A Few Thoughts on This Issue

I’ve been in the design industry for a lot of years. I started selling digital scrapbooking products back in like ’04 or ’05. I have seen piracy. A LOT. You become numb to it to a certain extent. I don’t support SOPA or PIPA. I think it is written so poorly. I believe there needs to be more protection from piracy, but these acts are not the way.

This weekend, I was once again notified of someone illegally sharing my design files. I used to get angry and mad and revengeful. Since moving over int0 the photography design side of things, I don’t see the notifications nearly as much as the digi scrap side. I think at one point we were being notified monthly of someone else sharing our hard work. I now tend to be more of a shake-your-head, disappointed, tsk tsk mentality. I’m sure that’s not the fighting way that we as artists should be. But, with crappy laws, and these things costing money, while we’re all just not making the money we used to…however.

When you’re notified that the person sharing your files is someone you have communicated with in the past, and find out that they too are a designer and photographer, it takes it to a whole other level. I’ll admit, I am not revengeful or spiteful like I was in my youth. As I approach the age of 40, I believe in karma more and more. I tend to let the crazy ways that be take care of things. Sure, I want artists to be protected, and I want to fight. So, I decided for this situation I’d just share what I learned, and what makes this even harder to swallow.

Robyn Pollman of Paperie Boutique, and contributor to Professional Photography Magazine, had first posted on my Facebook wall about finding someone sharing her files. I was on a long list of other designers whose files where discovered by this particular piracy-contributor. As most weekends go, I’m usually off the main computer and limited to my phone or iPad in short doses. So, I don’t click on a lot of links, etc. This Sunday morning, I decided to click and start looking. My blood certainly elevated in temperatures as I put two and two together on this person.

Robyn has shared the screenshots and conversations here on her site. Why did this person’s name seem familiar to me? It was because I had read that she owned a company where she sold templates, too. And, to make matters worse, I worked with her as a sponsor at Inside the Locker during our launch party contest. She contributed a prize and I advertised for her. I knew her name seemed familiar and I verified it with past emails and the post at ITL for the contest. I clicked on her site, but it’s no longer functioning, as she mentioned in her conversation with Robyn.

I went to the Two Pear Designs admin customer list, and sure enough, she’s registered there. However, she hadn’t been on the site since November. And, she hasn’t bought a thing from Two Pear (that I can tell from being registered under her name). It’s obvious the purchase she is sharing was from when Pink Ink Studios was still active (or when it was a free download on my FB page for a few weeks before I put it up for sale). It appears to be only one file, my Photoshop shapes, and maybe she didn’t pay for it. I am sure there are more designers with way more products being shared, like Robyn’s. And, in the grand scheme of things, I can only think about the people downloading the files that aren’t buying them.

You see, I am my sole provider. I have been working so hard to make a living at what I love. I have to pay for everything out of my own pocket including health insurance, doctor visits, and while I don’t have children, I do have three small dogs that I do care for. These are my choices, sure. I get by just fine. I don’t have health insurance right now because I so badly want to make things work. I do know that I can go out in the world and get a job. I’m not saying all this for a pity party. I believe whole-heartedly that my choices are my own, and I choose to see if I can continue making a living at photography and designing. What am I getting at here? You’re just stealing from me and my livelihood. I could have a little peace of mind while still continuing to do what I love, if those people would just honestly buy my products – as well as other designer’s products. This particular piracy contributor should understand…according to some of the emails shared, she’s no different as as single parent.

And, while I am a little angry and mad inside, I’m mostly disappointed. I’m sad and hurt. I’m just unsure how anyone can honestly justify taking from someone else. I know some of the other designers on this list posted that were stolen from. You’re taking food from their children’s mouths when you pirate. But, what makes me more sad, hurt, and disappointed is another artist feels this is okay.

This week, my accountant and I have been hard at work crunching numbers, budgeting and figuring costs to run my business and what I need to make. If you’re a business owner that has done all of this, and do it yearly, you know how grim it can look. We should all be supporting one another to make our industries strong and united. This is the sort of thing that kills small business like ours.

I am more than happy to help honest and deserving people. I enjoy giving things away as free downloads on my FB page and contributing to other site contests as well as our own. I feel we make our prices fair. We’re not undercutting ourselves or overpricing our products. This is the sort of thing that sometimes will set me back a bit and make me rethink selling mass volume of my designs. And, not designing, and getting a job out there in the world would certainly make my life easier.

As photographers, we get so livid and upset when we see our photography stolen. I just ask that if you’re a photographer that purchases designs from many of the template stores available to you, that you please respect us the way we respect you. Just think, if SOPA had passed, many of us would shut our doors for good out of fear. Those that would stay open because they still wanted to try, and hope they wouldn’t be attacked for copyright infringement for the littlest thing, would raise their prices tremendously to make sure they could afford good lawyers. Then, no one would be able to buy so many cute, and fun templates out there.

I won’t be contacting Brittany. I don’t want to get into any of the drama that could arise after reading how she responded to Robyn. In my experience, people are defensive in nature, and very few apologize sincerely or want to talk to you on a level that makes sense. I am always pleasantly surprised when I do meet that type of person because it’s so rare. I just wanted to share my feelings of sadness and disappointment here, publicly. Not something that I do much anymore. Robyn, thank you for sharing with me and the other designers that were faulted here. You’re courageous for taking a stand, and doing so much of this work on our behalf.

So, to leave this on a positive note, I am excited a bit, because Two Pear Designs is hosting one AMAZING giveaway next week. It starts tomorrow night, so be sure to follow the FB page over there to learn more. Hope you’re having a pleasant weekend!