Amateur Furniture Blogger Gets Pinched by Pottery Barn

[Woodwerker]

This woman has been building knock offs of Pottery Barn, and other retailers furniture pieces and blogging the plans. She got pinched .. see story.
Not Bad looking either
The Blog is pretty good. Not detailed plans but enough for some who never joined two pieces of wood to get started.



http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/201...e-arrived.html

[RAFlorida]

That link says

the page does not exist.

[pelligrini]

I'd pinch her.

[Woodwerker]

the page does not exist.

Please try it again. I just updated it.

[Woodwerker]

i'd pinch her.

lol :d .......

[cwsmith]

Cute, but definitely in violation of copyright laws that protect Pottery Barn, it's registered brands, and it's original designs (if that is what they are).

While many of us see furniture or other craft items that we may like and even copy for our own use, it's something else entirely to develop plans or aids that would allow someone else to duplicate the piece(s) and then openly promote them as "knock-offs" of established brand names or designs. While the designs may not be unique or even copyrightable, by themselves, the violation would be in the use of the brand name itself, which the owner has every right to control.

Even if the "Knock off" plans are totally free, the use of any brand name used to promote the plans or the website, would be an infringement without the owner's permission.

CWS

[docrowan]

Ditto what cwsmith said. Most people are not aware that if a corporation or individual does not actively 'defend' their trademarks, they fall into the public domain. A trademark can be a crucial part of a commercial enterprise's operations. By sending this letter to her non-profit blog, WSI can prove to a court they have defended their trademark if a FOR-profit competitor begins using their trademarks.

Like it or not, if you have ever bought a brand-name over a generic or unknown brand, you have been swayed by the power of the trademark.

[dbhost]

I have GOT to show this to LOML. The similarity to her in college is scary...

[dbhost]

Like it or not, if you have ever bought a brand-name over a generic or unknown brand, you have been swayed by the power of the trademark.

This applies to tools as well folks...

[germdoc]

She looks better than Norm...

What do they feed those gals up in Alaska??

[pelligrini]

She looks better than Norm...

What do they feed those gals up in Alaska??

Tube Steak??

I do agree about copyright infringement on the names and direct reference to known products, but I don't see the designs as being unique or able to be protected.

[pierhogunn2]

a friend of mine asked me to do something similar, I did, and I'd do it again, the pay was good, the assembly easy, and well, it was a project. She still uses the table, and I think you could drop a house on it, and it would probably hold up...

[phi1l]

It looks like they mostly object to the use of the PB catalog pictures & names. not necessarily the actual plans..

[buckeye95]

Those are some great plans on there....my wife already picked a few out for me to add to the list.....

I wonder what those diagrams were made with, Google Sketchup?

Pete

[Alex Franke]

That woman totally rocks.

Thanks for posting the link!