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Make sure that you know the facts!
What Is Copyright?
Copyright gives exclusive legal rights of usage of an "original work of authorship" to the copyright holder. This protection is provided by the United States title 17, U.S. Code and other international laws. Anyone who violates copyright is subject to criminal penalties, fines, and the possible recovery of any loss of income or profit suffered by the copyright holder due to the infringement. An infringer is also potentially liable for attorneys fees and statutory damages.
Legal questions aside, it is simply morally wrong to not obey copyright. You are literally taking money away from the artist who has worked to create these works for your use. You make it difficult for them to continue creating new items. Artists, musicians, designers, writers and other individuals covered by copyright need to pay their bills, buy groceries, and more - just as you do. Funds received from the sales of their works help provide them with a living.
When you misuse copyright terms, particularly with Scrap Girls products, you are hurting the very individual whose work you admired enough to purchase. Please help Scrap Girls keep providing great designs for you by obeying copyright rules and encouraging your friends to do the same.
What should I do if I am not sure if how I want to use an image violates copyright?
Contact us at hello@scrapgirls.com and we'll answer your question.
If I manipulate an image using a computer program or other method, can I claim copyright to the changed image?
No. You cannot claim copyright to a copyrighted image even if you have derived or changed from the original material without permission. Remember, when you purchase our items, you are only purchasing the rights to use these items. You do not OWN them. The copyright holder (the designer) OWNS them.
How can I use the Scrap Girls images and fonts I have purchased?
The licensing agreement included with the purchase of a CD-ROM or subscription to allows the purchaser to use any image in the purchased collection for personal use and limited business use in your personal scrapbooking business. Making copies of images and distributing them to anyone else (say a friend or family member) is prohibited.
Any commercial use of our images requires the purchase of a separate commercial use license. If the item does not have a commercial use license purchasing option, contact Scrap Girls and we will arrange for you to speak directly with the designer of the graphic to work out terms.
Is it okay to copy a digital image and give it to my friend to use?
No. Scrap Girls, LLC images, fonts and e-Books are for the purchaser's personal use.
It is also a serious legal matter to file share copyrighted material. In fact, the US Attorney General Albert Gonzales has just proposed laws that would stiffen sentences for people who are convicted of making – or even trying to make – illegal copies of copyrighted material.
Statutory damages for infringing on copyright can hit $20,000 per violate and can go as high as $100,000 in some circumstances of willful violation... and those damages don’t include the FINES for actual damages. In fact, a commercial copyright violates (which means more than 10 copies and a value of more than $2,500) is now a felony in the United States.
It is extremely easy for someone who is involved in scrapbooking file sharing to hit the commercial copyright limits of more than 10 copies and a value of more than $2500 and to commit a felony while doing so.
If anyone is discovered engaging in illegal file sharing of Scrap Girls copyrighted materials, we will report you to the appropriate authorities.
Take it seriously, because it is a serious matter to break this law.
Here's a copy of the SCRAP GIRLS LICENSE AGREEMENT/USAGE TERMS:
The graphic files contained in this e-file are the product of Scrap Girls, LLC, or its design team, and are protected by United States copyright law. Purchaser or user may use, copy and modify these files for PERSONAL use only and are not to be used for commercial gain. These files are licensed to the purchaser's computer only and are not to be shared, loaned, rented, resold, distributed, transferred, or posted across a bulletin board, network, modem, Internet or web page. Do not make copies of these files on any electronic or physical medium (including CDs, diskettes, or other storage medium) for reasons other than back-up purposes.
Angel Policy
Here is the Scrap Girls Angel Policy terms:
Product use for resale purposes/product enhancement: The copyright allows for Scrap Girls, LLC graphics and fonts to be used on hand-finished products for personal use or for gift-giving, unless you have purchased specific commerically-licensed items. These items are clearly marked and you will receive a commercial license agreement with your purchase.
The intent of this policy is to not allow the professional scrapbooker, professional crafter or boutique seller to be able to use these designs to make hand-finished products for resale with these files. In simple terms, if you personally create a product using a Scrap Girls graphic or font and sell it directly to the consumer, you are violating the copyright (unless you have purchased specifically licensed commercial products, which are clearly marked as such).
If you were using printed paper, you would have to pay to purchase large amounts of this item when you create items for resale. It is through those sales that the designer earns much-needed and deserved income for their works. If you purchase a graphic file, however, and print it endlessly and use it for commercial use without regards to the originator of the file, you are making it difficult for such design work to continue. If you would like to use any of our designs in your commercial works, contact Scrap Girls and we will arrange for you to speak directly with the designer of the graphic to work out terms.
Scrap Girls, LLC Trademarks
ScrapSimple, ScrapGirls, Layer Your Own, Assemble Your Own and the Scrap Girls logo are all property of Scrap Girls, LLC. All other names used herein are trademarks of their respective owners.
Note: Scrap Girls has certain commercially licensed products. They are all available in a special section of the Boutique.
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