Tidbits-4/21/07

Changing of times for Machine Embroiderers:

For the past one week I have been privately invaded by emails pertaining to the disappearance of ESPC and queries in regards to my “blind faith” in such an organization. Some were quite polite, others a bit taunting. Oh well! I guess I better write a blog and let it all hang out again. To those who fear that ESPC has disappeared, it has not. To those who are gleefully back slapping that Action Tapes, Bernina and all other major members of ESPC have dropped out of their membership…wrong. I believe it was quite some while ago that I had mentioned the basis of the organization and its founding. Repeatedly I have mentioned Home Sewing Association which happens to be the flag bearer for literally all sewing related organizations in the USA. It matters not who is a member or not. It matters that the organization (ESPC) exists. To those whom it matters whether or not it exists….well, lets just say its pretty apparent why they would like to see it die out…”birds of a feather flock together”. What the organization stands for and what it does is good, really. Despite the hue and cry over the “letters” sent to buyers and “oh that is extortion” etc. why wouldn’t an organization seek justice for its members. Ah, but it seeks justice against those who infringed upon the rights of others and now seek any which way to degrade another rather than realise the truth of their own actions.

I have to admit that I have not been online a lot lately. Too much to finish and too many things to accomplish. But last night after the avalanche of emails pertaining to my “blind faith” (as one email stated), I decided it was time to check out the latest on the cybercrime website. Interesting and I don’t know how I missed it, but the latest revised Justice Dept’s Intellectual Property manual is a wonderful and clearcut document which should help out a lot of folks’ questions. Please do read it: http://www.cybercrime.gov/ipmanual/index.html  I had mentioned earlier that times are changing, and indeed they are right before our eyes. The internet is too vast for any one organization to govern. It is upto individuals and organizations such as the ESPC to follow up and prevent the abuse of IP. Btw, I do see that ESPC is now open for membership by individuals. Ofcourse thanks to a wonderful team of Mother and daughter (who btw settled out of court…ever wonder why??)and their followers to have created an astounding misled conception of the organization. I would however, recommed to any and all digitizers to check out the basis of membership with the ESPC. In numbers there is power and protection and understanding.  A bit of humour here….checking the Ebay boards, I had to chuckle over a seller’s comments where she was caught selling machine embroidery designs on Ebay. Her story…she had purchased the designs legally from a company in the UK which allowed her to resell the designs legally anywhere in the world. Never mind the company that sold her the designs had themselves stolen the designs from various notable ME companies as well as individual home digitizers. I have to wonder at the intelligence in this regard! To friends in the ME world, be wary of whom you purchase from. Question prior to purchase. If it looks to be too good to believe…perhaps it is and perhaps it might be well to stay away from.