So this is what has been taking up a lot of my time this week. It came to my attention that Renata Blanco released a range of doll kits in Brazil earlier this year which is remarkably similar to my the red thread range. She is selling printed fabric panels and kits which include a face and a sewing pattern – oh hang on, that’s exactly what I do! In another amazing coincidence Renata Blanco purchased all of my sewing kits and fabric panels – which are printed with my original designs and illustrations – through my online shop late last year. As far as I can see she launched the range at Brazil’s biggest patchwork and sewing trade show and judging from the coverage on Facebook, Blogs and Flickr it has proven to be popular. I’ve put together some images that compare our products side by side. A blatant and gross infringement of my copyright, or a coincidence? You be the judge (click on the link below the photos as there’s much more)…
Edit 19 July: Thank you so much everyone for your wonderful support and comments here, on Facebook and Instagram, and for your emails. I’m especially grateful to the craft and sewing communities in Brazil who are spreading the word and helping me gather information and evidence. Unfortunately there are bad apples, but overall this community we have is amazing.
I made an intentional decision not to link to Ms Blanco’s website here, so please don’t link to it in the comments. I can see that she has taken no action as yet to remove the offending products.
Please continue to share my post on your blogs and social media – together we have a very loud voice!
My Ooshka Babushka pattern, kit and fabric face panels:
My Roxy Longsocks pattern, kit and face panels.
My Sweetie Beans fabric panel:
A face I illustrated and sold printed on fabric for applique.
Curiously her Facebook page isn’t available this morning, but I took screen shots earlier in the week as examples of her extensive use of the illustrated faces, and her range of dolls. These are just a few…
There it is. On the advice of my copyright lawyer I have sent a ‘Cease and Desist’ letter to Ms Blanco and to her sales reps (in Portuguese so there’s no miscommunication), and I’ve lodged a Copyright Notification Complaint with Facebook. I’ll see what happens from here. As always I’m willing to fight to protect my name, my designs and the business that I have worked hard to build. Thank you so much for your comments, your support is much appreciated. What a crappy way to start the week.
Edit December 2013: An update. Following my copyright complaint with Facebook Ms Blanco’s Facebook page was removed. With the help of my wonderful Brazilian friend here in Australia and the assistance of his friends in Brazil, I engaged a specialist copyright lawyer in Brazil. The outcome is that Ms Blanco removed all the offending items from sale. I’m very happy with the result. We have to stand up and enforce our copyright and send a loud and clear message that just because something is on the internet it’s not free to use and is protected by international copyright laws.
Roxy Longsocks dolls sitting on a chair made and photographed by Marina of Wink Designs.