A Word About File Sharing

[Robin Carlton]

Hey guys,

As many of you know, file sharing is one of the biggest issues we battle as professional digital scrapbook designers. Due to the downloadable nature of our products, it is far too easy to take our hard work and redistribute it around the internet without giving our designer's financial well-being a second thought. Because of this, we rely on our customers and friends to take an active role in protecting our work and informing the community that file sharing is wrong.

For the record, the ONLY legitimate source of Sweet Shoppe products are purchases made here in the shoppe, purchases made from one of our designer's solo stores, promotional downloads distributed via our store and/or personal blogs and occasionally downloads via special promotions with 3rd party vendors.

If you participate in a yahoo or google group, a private messageboard or ANY other online venue and Sweet Shoppe products are offered to the members via 4Shared, RapidShare, Pando or ANY other download service - you are STEALING from our designers and are in violation of our terms of use and the law.

Additionally, if you purchase a kit and share it with your friends or contribute your purchase to a group buy of our new releases or other products, you too are STEALING from our designers and are taking and using product that isn't rightfully yours.

As SSD is a fairly large store, file sharing is an issue which we are faced with daily and it is one that we reserve the right to handle in the means we see fit on a personal, private and professional level. We ask that you trust us to evaluate each situation presented to us and to take the action we see fit. We have an incredibly strong and intelligent team of designers who take these activities seriously and will make the decisions needed to protect our work and community.

All of this said, we also believe in the good of the community at large and know that people make mistakes and can change. So we implore you to make the right decisions where file sharing is concerned, now and in the future, because we will not hesitate to take action against people we discover to be involved with this practice.

Take an active role in educating people about this issue - If you share files... STOP. If you know people who share files... tell them it's wrong and distance yourself from the activity, dont just turn a blind eye because they are "friends". DO the right thing and make a conscious decision to be a better person today than you were yesterday where file sharing is concerned.

If you have any questions about our policies, terms of use or if you have information on people or groups sharing our files, please contact us with as much information as you can including a link to the original posting of the shared file within the group or messageboard.

Thanks so much for your understanding and help with this very serious issue,

Robin

[ColleenSwerb]

Thanks for addressing this Robin. We knew you'd handle it all in the way you saw best.

[Paula]

Wholeheartedly agree!!

[~Julie~]

Thanks for addressing this Robin.. I can't believe people are still doing it!

[marnel]

I whole heartedly agree

[nun69]

dude...can't believe that people do this....well said!

[lizzyfizzy]

whatever yours and the designers decision is regarding recent events, i back you up 100%. thank you for stating this so clearly and fairly. once people know it's wrong they need to make it right...doesn't mean forgiveness can't come into place. your the best, robin.

[amystoffel]

Thank you Robin. I know this is such a serious and personal issue. I thank you for speaking candidly with us.

[AnnieBananie]

Amen sistah.

[fluffypuppies]

I agree... I think it's terrible that anyone would ever think it was ok to to that... They should think about how they would feel if it was their designs and they had people sharing the files. I would bet that wouldn't make them very happy. Thanks for the very informative post.

[Becca Bonneville]

This is certainly a must read thread! I hope those who really need to read it do! You are the bestest Robin and I couldn't of said it better myself!

[MelissaL88]

Very well said, Robin. I'm so sorry that you even had to write it.

[rach3975]

Well said, Robin! I agree that the ones who most need to read this probably won't, but hopefully there are some people who have been unthinkingly downloading the files who will now know better and stop.

[anrobe]

It saddens me how much this happens in our community. Very well said, Robin.

[CA Dreamer]

You said it very well and if anyone doesn't understand the issue after reading your message, obviously doesn't WANT to. It is too bad that you even have to deal with this aggravation!

[chocochoco]

Thank you Robin! So much agreed!

[Damayanti Studio]

I worked as a Designer 3 years. A few months ago I retired. One is caused to retared is just that digital piracy is a large scale...So I understand everything you wrote Robin and will fight with you.

[lulutoo]

Wow--group buy? I've never even heard of such a thing. That is just terrible that anyone would even think of doing that! What I don't understand is how anyone would even enjoy using the product knowing that it's stolen. If they can't afford it, then they can always stick with legal freebies, after all!

[Jazz2000]

Originally Posted by lulutoo

Wow--group buy? I've never even heard of such a thing. That is just terrible that anyone would even think of doing that! What I don't understand is how anyone would even enjoy using the product knowing that it's stolen. If they can't afford it, then they can always stick with legal freebies, after all!

I never thought of any of these things either.

[ForellaP]

I find that those who are new to digital scrap-booking may be more susceptible to piracy simply because they don't know how much work goes into the making of digital supplies or they are under the misconception that all graphics found on the web are free unless watermarked. It is up to us, the community to educate them and help them find legitimate sources of free samples as well as great places to shop. Share you knowledge and don't be shy about explaining piracy to those who might be new (or maybe older) to the community.

[SinisterPink]

The problem with piracy of any kind is that people see it as a victimless crime, and also will quite happily bang the gong for one type of battle against one type of piracy, while turning around and commiting piracy somewhere else.

As someone whose work has been stolen, heck I once was walking in town and someone came past me with a T Shirt and I was like, "Oh that looks familiar", then I realised he was sporting one of my paintings a large dragon with a bare breasted lady on his back, and I don't print T Shirts.

I have a no tolerance view on all types of piracy, because I know the work that goes into a product, be that art and digital resources, software, games or movies.

The really sad thing is the products here are so underpriced for the effort anyway that the creators are only making a minimal amount for their continued efforts anyways. Artists very rarely make enough to keep food on the table, particularly if they are doing something they love, and not having to design packaging or products

Also I find from quoting costs to people that often any creative work is undervalued, especially digital work as people seem to think their is a mythical button on the keyboard that just "makes" art.

Jeebs I would love to find this button, it would save me tons of work....

Generally I pay for everything I use and follow the TOU to the letter, do be aware that some people offer commerical kits of specific shapes and elements FOR kit makers, this is not pirating just always please make sure you read, understand and follow the TOU.

As for friends who are strapped for cash, I have and will continue to buy them vouchers or points to buy kits they can't afford, it would never occur to me to share, I don't hurt my fellow creators...

Sarah

[bcgal00]

It's unfortunate that has to be said....but you said it very well. I completely agree!

[oscaralley]

100% agree!

[Ozegirl]

I just cannot imagine how anyone would think file sharing was ok.

[Inglis666]

Very well put.

[Cherylny]

Hello Robin. I'm new here - been hanging around awhile and decided to officially come in and have some Sweet Fun. I totally agree to the above and know how hard you designers work to create your designs and collections. I completely understand and agree!