Maple Insists: Etsy and Infringement? Aka, Why Matt...el and A...G Sux

So I'm lazy.

Yes, it's me, Maple - How could you tell?

Oh, because I said I am lazy - yes, yes, it's me - and yes, I am lazy.

So at the beginning of August the news went around that American Girl® was executing a crackdown on any handmade shops, etc. that were using "American Girl" in their listings.

It was really AG/Mattel forcing Etsy to police item listings and shops so that no one was infringing upon AG's copyright/trademark.

Since I was pretty much clueless about all of this stuff 

I waited to see what happened before reporting back to you guys (all five of my readers).

The basic thing is...

You can't blatantly use the word "American Girl" in your Etsy listings, your webstore, etc. in a way that could be construed as you selling an actual American Girl product.

You should say 18" doll.

And don't blatantly use "WellieWishers" or anything close to that.

Go with 14" doll there.

You can say things like: 

For 18" play dolls such as American Girl®.

But then you have to say you are not affiliated with American Girl®.

On every listing.

(I'm gonna make stickers of that ^^^ and place them all over my body.)

And everywhere you say American Girl® be sure 

to use that registered trademark symbol ---> ®.

You can say things like: For 14" Play dolls such as WellieWishers™.

But then say that you aren't affiliated with WellieWishers™.

Etc. Etc.

Or your listings could be deactivated, your shop deactivated, etc.

Yes, the Mattel and AG copyright/trademark po-po 

(police) has come around again.

They are protecting what is rightfully theirs.

Which is their right.

*Insert applause and back-slapping so that 

the lawyers feel they have done a good job*

This happens all the time.

It seems like a handful of sellers get targeted, yelled at, "punished," etc.

Their stores are never really "closed" permanently - but it can often be a very successful scare tactic to shutdown someone's listings and make it a giant pain-in-the-a** to reactivate them, get your store back up and running, etc. etc.

They don't make it an easy fix.

And they don't really help you fix it easily and painlessly.

At least, that is what I can see.

What I see is a bunch of handmade sellers panicking and heartbroken.

Something they love has turned around and bit them in the butt.

Dear Mattel and AG and Etsy,

Does this have to be so traumatic on people?

Can't you simply message people to change their listings?

I'm probably missing something here, 

but this is why I say they suck in the title of this post.

It comes down to making people feel like they can't sell handmade stuff - or off-brand stuff, etc. - and what's the point of that?

Your brand, American Girl®, can stay healthy and relevant if you allow people to create a whole little ecosystem around it.

And if your brand, American Girl®, didn't sell such fugly doll clothing, people wouldn't be on Etsy looking for less-fugly doll clothing.

^^^ IMHO. ^^^

But in the end, when doing searches for doll clothes - keep 18" doll in mind, fits 18" doll, made for 18" dolls, etc. etc.

And if you have been hit with this copyright stuff, don't be too discouraged.

Keep sewing and crafting and creating.

And keep selling.

Don't let the corporations stop you.

Keep pushing forward.

Make the changes to your listings, and your tags, etc.

But keep selling.

Do whatever you have to do.

In the future I expect AG/Mattel to start cracking down on listings that use AG dolls as models - as they do this with other companies online that have used AG dolls as models.

So keep that in mind.

But until someone tells you to stop using AG dolls as models, 

I would keep using them so that people know how your items fit on the AGs.

Sigh. Sigh. Sigh.

Just keep swimming friends.

Just keep swimming.

p.s. This blog is in no way affiliated with American Girl®.

p.p.s Even if they asked me, this blog would 

never be affiliated with American Girl® in any way.

If it was, I couldn't sit here and type words like "sux" or "sucks" or "fugly."

GIFT20 Code for 20% off all American Girl Full-Priced Merchandise

Yep, it's that time of year!

When American Girl tries to make the last quarter of 2015 

as impressive as possible to the Mattel stockholders!

I mean, cough, cough...

...when American Girl puts stuff on sale!!!

Any toy company will tell you that the last quarter of a calendar year, which includes those wonderful gift-giving holidays, is where the bulk of their annual earnings comes from.

And so we see a 20% off code, GIFT20, 

which you can use at checkout online and in stores, 

for all full-price American Girl merchandise.

This will certainly help to boost the end-of-the-year numbers.

It works through Dec. 12, 2015.

Which is kinda amazing.

I mean, they must really need some sales.

Like, now.

And a lot of them.

And of course, we had the Cyber Monday sale.

And the Black Friday weekend sale.

And probably some more sales around the bend.

Maybe even Daily Deals?

Who knows.

But that 20% off is certainly meant to move Grace's merch.

Perhaps she didn't sell as well as they expected?

Who knows.

(She certainly didn't sell well in this household.)

All I know is -- please use the code 

and save yourself some dough, friends!!!

American Girl Order Placed Today!

Como estas, friends?

Happy New Year!

Happy New GOTY Day!

Last night, or rather, this morning at 4:38 am we placed 

an Isabelle item order through American Girl.

We wanted to order the Studio, but it was 'Sold Out' -- 

i.e. not stocked into the system yet. 

So then we added all her clothing and accessories into the cart instead. 

And her Funky Leggings said 'Unavailable.'

So they lost out on $275 and $12 from us.

And it is all available for ordering online now.

Poopies.

We'll order that stuff later, or buy it from the store.

But it was very disappointing not to be able to buy 

what we wanted right on New Year's.

Obviously at 4:38 am, they still weren't ready for us to order stuff.

Double poopies.

We are waiting to buy "Dramatic Arm Movement-Isabelle"

 in an AG store.

Not sure when that will happen,

but we prefer to buy her in person.

With AG's tendency to make dolls with wonky eyes and flawed wigs, 

we might as well buy the dolls in person, if possible.

And we want to make sure our Isabelle has those 

dramatic arm movements down pat.

Though we aren't sure in what universe an AG doll can stand 

like that successfully without falling over.

_________

So we purchased all of Isabelle's clothing, 

except the leggings and the meet outfit and accessories.

And we ordered her dance case and kitten.

Case may be useful for storage, 

and we are intrigued by the headbands and slippers.

The kitten looks a bit too much like a stuffed toy, but oh well.

Maybe he'll just be a stuffed toy in our play universe.

We want to get the new tennis outfit, 

but will probably buy it in person.

Despite the pink qualities it possesses, we love it because it reminds us of Oh Ha Ni's tennis outfits from one of our favorite Korean dramas, "Playful Kiss. ;-)

All of the pink=yuck Valentine's stuff will not being coming home with us.

Never. Never. Never.

Just no.

Blech.

Yikes.

Have to avert our eyes...

Pink!!!!

Hide!!!

And....

the new pink shoes will also not being coming here.

Maybe these heels will come home with us someday.

But for right now, we aren't sure what they would actually go with.

As far as Isabelle's Dance Barrrrrrrrre...

we aren't sure we need it.

Might be good props to have?

So maybe we'll buy it when we buy the Studio.

Overall, we like Isabelle's collection and 

give it two thumbs up.

More on that later today. :-)

Did you order/purchase any of the 

new American Girl items yet?

What is on your Wish List?

Halloween the American Girl Way: Maple's Thoughts Part Five

Hola!

Today we continue the "Maple's Thoughts" series about some of the Halloween costume offerings from American Girl.

The Ballet Outfit

Marketing this as a Halloween costume seems a bit too painful.

American Girl might as well have marketed their basketball uniform, track uniform, ice skating ensemble, gymnastics, softball, cheerleading outfits, and any other 

sporty/uniformy thing they could label as possible 'costume.'

Eight costumes right there!

Including one to be Lance Armstrong!

So the GOTY 2014 is supposed to be a ballerina.

Or a ballerina wannabe.

SPOILER ALERT!

I guess I am supposed to say that before I spoil something?

Or after?

Who knows...

If you didn't know this already, I can't help you.

Theoretically AG might be trying to move ye olde ballet outfit to make way 

for the new GOTY shinies -- which obviously won't be marketed as ballerina costumes for Halloween...

This baby says pink.

In fact it screams "PINK!!! PINK OR DIE!!!

You can take my life but you can never take my PINK!!!!!"

Which is fine if you like pink.

(We don't.)

And overall, this set looks great.

Good fabrics.

Good fit. Lots of pieces.

I just think the Ballet Outfit should be a Ballet Outfit,

and not a Halloween costume.

I for one would not look forward to skipping down the cold New England 

streets in a leotard and tights on Halloween.

Even a dancer's shrug couldn't make this outfit warm enough for

midnight in Salem Halloween activities.

But if you insist on sticking to a ballet outfit for a Halloween costume --
at least make it a show ballerina outfit,
not just a practicing in the studio outfit.

Like this baby.
Shimmer. Sequins. Feathered Tiara. Bling.
Armpit Ruffles.

Or the Swan Lake Swanny thing.

No one could say you just pulled this out of your after-school activity bag.

Show some creativity American Girl.

Man, it seems like I say that in every one of these posts....

______________

So that wraps up my "Maple's Thoughts" on 
AG's current Halloween 'costumes.'

If you want, I will continue my monologue on
Halloween-related items.

Vote below people.

Halloween the American Girl Way: Maple's Thoughts Part Four

Hola!

Today we continue the "Maple's Thoughts" series about some of the Halloween costume offerings from American Girl.

And then there is the Genie Costume...

We should know by now that I despise one-piece costumes.

The genie costume should be cool, and it sorta is -- but it is one-piece and made out of fabrics that again scream "COSTUME!"

The brocade design is neat.

But the three pieces of gold paper/plastic sewn on the front look cheapo.

The booties look cool.

Not really sure they are worth the price of the whole outfit though.

In the end, American Girl's Genie Costume makes me want to make my own version of a genie costume -- which is sorta not the point AG.

American Girl shouldn't be making costumes that 

I automatically want better versions of.

The problem is that no one else is making better costumes for the 

AG-size doll than they are.

Which is sad.

But if there was competition out there offering great costumes, 

they'd have to step up their game, maybe...

Wishcraft makes a human version that actually looks a bit more like the 

genie costume from "I Dream of Jeannie."

And it doesn't just look like a mish-mash of a genie and Disney's Jasmine, 

i.e. an Arabian princess costume,

i.e. AG's Genie Costume.

I'd like a doll version of this set below.

To me it looks way cooler.

And in general, why a genie?

That doesn't seem like a costume that kids are clamoring to wear nowadays.

Why not make something more empowering than what looks like a harem girl outfit?

Yeah, a genie is supposed to be all-powerful, but they are trapped in a bottle only to grant wishes... so...

How about other options that don't say "just sit there and look pretty?"

I totally want to shoot things with arrows.

Just in a slightly longer dress.

This is made of awesome.

Not only do I get a sword and a shield, I also get furry boots.

Nothing says empowered like having the ability to turn people to stone.

I dare you to stare at me.

Why not a redo of the ol' AG Grecian Princess costume?

This one is a Greek Goddess.

I think I could rock this.

Bring me your offerings and first-born children, people!

Nothing says slash and stab like the Three Musketeers.

This costume manages to be girly, cute, and warrior-worthy.

And then there are pirates.

Why no pirate costumes AG?

Worried we might become pirates when we grow up???

Cleopatra.

Which you would think would sell for many reasons.

But for us, dude she was a real Queen of Egypt.

I like being the Queen.

Bow to me my peons.

Another Queen/Princess costume with an edge: Viking.

Those people were warriors, man.

And the Scandinavian thing is in with the coming of Disney's "Frozen."

Another historical gem that says I rule!

The Statue of Liberty people.

Nothing says tough like being made out of metal.

One of my favs -- a sassy Bandita, i.e. A female Zorro.

About time someone did this.

Slashy-slashy, stab-stab, give me your candy!

This girl looks a little bit too sweet to be a ninja -- 

but eh, I still support anything ninja-themed.

Ninjas AG? Ever heard of them?

I for one would love to dress up like my Ninjago Lego figures... 

I mean Kenna's Ninjago Lego figures...

Nya, Sister of Fire, Weapon of Choice: Double Daggers.

http://ninjago.lego.com/en-us/world/characters/default.aspx

Ring a bell AG?

Why is it that Lego (which consistently fails at creating empowered female characters)

can have a girl ninja but you can't?

Empress Josephine.

I'm okay with being an Empress.

Crown, staff, jewels. My own Empire.

Sounds perfect.

And then there is the awesome and hilarious Faora costume, 

from the Superman stories.

Yes, someone made this for young girls.

Now AG whipping out a Faora costume would stop my heart -- but still they could do a dark-themed warrior costume. Why not?

Or how about a policewoman, a firefighter, a doctor?

A super-heroine, a knight, an explorer?

A scientist, an alien, a robot, an astronaut?

A jet pilot, a race car driver, a Sith Lord, a Transformer?

Who is making the rules here?

No one. It's a free country.

Be brave. Be bold AG. 

Be empowering.

_______________

Stay tuned for Part Five when I, 

Magnificent Warrior-Empress-Queen Stabby-Slash Maple, 

talk about the Ballet Outfit -- 

the fourth and final outfit that AG is currently marketing as possibly useable as a Halloween costume...