Dealing with Design Theft at Shows

Today I was talking to Bill (who works here) and he was telling me about this show he did once (he's a blacksmith) at which there was another blacksmith of obviously limited creativity (not to mention integrity) going booth to booth, photographing other people's designs. Everyone knew he was going to try to copy them and everyone was disgusted but there wasn't much anyone could do about it without making a scene and putting off the paying customers in the process. I told him that jewelry people have the same problem because I can't count the number of times I've heard that exact same story from jewelry designers who do shows.

About two minutes later, I had the most perfect idea. Perfect because it's simple, easy and absolutely effective, yet diabolical... in a karmically righteous kind of way. ~evil little smile~ Naturally I couldn't wait to share it with those of you who do shows and must deal with these design poachers.

The next time you do a show, take along the compact digital camera you usually use for family shots. Turn on the date stamp feature. When one of the ethically challenged comes along, photograph the poacher photographing your work. When the poacher asks what you're doing, answer... "Gathering the only evidence I'll need to prove copyright infringment." Then smile... because if the person has any sense at all, you just became too risky to copy. And if she doesn't, well, that picture's worth a thousand lawyers. *s*