I can see both sides. I don't know if I would say what she did was unethical. As a teacher, my classes are my own intellectual property, regardless of what pattern I'm teaching, as long as I'm not using anything from the pattern in my handouts and everyone buys their own copy. The fact that she's competing with you seems to be the core issue. If she were teaching in person, would you have the same objections? I understand the concerns you listed, like losing SEO position to her, but we can't regulate competition. I have no idea how her video compares to yours, but I would certainly make sure my pattern clearly states that I have a video class to go along with the pattern, and where to find it, and how to get on my email list, how to contact me, etc.
I appreciate you joining the convo Patti! I always support teachers who want to teach my stuff at stores - we all benefit from that - but teaching a class at a store is a one (or two) off deal with a handful of students. I'm for that because it supports our stores, and I see our stores as critical to the ecosystem that supports the customers, ESPECIALLY those that learn best from demonstrations. The person that created the online class made a competing product that will live in perpetuity - totally different animal. And I could have helped her make a far better class if she has just reached out - and that would serve the customer base better, no? Not to mention allow me to profit from my IP. As for your suggestions about giving info to get on the mailing list - so after the fact that it rarely counts (people are too lazy to type into a browser). My question to you would be, had you made your own pattern and a video class for it, and then I made my own without talking to you - how would you feel? Legal, certainly. Ethical? Certainly not the way I want to run things!
Like I said, I can see both sides. No, I would be unhappy if I created a pattern and a video with it and someone else created their own video to compete with me. No one wants competition, but it's going to come whether I like it or not. It's not something I would consider doing myself, but I'm not sure I see it as unethical (morally wrong). Shady? Yes.
I can see both sides. I don't know if I would say what she did was unethical. As a teacher, my classes are my own intellectual property, regardless of what pattern I'm teaching, as long as I'm not using anything from the pattern in my handouts and everyone buys their own copy. The fact that she's competing with you seems to be the core issue. If she were teaching in person, would you have the same objections? I understand the concerns you listed, like losing SEO position to her, but we can't regulate competition. I have no idea how her video compares to yours, but I would certainly make sure my pattern clearly states that I have a video class to go along with the pattern, and where to find it, and how to get on my email list, how to contact me, etc.
I appreciate you joining the convo Patti! I always support teachers who want to teach my stuff at stores - we all benefit from that - but teaching a class at a store is a one (or two) off deal with a handful of students. I'm for that because it supports our stores, and I see our stores as critical to the ecosystem that supports the customers, ESPECIALLY those that learn best from demonstrations. The person that created the online class made a competing product that will live in perpetuity - totally different animal. And I could have helped her make a far better class if she has just reached out - and that would serve the customer base better, no? Not to mention allow me to profit from my IP. As for your suggestions about giving info to get on the mailing list - so after the fact that it rarely counts (people are too lazy to type into a browser). My question to you would be, had you made your own pattern and a video class for it, and then I made my own without talking to you - how would you feel? Legal, certainly. Ethical? Certainly not the way I want to run things!
Like I said, I can see both sides. No, I would be unhappy if I created a pattern and a video with it and someone else created their own video to compete with me. No one wants competition, but it's going to come whether I like it or not. It's not something I would consider doing myself, but I'm not sure I see it as unethical (morally wrong). Shady? Yes.