Copyright Laws for Stampers

There is a very interesting (and sometimes heated) thread on a forum of which I'm a member regarding the copyrighting of rubber (and digital) stamps.  I'm getting so tired of stamp companies and designers trying to tell me what I can and can't do with MY stamps once I've BOUGHT THEM.  Here is my post in that thread:

Well, I know that people will disagree with my feelings on this subject, but this is how I see things. When I buy a stamp, I can do whatever I want with it, as long as I don't try to pass it off as my own design. A stamp is a tool, not a work of art that is bought to be hung on a wall or placed on exhibit solely as an artistic piece. If that's the case, then the stamp designers shouldn't have their designs made into stamps. (I'm not saying that the designers aren't artists, though, and I don't mean to de-value their talents.)



If I want to lend my stamps to friends or family, I will. If I want to stamp off some images to give away or trade, I will. If I want to sell cards or other hand-made projects, using hand-stamped images, I will. If a stamp company has nothing better to do with its time than come after and sue little old me, then it can go right ahead. I don't have time to research and keep track of each and every stamp company's Angel Policy (which I don't believe is enforceable anyway). If they feel that strongly about it, they should include their policy with the stamp so that I can make an informed decision about whether or not I want to buy their stamps.


There are plenty of stamp companies out there that don't have a problem with any of the things I've mentioned. I've refused to buy stamps from some companies who have made it very clear that they are very proprietary about their images and don't even want you sharing stamped images. That's my right as a consumer.


As I said, I know others will disagree with me, but that's how I feel. With all of the things I have to worry about in my life, this is very small stuff. And I try not to sweat the small stuff.

And, by the way, shame on those stamp designers and companies who are asking us, the consumers, to do their policing for them.  I refuse to rat out my fellow crafters if they aren't following "the rules."  It's not my job to study your (unenforceable) rules and then monitor my friends and family for you.  If you want that done, you're going to have to do it yourself.   Big Brother is NOT going to be watching.  Sorry.