I posted an update about the first 24 hours which has some numbers about how far and fast the coverage spread.

I’ve also set up a website at http://www.defendart.org which will continue to have updates and further info about artists’ rights, copyright and intellectual property.

The Fire Imp kickstarter project that I created to sell new art for funds reached 200% funding on our goal in two weeks. Contributions and sales through my blog have also been substantial. A huge number of artists have volunteered work of their own to sell in order to raise funds.

Once this matter is concluded, I will be donating any funds raised in excess of our court costs to start a new not for profit devoted to protecting other artists’ rights in the future. I’m working with some very good people to research and define how that organization will be structured and how it will operate.

I don’t have any great suggestions, but I want to say that these postings and all the other internet channels mentioned to help John get the word out and fundraise is exactly what cyberspace is all about. This is the internet at its best!

Good luck John and David WILL slay Goliath!

Thanks!

“Team Unger = Team Defend Your Creative Rights,
Intellectual Property, Reputation, and Livelihood”

Or something more succinct edited by Joan or
her more wordsmith savvy Hounds!

Note: The shirt should be BLACK, matching John’s fashion sensibilities (and make sure you have women’s style, too;
not just Beefy T’s! So that the Girls and the Boys can wear them!)

I work for an artist occasionally and I understand the value of what you’re trying to do. I wish you all the best both for your business and for all artists who could end up in similar situations.

Copyright issues are one of the big bedevilments of being a self-employed artist, so there is an ongoing need for information to empower the arts and crafts community.

John should email The Crafts Report, which covers business for the professional crafter. Their contact page is here: http://www.craftsreport.com/contact-us.html

John should ask for the name of a writer that could be interested in his story. I’m betting he’ll be directed to someone that writes for the column titled “crafts law,” but you never know, some other writer could be looking for material for a feature article on copyright issues.

He should also contact the American Craft Council. Go to the web site http://www.craftcouncil.org/ and click on “Staff” for a list of email addresses for the Senior Editor, Managing Editor and Assistant Editor. Email one of them (I’d try the Assistant Editor first) and ask them to suggest the names of any writers they know that might be interested in this story.

When people have a compelling story, they often contact magazines. But it can be far more effective to contact writers. Editors have many tasks to focus on. Writers have only one—get a story to get a paycheck.

A freelance writer, in order to make enough money on a story, will always look for ways to spin or slant the material to fit several different publications. That means feeding a story to one writer could result in articles in several publications.

While the publicity from articles may not directly raise money for a defense fund, it will raise John’s public profile. That can impact on how much he sells and the prices he’s able to charge. It may also draw the attention of people and organizations in a position to help him. After all, you never know who’s reading an article and what kind of power they have to help…even when that article is on a blog!

1. This is perfect for a David vs. Goliath campaign, where not only do you make a big deal about the big gun trying to crush you, but you focus on their bad ethics–not just ripping off your lifetime of intellectual property, but actually trying to prevent you from using your own ideas! Call this company the Bernie Madoff of Beautiful Bowls, or maybe the Enron of Elegant Art.

2. Make a list of every community where that company has a manufacturing or sales presence, and then compile a press list of newspapers, TV, radio, and community websites in or close to that area. Send out a press release and video link on the order of “Local Company STEALS Designs From Self-Employed Fine Artist and Tries to Force Him Out of the Market”

3. Flip that around in your own community with a headline like “Local Artist Stares Down Crooked Competitor who Tries to Force Him Out of the Market”

4. If you contact me off-list (shel at principledprofit.com), I’ll comp you electronic copies of my two relevant books: Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First actually has a small section on dealing with predatory competitors, while Grassroots Marketing: Getting Noticed in a Noisy World offers a whole lot of practical how-to on staging a media campaign (among many other marketing methods).

In all publicity, be sure to mention how people can contribute to your legal defense fund even if they’re not going to the event.

Good luck!

Hopefully the implications from all the bad publicity could be enough for them to settle.