how do I keep my name tied to my design, despite allowing others to grab, use, and modify it?
I want to release much more of my designs for free. I know that total control is impossible, but I'd like to make it a little difficult for anybody to grab my designs and use them commercially or academically without any credit or attribution. I'd like to, for example, put my name on the parts that would be laser cut. This would require them to edit the file before they could be made without my name on there. It would probably actually be a logo or something, but hopefully I could get some visibility no matter what it is.
For other files, I was thinking of making a void in the 3d file of my name. This would require others to view the whole file with hidden edges and catch it, before they could delete it. This would merely be for academic or other purposes to prove I made the design first.
Are there any other ways I can attach my name or logo to my designs? I want to put more and more of them out there but some of these things already have others monetizing the designs by selling them. I would atleast like my name or logo on there somehow.
For example, there's a design that I made that can be manufactured 1 piece at a time for only $40 at sendcutsend. There is someone who sells it for $70 each. I'd have loved to have made my design carry my name and/or logo. Like if I provide my files for free, one thing I want is if people see it for sale for $70, I want them to be able to find that they can get it made themselves for $40. I just want credit for these designs and to make sure they're not unfairly monetized.
Advice welcome!
1 Answer
I feel your pain. Other than putting some kind of physical watermark on each part as you've described, there isn't much else you can do.
I place the watermark in two places. One easily viewable on the finished part but in an area that doesn't distract from it's intended purpose so there is no need to remove it. Another is placed in a very inconspicuous location in a very small size that is unlikely to be found by anyone unless they know where to look.
Always two locations. The first location is just advertising for yourself. The second in an inconspicuous location is to prove ownership should it come into question.
Unfortunately there is no method that is foolproof. If someone is intent on pirating your design they're going to do it no matter what. However what you can do is make it cumbersome to do without your consent. And hopefully make it easy to prove a design is yours down the road.
I've had designs pirated. So far I haven't had any designs pirated that have a watermark. I think thieves are just too inexperienced at removing these watermarks or too lazy to even try.
Another option is to sell your 3d designs on a website setup for sales like Cults3d. Place them up for sale for something ridiculously low like one dollar. Someone that wants it will have no problem paying a dollar. Whereas thieves are too cheap to even spend a dollar. Plus some other websites are scraping data from these sites and republishing your designs. They will skip over all designs that charge anything at all. Even though they usually link back to your original design, you really lose control when your designs go viral on multiple websites outside your control. That presents even more opportunities for the thieves.
