Cartoon doll-maker experience

illogicrose

illogicrose

New Member
Hello,

Can someone tell me if this is right or wrong.

I've been visiting a doll maker site for a few months. I've created many people using this maker and put them on my website. I've given credit to the doll maker site and placed a banner and link to their page. The doll maker also created a gift for me not long ago.

Yesterday I found an abusive post on my guestbook from this doll maker lady. She was angry that I've been displaying the dolls on my site. She says she made them but no, I made them actually. She has designed the page and all the graphic bits herself but I made the dolls using the maker. So where does one draw the line about "making" something of a doll maker? I emailed her and pointed out that I've given her credit, as she accused me of not doing it. She also accused me of not thanking her for the gift she made me when I did, and I even wrote a "thankyou" message on my website. English isn't her first language and she obviously didn't understand my page. She was quite aggressive and very rude. She publically accused me of theft and so I deleted her post from my guestbook. She hasn't responded.

I also found her website is angrily commenting on another person found "stealing" her dolls. She put a link to that person's site and I had a look. I discovered that this other person has obviously been using the same woman's dollmaker to create these characters, and also that person LINKS back to the maker and gives credit to the woman's doll-maker as well. So is this doll-maker lady being unfair? or am I wrong to leave characters on a site? Sorry but I thought doll makers were for everyone to use.
 
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It would help if you posted the link to the site / maker you used in this case. Most of the more 'commercial', shall we say, makers, such as www.thedollpalace.com, have very specific terms and conditions, which state:

Unless otherwise indicated, all material included on the Site, such as text, graphics, logos, button icons, images, software, and the compilation (meaning the collection, arrangement and assembly) of all materials on this Site (the "Material") are owned by The Doll Palace, Inc., are protected by U.S. and international copyright laws and may not be used without obtaining the prior written permission of the owner.

as well as

No copyrighted materials on the Site may be copied, reproduced, distributed, modified, republished, uploaded, posted or transmitted in any way, without the prior written permission of the owner, except as follows: you may download one copy of the material on one computer for your personal, noncommercial home use only, provided you do not delete or change any copyright, trademark or other proprietary notices.

Now I happen to be of the opinion that a website doesn't have to put such t/c's on their website for the website's content to be copyrighted, it's built in and effective as soon as the content goes live. I would have to give this one to the website owner, although the way she approached you seems to have been very unfriendly. I would suggest you cut ties with this doll-maker, find another one, and write an email to the owners of the new one seeking permission for use of their graphics, which are still theirs despite what order they are arranged. If you keep the email giving you permission, then any comeback and you are legally protected.
 
Well, if you said English isn't her first language and she doesn't understand it very well.. possibly find out her language and have someone help translate or help her understand it.

And also, did you ask for the permission to post it onto your site? Most people/softwares will allow you to create things and such.. but when it comes to putting and posting them somewhere else.. you'll have to get their permission to do so.
 
Hi,

Thanks for the responce. Yes I did have her permission to use dolls I created from her maker post on my site and use as a signature. I did this after she allowed me (and public) to play with her makers. She's Dutch and couldn't see where I gave her credit and she assumed I haven't done it. I emailed her and showed her where I gave her credit but she's not replied now.
Her site is here http://www.rommie.nl/

Magicman I understand what you mean about using graphics, but I did give her credit and put a link banner to her site. She never saw it, and jumped to conclusion I've stolen credit from her, which I've not. She was quite abusive in her post on my guestbook though. I intend to ditch the pages where I've placed dolls from her maker as I don't want to cause any trouble.
 
You seem to have gone about using her work in a responsible and thoughtful way, of course giving credit for someone's work doesn't nessecarily mean there isn't a breach of copyright, but if she gave you written permission to use the dolls, on the condition that you credit her for them, and you have done that, then it's just bad luck that she hasn't seen it.

It's good that you're cutting ties and moving on, that would seem the best course of action.
 
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