Seriously ? . . .

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Obviously the knockoff brands don’t teach zen or confidence in its lessons or else their teachers wouldn’t still be here two months later making angry comments.

It is such a shame to see such hatred, jealousy, conflict…
I feel so sad to see that no Zen around here!
I support Rick and Maria, so I will want to see that Rick and Maria show the true ‘Zen’ to all of us.
It will be very obvious that loving and embracing others is what the true ‘Zen’ must pursue.
It can be heard to be ideal.
BUT, I think that this is the best and most beautiful way that many people can enjoy tangling.
l pray for all of you to have peace in mind.

I must say this blog had me laughing and slightly disappointed. Laughing at how I can see so much here taken out content. These two books being half quoted cost $1.Beyond that it is asked you continue to practice your talkent and share your knowledge. To help others grow.

My disappointment in so many willing to follow and not research for themselves. I like to investigate and not be spoon fed information that can be missleading.
Zentangling has a different way altogether if meditation combined with drawing. Not using guides or tools just flow if the pen to paper. Tangling is no rules designing. I see a huge difference in both techniques myself with a little investigating on both sides.
No doubt a CZT class is a life changing experience and fantastic opertunity. The technique has it’s place and a great tool for many.

I love Zentangle and have been doing it all my life. I appreciate that Rick and Maria have turned this into a successful business. But much of what they teach was commercialized by Carol Edmonston waaaay back in the day when I first learned that my lifelong love of doodling was a type of art. I see nowhere on their website any thanks to those that have come before or thanks to the artists whose sculptures and buildings they’ve “deconstructed” into “official” patterns. I love their well thought out choices for products and they’ve obviously come up with a great business model but they weren’t the first to commercialize “doodling” and they won’t be the last. Don’t believe me? Google and read up on Carol Edmonston or books from the 17th centuryvthat show drawing patterns. Do some research before you bash Ina.

I suppose if I had invested well over $1000 to become a CZT I too would be tempted to stand by my investment and be indignant about someone taking doodling in a different direction. What is sad is that so many have chosen to follow and defend Rick and Maria without fact checking their claims or the legality of their claims. All would do well to research Sacred Doodling by Carol Edmonston as a starting point and then repetitive pattern drawing and patterns throughout history. I don’t have a problem with Rick and Maria making a business out of repetitive pattern drawing and capitalizing on the meditative value. They are providing a good service and product to their customers. Claiming what they teach, the method and patterns are original to them is where I have a problem. Before you attempt to bully me, please check the facts. It is like McDonalds claiming all rights to making and selling hamburgers and bullying everyone else who makes and sells hamburgers. Peace and unity to all.

Dear Rick,
dear Maria,
dear Team,

I didn’t follow all the comments on this side but it was enough to get a feeling of the atmosphere. Let’s just say, it’s awful. Yes, people show there support, which I love, but at the same time, there are so many hard words on both sides.

I am no CZT because I do live in Germany and I’m not able to afford a trip to the USA and the cost of the training, but I’m saving up and one day, I will be.
The reason for this is, that I’d love to teach people everything about this precious gift, that I found in tangling. At the same time, I respect (what a beautiful word in so many ways) your ideas and your decision to train all your teachers in person. This is so rare today and the only way to ensure, your message is delivered the way you mean it.

There was a lot of talk about money. I don’t know other countries there but here it comes down to the question “what do I get out of this?” far too often. I don’t think this is the real matter here. We all know, that you have to raise money if you want to buy food. That’s just how it is. Way more important right here is ‘hurt’. It hurts a lot to see something we all trust and believe in dragged down like this. It also hurts to learn, that a certification one received isn’t worth anything because it is based on thievery.
I think to heal this, you need to trust. You are teaching so much more than how to set a few lines on a piece of paper. Look at all the people you helped. Ill or desperate people. Look at the beautiful community you created and still create. Whenever I’m in contact with tanglers (certificated or not) the world gets so small and this is the real gift. A gift that needs great care.
I would take this to court. But since I’m an author, I treasure thoughts and ideas way higher than most people do. I’m also someone who likes a good compromise. Maybe there is a way to find a solution outside of courtrooms and lawyers.

In the end, let me asure you, that you do a great job and I can’t wait to meet you in person once I’m able to pay for my tickets.

Hugs
Tanja

Hi
Take her to court.
Your company will be passed down to your kids grandkids greatgrandkids.
She is a thief.
You do not need to hire an expensive lawyer.
The data presents itself well.

I have been following this from the beginning with the hope that the truth would come out, but sadly all I have seen is the ranks of the CZT’s cliques tighten up and the atmosphere become distant.

Let’s all just be honest here…this has nothing to do with “zen” anything. It’s ALL about MONEY! Rick and Maria thought they had a monopoly cash cow on their hands and that was one of the “selling points” I am pretty sure they hawked to get others to buy into becoming CTZ’s. Problem was Ina found a way to legally redirect some of that flow her way.

So let’s take a close look at Rick’s own words…

1. “When Maria and I formulated the Zentangle Method, we perceived it as a gift. We, our family, and our family of CZTs around the world are caretakers of that gift.”

One does not usually have to pay anything when given “Gifts”. In addition a “gift” once given becomes the soul property of the recipient who can in turn do as they like with it.

2. “We are now at a choice point.”

What is the “choice”? Is it to let it go, or is it to try and use the CTZ’s to create a paper tiger in the hopes Ina will back down because we (Rick and Maria) know we have no legal recourse?

3. “Our attorneys advise us to engage in the familiar pattern of appealing to the legal machinery of various regimes of power to address this wrong. But first, we wish to explore a less familiar but, I believe, a much older pattern . . . the cooperation and collaboration of the community.”

If your attorneys told you that you stood even a chance of winning you would not be considering any other options. If you did you would be the worst business owners on the planet. BUT…low and behold…you “choice” option is to engage… “the cooperation and collaboration of the community.” There’s that paper tiger!

4. “Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman." — Louis Brandeis
Perhaps the sunlight of awareness can be sufficient in this matter.”

The last sentence is the real truth. They are hoping by having the CTZ’s apply enough pressure they can force Ina to close down, thereby giving them back their monopoly cash cow.

And finally, the disclaimer designed to protect them from a lawsuit from Ina for slander…

5. “Therefore we post this blog as an information source. Please share it with anyone who has questions or might be interested to learn about Creative Pattern Tangling and its relationship (such as it is) with the Zentangle Method. Feel free to contribute to it thoughtfully in the comments below.”

Note Rick uses the phrase..”such as it is” which allows him to back peddle and later say, his intention was never to imply she actually “stoled” anything should she decide to come after them.

Like I said, it’s all about MONEY! The part that breaks my heart…it’s those that have paid to become both CZT’s and CPT’s that will end up paying the most because the important truth is….it’s all here on FACEBOOK and the internet and that makes every bit of it PUBLIC DOMAIN, FREE to everyone.

If you want to print out every step out, every bit of technique, pictures of art work and create your own book of lessons you can! As someone who has a valid copyright since 1998 I can tell you the rules as they apply to “intellectual property” vs “public domain” are very difficult to enforce, and they become even more difficult when you post anything here as the legal agreement you agreed to when you created your profile with Facebook gives them 100% right to everything you post first! (it’s all in the fine print no one ever reads)

So I will end my thought with this…This is the real fall out from all this BS…

I belong to many of the Zentangle groups and across the board I have watched them become places where NON CZT’s are ignored. If a question about a technique is asked to a CZT, in most cases no reply is offered. Questions about materials…ignored and in more and more cases you are directed to something you can buy. The message that is coming across is that unless you are a CZT or a CPT you are just a potential dollar sign and that’s exactly what Rick, Maria and Ina are all counting on!

MONEY

PS. I will not be surprised if this comment is removed and I find myself ousted from some of my Zentangle groups. 😉 it’s ok…I am smart enough to keep a copy of everything!

Seriously is right! This is ridiculous. There is plenty of room in the world for both and it’s each person’s right to decide which, if they feel the need to choose sides. I wanted to be involved in both since my goal has been to learn and enjoy the artwork. But I am becoming disillusioned by the narrow mindedness of the “Zentangle” folks and choosing Ina Sonnenmoser. Have a nice day!

Hi Rick,Maria and family,

I am sitting in my room at the Biltmore reading this post…..

I don’t know what I would do if I was in your position. All I can say is to go with your energy and listen to your soul….When I do this, I feel disappointed this has occurred for all of you…

I hope you can heal, go on and continue living your dream…

Will see you all in a few hours.

So excited !!

Sharon J

If German CZT hadn’t attended the US Providence CZT seminar …Did they ever start such a business in Germany? They also won the CZT in the United States and they went back to their country and copied and they said “ It is different what we do, It is not copy.” Is this right?

I support Rick and Marie and It is a site that must be removed for the protection of the spirit and right of many CZTs in the world, and I believe that such a scam, which is full of individual greed, will surely pay the fiddler.

The only part that bothered me was the bit about the “pigment liners”. There are many brands…Micron, Copic and Steadler and i use them ALL in my Zentangle pieces along with fountain pens watercolor paints stamps stencils and ink the list goes on and on. Micron does not own the term pigment liner. Granted Copic calls their pens multi liners. But yes i agree sith everything that she has stolen. And its obvious she doesnt feel she has done anything wrong.

Rick and Maria: I could almost laugh at your alternate facts and the lemmings that follow you without hesitation, as if Zentangle were a sect – but your allegations are too vicious to even laugh at. Shame on you for daring to market Zen that way!

For anyone who is interested…Below is a statement from the US copyright.gov. It clearly states that a “method” is not copyrightable.

What Is Not Protected by Copyright
Copyright law does not protect ideas, methods, or systems. Copyright protec-
tion is therefore not available for ideas or procedures for doing, making, or
building things; scientific or technical methods or discoveries; business opera-
tions or procedures; mathematical principles; formulas or algorithms; or any
other concept, process, or method of operation.
Section 102 of the Copyright Act (title 17 of the
U.S.
Code
) clearly expresses
this principle: “In no case does copyright protection for an original work of
authorship extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, method of operation,
concept, principle, or discovery, regardless of the form in which it is described,
explained, illustrated, or embodied in such work.”
Inventions are subject matter for patents, not copyrights. For information
about patent laws, contact

What Is Protected by Copyright

Copyright protection extends to a description, explanation, or illustration of
an idea or system, assuming that the requirements of copyright law are met.
Copyright in such a case protects the particular literary or pictorial expression
chosen by the author. But it gives the copyright owner no exclusive rights in the
idea, method, or system involved.
Suppose, for example, that an author writes a book explaining a new system
for food processing. The copyright in the book, which comes into effect at the
moment the work is fixed in a tangible form, prevents others from copying or
distributing the text and illustrations describing the author’s system. But it will
not give the author any right to prevent others from adapting the system itself
for commercial or other purposes or from using any procedures, processes, or
methods described in the book

As far as “patent pending” that simply means that a patent has been applied for NOT that there IS a patent. Just because one applies for a patent does not mean that it will be granted as I’m sure you are well aware.

We are all able to pursue our art as we see fit and share and or teach if we choose. Capitalism at it’s best.

Haven’t read through all these comments, but I believe this originates from a USA website: www.pattern-collections.com. They have a list of certified “coaches” which includes Ina.

I’ve come late to all of this, and am surprised at how much of people’s energy it has consumed. I’d rather spend mine tangling! It’s time to put a lid on it, and my opinion is that Ina is deluded, and won’t back down without legal action, and a precedent should be set about your intention to protect your intellectual property. Otherwise, the door is open for others to follow this path. Sad that an intelligent person doesn’t understand " intellectual property " but there you have it. Good luck!

…there are clear copyright-rules: if Ina has commited a copyright-crime in stealing your intellectual property and if you have indeed copyrighted your teaching method in Europe, than only you can do anything against this, and in my opinion, you should. Only you can tell your attorneys to eliminate this. As a German CZT I feel left alone, if you only make words and ask us CZT’s for our opinions. I clearly don’t like, what Ina has done but I will not judge her. Sometimes it feels, like I don’t want to teach Zentangle any more, because the taste of money becomes too strong for me (buying all these project packs, buying the app, buying the books, the materials and so on). But we all make our own choices in the face of whatever happens. And if I feel left alone as said above, then I should try to find out…why? What am I expecting? Am I in the spirit of Zentangle?

As a published author who was only slightly ripped off years ago, I find her attitude and bravado quite amazing. When I read the your post on FB a few days ago I was shocked. Today I went exploring. She has 41 CPTs listed- some with websites. I wondering about having your lawyers contact those people as a coming in from the back tactic? Or is that dirty? For the present Rick, I think you need to lead a meditation session for your family and staff. You would all feel better!

Rick and Maria. I’m so sorry you have to go through all this. First of all I found you both and your entire family to be the most caring and sharing people I’ve ever met. For anyone who loves your art and wants to join your class they should know you guys don’t REALLY charge to become a teacher. The cost to you in order to provide a five-star weekend most be at least equal to what we pay. And then there is the management of the web site and blogs and newsletters. I love you all and am proud to be a Czt I have a tangle I made up on her page and I feel horrible for that. I’ve left her FB page and completely want nothing to do with her any more. Can I ask her to remove my tangle? For awhile I admired Ina expression of art but I could see her gearing up to cross the line

Rick, Maria, and the entire family, I am glad you shared this in the way you did. Which ever way you go I am behind you. I want you to know that I tangle everyday and at no time has this put a sour taste in my mouth, caused my Zentangle creativity or my drawings to not flow with the wonderful Zen you have put into this process. I will see you soon at CZT30 and I can’t wait. May God Bless you!

One word ’PLAGIARISM