I forgot to say that one of the biggest things that happened at our lunch (for me) was that I was the last blogger on Earth to hear that DJ Inkers’ terms of use had changed. I didn’t have time to even open up my laptop on the So Cal Blogger Meet Up Day (which we will refer to as SCBMUD from here on out because doesn’t that sound fun and like something you’ll remember?) so I had no clue. This is typical. There was a lot of outrage and crying and carrying on and tears — okay, okay, no tears, but lots of outrage, mainly by me, and some of the others were upset, too. I came right home and talked with the hubby about it (or actually, maybe I talked AT him and didn’t let him get a word in edgewise because I was so fired up about it) and then re-read DJ’s terms of use.
People, I didn’t see the change.
It looked the same to me.
Don’t sell documents with their clipart and fonts on it.
Got it.
Besides . . . I don’t sell anything. I haven’t made one little penny off this teeny tiny blog. Gosh darn it. I guess this blog of mine is just for fun. SIGH. (I did get some free product from Creative Teaching Press but I did not even beg them for it. THEY contacted ME and I about fell over. I didn’t. I remained upright but I almost fell over.)
Anywho, I emailed DJ Inkers. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve emailed them. They have GREAT customer service. One time, they tried to email me back and it bounced back on them or something AND SO THEY CALLED ME. This was about 20 minutes after I’d sent my email! REALLY!
I’m not the only one who emailed them. Quite possibly, Rachelle at What the Teacher Wants did, too, but I can’t be sure. But the email I received back had a bunch of people in it.
I really want to cut and paste the email right here but I’m afraid I may violate copyright laws. Even though it’s MY email.
Basically, here’s the jist. Physicist. And here’s what’s up. Buttercup. And here’s the word. Hummingbird. Is there a copyright law on quoting Big Bang if I don’t put quotes around those sentences and say that Penny said them to Sheldon and I love to use them now?
DJ Inkers wants to make money.
I KNOW!! I couldn’t believe it, either.
They’re just afraid that if we keep sharing documents with their clipart on it, no one will go buy their clipart. I’m telling you, I thought I was the SOLE REASON they were in business. I buy it all. I am addicted. I am in love. Sometimes, other clipart will JUST not do. And don’t get me started on my bulletin boards. If it’s not DJ Inkers, it’s not a bulletin board (that could just be my school’s saying).
Here’s what I learned.
Don’t SELL your documents with their clipart.
Share. In a PDF format. Or on a site that is password protected.
Credit DJ inkers on the document.
That last one . . . well, I contacted them way back in the beginning about their terms of use and I have a credit to them on my sidebar. Look to the left. A little ways down. No, back up. Now back down. Stop. There. Right there. See?
So I’m not putting their stuff on my documents. Well, I’m going to put their clipart on it, but not that credit stuff because my disclaimer about THAT is over on my sidebar. (And believe it or not, hubby actually agrees with me on this and he is a rule follower but not this time. He says it’s MY document. I bought the clip art and now it’s mine, too. So there.) But I should start putting MY stuff on my documents, as in THIS BELONGS TO ME SO DON’T COPY IT AND SAY IT’S YOURS AND/OR GET ME IN TROUBLE BY TURNING AROUND AND SELLING IT. Just for the record, this has never happened to me but I decided to put it in caps because it was a hot topic at the SCBMUD.
Also, if your free document is downloaded over 100 times, DJ Inkers would like you to submit it to see if maybe THEY will sell it (and discuss further terms of use – how can we tell how many times something has been downloaded?). I guess they get lots of submissions. I had no idea. I have lots of work to do now. 🙂
So . . . I’m not taking down my freebies and I don’t think you should, either.
And to end this post — here’s a freebie for when you go back. ENJOY!!! And you know where all the clipart came from, right?
Snowman Roll the Dice
(function() { var scribd = document.createElement(“script”); scribd.type = “text/javascript”; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = “http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js”; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();
Well. I hope this post helps someone.
I hope I have not violated anyone’s rights, either.
We are off for a drive up the coast. We want to go to Malibu because it’s a BEAUTIFUL day and the hubs and I have never been. I’ll let you know if I have any celebrity sightings.
Who am I kidding? I’ll let you know what happened whether or not we see any celebrities at all.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA…I LOVE reading your posts! You just made my day!!! Thank you for posting this and sharing such a wonderful blog! Amber
BTW…I grabbed your "FREEBIE" and thank you for sharing the cute idea!
Malibu? Gee..I think I will go to Wal-Mart for groceries. Yea sounds just as fun. Why is hubby home on a Friday? We want to play too but hubby is trapped at work so no good.
adore you your posts and every little savant piece of information you remember!
OMG! I am hysterical over this post. I am laughing so hard! I just posted something about this!
I don't understand all the commotion all of a sudden. I have seen on several blogs about clip art issues and copyright issues. Its all so crazy!! Have fun on your little getaway! And thanks for the freebie!
Well said! Thanks for continuing to be a place for reflection and sharing. I applaud the blogs that stay true to why they started to blog in the first place.
Go to the Getty. It is great! Today is perfect; well, except for the fog here. Where else but CA can it be 75 in December. 🙂
You are hilarious! I laughed throughout your entire post! 🙂 I got the same e-mail from DJ Inkers and I didn't really see any changes either. Thanks for the update, the freebie, and the good laugh!
Mary
http://mrsliretteslearningdetectives.blogspot.com
We might need to get a Standards and Practices department to make sure we are all remaining ethical and legal and non-violational. Copyright crap drives me nuts!!
Have a fun day trip!
Caitlin
Ms. Preppy's Adventures in Primary and Polka Dots
Whew! Thank you SO much for clearing that up. . . I was literally freaking out with thoughts of not being able to use yours (and others) cutsified work. I too love DJ Inkers AND have purchased tons of their stuff. . the thought of boycotting them was in my mind, but caused me a lot of stress because I too love their designs! I have wondered if some of you should contact them about something you've made and see if they will make it and sell AND give you who made it some $$$$ for your efforts. I hope all who use their clipart on blogging reads your info so that others too will continue making things for all of us who can't think as creatively as you do.
Enjoy that drive on the coast. . . here in Michigan it is raining! yes raining in December, not snowing. . . and taking down the tree sounds far less fun than your drive on a sunny day!
Patty
have fun on your trip!! and i hope you see at least one celebrity!! i will be at home in my pj's trying to make my vacation SLOW down before I have to go back to work next week. ACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Am I the only one who noticed 1001/!?!??!?!?!?!?! WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also…I never quite understood the build a picture activities. Do the kids add multiple hats and such if they keep rolling the same number, or if they already have a hat they just ignore the fact that they rolled a 2 again? Please help so that I at least can pretend like I know what I'm doing in 4 days…
For the last 3 days I thought the clip art police was coming to my house to arrest me. In face everytime the door bell rang I put out my hands for cuffs…:) I read on another blog where DJ's terms had changed…. no sharing. I emailed them and I got the same answer…. no more sharing! Well, there goes a bunch of my postings… Then the last email came last night… Yeah.. I don't have to destroy my blog and go to jail! I was laughing so hard when I read your post! Thank you for putting it all in perspective!
OOOOps the word face should be fact..
Yippee for you 1000+ followers!
Yearn to Learn Blog
woohoo!!! Congrats on reachin 1000+ followers! You awesome! Love your blog!
❤ Mor Zrihen ❤
A Teacher's Treasure
Here's the deal darling!!! I love DJ Inkers and I'd be seriously devastated if they wouldn't allow for me to use their clipart.
They DID change their TOUs back in October and didn't tell anyone. They decided that they didn't want anyone to share ANY documents on their blog {educational or not}. Well…this past week, some teacher/bloggers called them to see what's up. They told them, please do not put freebies on your blog with DJ Inkers clipart and/or font. Those people blogged about it and posted it on all media sources.
WAAAAAAAA {that's me and a lot of other peeps crying}.
So yesterday, LOTS AND LOTS of people emailed them and called them {including me}. I'm assuming that the Teacher Blogger Association Union called them too. So they had a "re-think it because maybe we'll lose lots of customers" meeting. They decided to not really change their TOUs after all.
This story may or may not be completely {but it's mostly} accurate, but I think it is.
How in the world do we account for those downloads? I'm pretty sure only 99 people download my stuff.
And that's how I see it! 🙂
Did you come up with your disclaimer for DJ? I have BOUGHT several things and used them to come up free stuff…aka…my button and a few little tid bits around my blog…just decor. ANYWAYS… is this OK? Should I call??
I would rather follow that rule of do now ask forgiveness later??
Does this make me a HORRIBLE blog person?
Happy New Year!Thanks for your post!
Stacy
2nd Grade Paradise
Too jealous of the get together with all those amazing bloggers! Glad you all had fun! I love DJINkers, buy their b. board stuff and other cute things all the time but not the clipart cuz I'm paranoid Polly when it comes to using things and copyright and I'm constantly afraid I'm screwing up so….this would have put me over the deep end!! Ha! Hope you had an awesome time and also hope you got to see Sheldon as your celebrity siting!! Love that show….love the knock, knock, knock Penny, knock, knock, knock, Penny….the best. He cracks me up!
4th Grade Frolics
As a girl (okay a 21 year veteran who feels like a girl) who started a blog (for my parents and kiddos) in January and abandoned it in May (because we were told we HAD to use district webpage)…and it took for.ever. to upload pics…I so appreciate you bloggers who keep on keeping on! Your generosity and insights are worthwhile reading AND quite entertaining! So good to know we are in it together! Thanks so much for sharing!
Love this post!! I completely agree 🙂
I totally love you!
I am pretty sure I wish you were my neighbour (although I doubt that couald happen since I live in another country!)
http://misstoffeesclass.blogspot.com
Copyrights…clear as mud, if you ask me. Hate them. I agree with you "if I buy it I should be able to use it!" You'd think selling would be better than giving away. Argh! Visit me in jail, okay!
2B Honey Bunch
The Best Endings
As soon as I saw somewhere about DJ Inkers terms of use change, I said, "Oh no, Kristin's free stuff!!!!!!!!!!!" I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself! Also I am happy because I like your free things. 🙂
Marvelous Multiagers!
Go for it, dude! I hope all the teachers out there stop selling their stuff and start "sharing" it. I think it's weird that people sell their stuff on TPT when it's not even their drawings. I guess they have a right to make money on their ideas… anyway, thanks for your funny blog and all yoru freebies!
Erica
I LOVE DJI! And I panicked before all was said and done..so all of my freebies are off and I need to get them back up! Last day of the year will be devoted to getting the blog back in order…ugh! I too only give my products for free, no TpT here. So needless to say, I am glad that our voices were heard/read..whatever and they are continuing to let us use their graphics! Have fun in Malibu!
Laura
Kinder Kraziness
Phew…
That's all I can say…
Phew!
And….
1001?!?!?!?!? Congrats girlie!!!! Please don't forget us lil 'ol bloggers with, hmmm, say less than that… 🙂
Holly
Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade
You crack me up!!
WOW 1000+ followers….congratulations!
I am still working on getting over my jealousy of your SCBMUD!! Uh oh…I think I just broke some kind of copyright by re-posting SCBMUD without quotations marks! LOL
Ms. McBee’s Kinderbugs
Malibu…..really…..really! O.K. something else to be jealous of!
Hope you had fun!
Ms. McBee’s Kinderbugs
Thanks so much for this post, and Rachelle for your comment…I've been so confused about the whole D.J. Inkers thing…I contacted them in October and was told no sharing, no nothing. SO, it's good to know that they changed their minds!
Hugs,
Rebecca
Teaching First
I have been freaking out about the clipart and afraid to post anything else. I still feel like I need to go and delete ANY post that has their clipart. And of course the only clipart I really use of theirs is the January/snowmen…just my luck! I might be paranoid until March!
Heather
Heather's Heart
I'll tell you what if I EVER figure out HOW to make ALL cute stuff you all do. AND if I EVER show you any of MY stuff on my BLOG. AND you think you might like it and want to use it sometime just EMAIL me and I'll Let you all BORROW it!!! I'm not GIVING it to you. I'm not SELLING it to you. I'm just letting you BORROW it while you teach. Problem solved. 😀
OMG this sounds so complicated. I am confused about being confused but… I get it and I'm sticking to my story! For once I listened to the hubby who told me they can change their terms but your old stuff is under their previous conditions so you will not go to clip art jail. Wow, that was scary to me since my family still likes having me around to grocery shop and buy overpriced gifts.
Thanks for the clarification delivered in your hilarious style.
Wednesday was so much fun so remember- When you are in Irvine visiting your BFF (Hadar) you better have coffee with me or else!
Now when is our giveaway from the OC?
Fran
OMG!! You are so funny..,no funny is just not good enough for you. I will have to think of a better word…but I just LOVE you!! You just say it how it is and you totally entertain me when I read your posts. I will be sitting close to you at the next SCBMUD!!
Annie:)
Ok, you are HILARIOUS!!! I loved reading your blog and I don't do anything with DJ Inkers…. Just funny!!
I can't believe I've never seen your blog before.. I'm a follower now!!
I'm super new to this but check out my blog:
Jeannie
http://kindergartenlifestyle.blogspot.com/
Have fun in Malibu…spent a week there last summer, sigh, it was wonderful….can't wait to hear where you visit…that was my only celebrity sighting, Tori and Dean at church and then the Malibu Market after. Loved reading all about the big met up at Ruby's too.
Congrats on 1000!
I am so happy you share your great things. Thank you for keeping it going.
I don't sell stuff either. I think everyone has a right to do it, but I just feel bad selling stuff when I don't even buy things myself. I am a freebie junky. 🙂
The whole copyright stuff scares me. I am so careful when creating things, waiting for the digi-police to knock on my door. I haven't even used many clipart items for fear I am breaking some rule. I ended up asking hubby for a clipart program for Christmas so I could make my own clipart. No digi-police can get me now! Ha ha!
Thanks again for your hilarious posts!
Deb
Simply The Classroom
First….I am SO jealous of the meetup!! Not only because of the meetup, but because I would love to go visit CA – it's the eastern FL, WITHOUT the humidity! lol
Second..I agree with you about the TOU. After someone actually wrote them out for me to read, I didn't really see the confusion, but as always, you have found a way to clear that up for everyone – ha! You crack me up girlie!
Jen Ross
The Teachers’ Cauldron
I don't really use DJ Inkers, but I loved this post of yours. 🙂 Thanks so much for your freebie, I can't wait to use it!
Yipeeee! 1008 followers, hope you still have time for little old me! Xoxo
Congrats girlie on getting 1,000 followers!
Hi Kristin! I haven't introduced myself yet..I'm Lori, a kinder teacher from Texas. I just started blog stalking a couple months back & I obsess over your blog. I I talk about you so much my husband confuses you with my friends. Seriously. We are on a drive right now. To the cheesecake factory. He wants a steak. We don't have one in our town so we are driving a couple of hours..this is my first time there…I wish you could recommend something to me. I don't even eat cheesecake.
I'm glad you figured out and share a way for everyone to share their hard work. I appreciate it so much. But even if you weren't such a sweetie I would probably still stalk you. 🙂 Congratulations on 1000 followers! I would like to take credit for a few of them. I told my entire campus about you and made them read (or listen to as I snorted my way through reading it aloud) your Halloween story.
First of all…Happy New Year and congrats on 1000!!!! I'm totally annoyed by all this clipart craziness. Especially considering how much money I've paid for this license and that license. Ughhh… I think most jails are already overcrowded, so I'm gonna stay low and keep sharing whatever I think I've paid for/earned the right to use. 🙂
Kimberly
Funky First Grade Fun
copyrights.. pish posh
So funny! Your posts crack me up! You have never been to Malibu?? What kind of So. Cal gal are you??? We spent every Wednesday there (freezing) this summer. No celebrities to speak of….unless you count Patrick Demsey at the grocery store. I guess he counts.
~Stephanie
Teaching in Room 6
Thank you for the freebie! Your post cracked me up 🙂