work week marketing in such a fashion. . This is making the studio make money.