Damn the Man! Down with Cafepress!

[amezri]

via viggorlijah

Cafepress has changed their policies again for the worst. According to the new policy:

6.4 You may only use images and artwork you create with the CafePress.com Service in your Shop or to promote your Shop or the CafePress.com Service. Any other use of such images and artwork is strictly prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained from CafePress.com.

Basically, as of July 1st, Cafepress wons YOUR artwork and you have to ask them for permission to use your own stuff.

For more information, visit Say No to Cafepress.

I just have to close all my stores. Didn't even get a chance to buy a giant Bloodreign poster. Bah.

[edit: I think I'm going to switch to Zazzle.com:

Displaying your work at Zazzle is non-exclusive, meaning that you may continue using your contributed work for any other purpose you want to, including selling it elsewhere. In the meantime, you earn a 10% royalty on anything you sell at Zazzle. You could earn income for years on a single contribution, or from hundreds -- it's up to you. It's free and it's easy! ]

[edit 2: Zazzle only takes jpg images, which is a little annoying as the quality can't be guaranteed, but a 10% royalty is pretty nice.

Also, now that I go back and reread the Cafepress thing, I don't think they are saying they own your original work. They're saying they have the right to your your work to promote their service and that they have all right to the images of products featuring your art that you've made on their site.

Still, I don't like them having my SS# and I don't like the fact that I lose my earnings after $180 and that I would own them money to boot. So.. Zazzle I go.]

Comments

[leggyslove.livejournal.com]

Damn them. That just isn't fair. I won't be using Cafepress.com anymore.

Re:

[amezri.livejournal.com]

I just set up Zazzle. They only have apparel & prints, but it seems to be a better alternative. Uh, of course, they are really strict about using copyrighte works, which means half of my stuff can't go back up >_

[fyrdrakken]

Note the discussion on same in J. Grant's LJ here. A careful examination of the copyright law implications, but with the conclusion that the loss of profits to CafePress makes the site worth leaving anyway.

Re:

[amezri.livejournal.com]

*nods* I just made an updated post with an e-mail reply from one of their service people. But I wrote back and basically told them they were stealing my profits and to stick it up their ass.

Okay, so I was more polite than that. Slightly.

[fyrdrakken]

Yeah, I saw. You were almost polite but still managed to get your point across. Not bad at all.