Mosquito and campfire cookie

Those may have been mine. I can help narrow it down if this sounds familiar. I did two camping sets in August of 2008 and had them posted here - one with mosquitoes, bug spray, tent and a compass and the other with a fire, "Camp Site #1" camp sign, tent and a tree. I don't know if those were the ones you were looking for, but they are gone as I removed my photos from public viewing on the internet. I don't know if it helps, but you might try clipart for inspiration. I am not sure if this comes across as trying to be helpful, but that is my intention.

I found this one with mosquitoes on cookies: http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1651311

And this one with a campfire cookies: http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1505655

I hope this helps, even a little

Those mosquitoes are really cute, aren't they?

Oh, I feel foolish. They probably weren't even my designs. I was just trying to help narrow down if so, but there appear to be lots of very cute ones out there. Love those mosquitoes too! Super cute!

This set has both a campfire and mosquitoes. Is this the one?

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1428349

No need to feel foolish, Tracy, it looks like these were inspired by you!

Thank you for showing that to me, Frank. They were not "inspired by me". They are complete and direct copies of my original design work which is part of my portfolio and the designs are copyrighted. They are dead-on copies. I did not authorize, nor do I at all, for my work to be copied. Examples like this is exactly why I removed my work from public viewing on the internet. I am not trying to sound bad, but I spend an incredible amount of time sketching and re-sketching my designs and do not authorize for my original work to be copied. These are part of my business portfolio. Good grief! They aren't even derivative works, as my copyright attorney calls it, but direct copies. I could save myself a lot of time too if I went around helping myself to others' original designs. Sorry to be so upset, but I really work hard on my designs and am just infuriated. Not even one change and permission was certainly never granted.

Bakincakin - If these designs are the ones you were looking for, they do not belong to this individual as they are direct copies of my work. I created them and they are copyrighted. My anger at this situation is most certainly not directed at you at all in any way and I do not wish it to appear to be so. What this individual did has nothing to do with you. If these even were the ones you were looking for, please contact me if you wish to play off of them to come up with your own designs inspired by them. If someone asks first and they have distinct changes so that they do not look like mine, I am completely fine with providing what would be the true definition of 'inspiration'. It is the direct unauthorized copying of my designs that is not permitted and this is exactly what has occurred. Heavens, we all derive inspiration from things we see in everyday life. Just yesterday I just found a bumblebee that had met its demise and noticed a particular pattern on his stripes that I wish to play with for a future cookie. Inspiration is all around us. I am more than happy to provide inspiration in the true sense of the word. It is the direct copying or versions that look too close to mine that is not permitted.

Edit: I'm editing my post because I think this is a can of worms I don't want to open.

Thank you, Karen for writing that and for your kind and supportive message. It was very sincerely appreciated.

This post has had me thinking all night. Please do not take this offensively, but have you considered marking your photos and ideas with the copyright so that people who look at your work will know for sure that you do not what your design copied or interpreted. I know that if I see that there is a copyright logo on the item, book, or whatever, and i want to duplicate it, i am clearly and knowingly making a decision to take someone's idea illegally.
Also, i am an artist and and art teacher and i do understand the thought process, planning, and execution of a piece of work. However, for centuries, artists have always looked at the masters to immitate and perfect skills. Even when i was in art school, we studied artists and created in the "style" of the artist. Think about the number of times the Mona Lisa has been reproduced and altered, heck even other artists whose work has been copied almost exactly.
I feel that if you want to set claim to an idea, design , or method, you should make it very clear that you wish that you be contacted in order to use your ideas. How can you hold someone responsible for stealing your idea, if you fail to inform them that it is 'yours' and you do not want it replicated? By posting it on a public forum without any copyright information, what do you really expect?
Another question? What do you do when a bride brings in a photo of the cake, she HAS to have for her wedding and it isn't your design? Do you turn her away? Cakes are like the wedding gown, when a bride sees their cake, or a design they like, that's the cake they want! Brides always bring me photos for cakes, also the brides who know me well trust my designs and give me free artistic reign, those that are new to me often bring pictures.

Hi Dianaguerrant, Thanks for your thoughts! My photos are very clearly marked with the copyright symbol. They even say underneath beneath the copyright mark that it pertains to the "Design & Image" as I do not wish for anyone to think it pertains to just the photo itself to avoid any confusion. I discussed it with my copyright attorney and he feels that it more than covers it. I have learned that when designs are documented in fixed format (i.e. - a photo as one example) they are protected by copyright. The symbol actually does not need to be there. I am actually nervous to write this as I do not wish this to turn into a discussion on copyright as that can be a sensitive subject, but I am just passing on what I have learned through research. Also, I do not want at all to make this about these exact cookies or this person. That would not be kind and I am not saying anything about 'stealing' or verbage like that. I do not wish to go after a fellow CC member who happens to be very talented and I am sure is very nice. I just did not want my artwork that is in my portfolio copied and I am just answering your question. You have a very good point about public forums and it is issues like these that are the reason that I no longer have my work available for viewing in any forums. Thanks for mentioning it though! You have covered all bases and your thoughts are very much appreciated!




Oh, that is absolutely the best!

To answer your question, I am strictly a cookie decorator, so I do not do cakes, so I am not dealing with the wedding cake realm that you are. When I have had people ask me if I can reproduce a particular design, be it a cookie they see on-line or a licensed image, I tell them that I am not able to reproduce those designs as they are protected by copyright or licensing and it would be illegal for me to do so. I just play it very, very safe. Then I see if there is a design that I can create for them that they like. That is just me though. I am only writing this to answer your question, not to come across as telling others what to do at all. That is not my intent in the least. Again, that is just what I do and only to answer your question.

Editted to add that I had stepped away to pack up boxes and realized that I forgot to mention what I did when I had two images that I did want to bounce off of. I was just thinking of the times when I have had people hand me a cut-out of a cookie design they saw in a kitchen store catalog or the times when I have been asked if I could do Transformers or other licensed images. I forgot to mention that there were two times when I saw images that I wanted to use strictly as inspiration. I asked read up on copyright laws and knew that I needed to contact the original creator of the image to ask permission to do a design that was done after being inspired by theirs. (I learned the term 'derivative work' very well). I ran the idea by my copyright attorney to make sure I was on the right track and he agreed in full force that that was indeed the way to go. In one scenario, I saw a cookie years ago in a kitchen supply catalog that I wished to do my own version of, but it would be inspired by that one. After umpteen calls, I got in touch with the right person in the right department, explained that I wished to do a cookie whose design would be inspired by that one, but not at all copied. I explained what I wished to do design-wise in full detail. They granted me permission so I was good to go. Without it, I would not have done it. In the second scenario, I wanted to do a popcorn themed cookie and wished to use just the word 'popcorn' as written on the box I saw at the movie theatre. Just the word, not the overall box. That took days to trace down the company and the correct department, but I was able to do so, explained that I wished to use the word 'popcorn' as written for my popcorn box design and was granted permission to do so. I have been fortunate when I have asked, but I don't do it often. I am more about the design process and really gain the pleasure in the design stage. I guess I am just trying to get some use out of that degree in graphic design and all that went into it. I just love the designing process and truthfully, am really relieved when someone asks me if I can do a licensed image and I am able to tell them that I cannot as I really am not interested in duplicating licensed images anyway, but that is just me. I like that it gives me a nice 'out'.

Well, I am in the midst of a very difficult cross-country move with a husband who has been away for months due to his job and as much as it has been nice to dive into a mental break, I need to sign off as boxes are calling and I am afraid I have to unplug myself. Thanks again for your thoughts!

I too hate to have to deal with the licensed characters, i hate the number of colors, bags, tips, bowls, etc.... and i love that i use the copyright thing as an out too. those cakes are a pita for sure, Dora did me in when i first started, i believe there were like 14 different colors on that darn cake. if i didn'tr love my daughter so much, i would've passed on that one. good luck on the move and may things go smoothly and easily for you

Oh, I bet that your daughter was in seventh heaven! That sounded like a lot of work! Fourteen colors is nothing at all to sneeze at. That's a lot of bags to wash! Well, after a long day of move prep, I decided to treat myself and sit down for a bit and looked at your cakes. I was smiling ear-to-ear! Lovely designs and your razorback had such personality. Love your monkeys too! Thanks for your well wishes with the move. I will say it has been a doozy!