INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & DESIGN INTEGRITY

Preserving the Art of Remembrance Since 1908

1. A Legacy of Originality

Brown Memorials is not a standard monument retailer; we are a design studio. For five generations, our family has dedicated years of rigorous training to master the disciplines of architecture, typography, and stone carving.

The designs featured on this website, in our portfolio, and in cemeteries across the country are original artistic works created by Brown Memorials. They are the result of our unique creative process and are protected under United States and International Copyright Law.

2. The Distinction Between "Stone" and "Art"

We frequently discover that our designs have been photographed or downloaded and presented to other manufacturers to be "copied" at a lower price.

To the Families: We urge you to understand that a design is more than just a shape. It is the precise calculation of proportions, the specific curvature of serifs in our hand-drawn typography, and the expert balance of negative space.

  • The Risk of Imitation: When a third-party manufacturer attempts to copy a Brown Memorials design, they lack the training to understand why the design works. The result is almost always a "clumsy" imitation—incorrect proportions, poor legibility, and a lack of artistic soul.

  • The Honor of Originality: Your loved one deserves an original tribute, not a bootlegged copy. If you love a design you see here, please contact us. We work with families nationwide.

3. Warning to Industry Competitors

Brown Memorials is an active member of the American Institute of Commemorative Art (AICA). We hold our work to the highest ethical and artistic standards, and we expect the same from our colleagues in the industry.

It is strictly prohibited to:

  • Download our portfolio images to use in your own sales materials or websites.

  • "Reverse engineer" our custom client commissions for your own profit.

  • Produce memorials that are substantially similar to our proprietary designs.

We Active Monitor for Infringement: We take the protection of our intellectual property—and the unique tributes we create for our clients—very seriously. Brown Memorials actively monitors the marketplace. If we identify unauthorized reproductions of our work, we will pursue all available legal remedies to protect our heritage, including seeking statutory damages and legal fees.

4. Ownership of Custom Commissions

Unless explicitly transferred in writing, Brown Memorials retains the copyright to all preliminary sketches, scale drawings, and final monument designs created during our consultation process. Paying for a consultation or receiving a sketch does not grant a license to take that sketch to another manufacturer for production.