Thread: Copyrighting quilts?

http://lfg.live.mediaspanonline.com/...E-021514_1.pdf


This article appeared in a local 'farmers' paper that is read across the country. I just thought it was interesting and certainly provides 'food for thought.' I know we have discussed this before!!

I'm for copyrights when they are used correctly. If you work to come up with something unique you should be able to protect your interests. From an artist's point of view copyrights are a good thing. Without them people would be free to reproduce your art at a profit without paying you anything. If you want to share your pattern with everyone, Great! You might still want to copyright it though. Otherwise someone might start selling something you intended as a gift. You can use the copyright in that case to make sure the pattern stays free to everyone.
I do think it's wrong to copyright something that already exists as your own idea. That's a form of theft.

Quilts are complicated. Many patterns are the same basic pattern of blocks, just different color ways. I'm not sure how you could copyright one of those.
It seems unfair at first but the company in the article did buy the rights to that pattern from the original designer. It sounds like they're just trying to put a stop to it's unauthorized use.
Rodney

Originally Posted by Rodney

I'm for copyrights when they are used correctly. If you work to come up with something unique you should be able to protect your interests. From an artist's point of view copyrights are a good thing. Without them people would be free to reproduce your art at a profit without paying you anything. If you want to share your pattern with everyone, Great! You might still want to copyright it though. Otherwise someone might start selling something you intended as a gift. You can use the copyright in that case to make sure the pattern stays free to everyone.
I do think it's wrong to copyright something that already exists as your own idea. That's a form of theft.

Quilts are complicated. Many patterns are the same basic pattern of blocks, just different color ways. I'm not sure how you could copyright one of those.
It seems unfair at first but the company in the article did buy the rights to that pattern from the original designer. It sounds like they're just trying to put a stop to it's unauthorized use.
Rodney

I agree with this, so many of the patterns are the same blocks that have been around for over 100 years, just a different color and I see where the pattern is for sale by such and such...so many times over the years I have seen the same pattern made available by different people/deisgners that are in a different fabric color/design, like instead of two colors there is now three colors in the block and so on or they added an extra boarder such as two, one a strip then a wider one. Or a corner stone. I can't tell you how awful I myself have bought a pattern and change the lay out (amont of color or size) or made a mistake and decided I like the mistake but then I don't try to put it out as a new pattern either.

Then there are those free patterns I have seen where a LQS will make the qilt, wall Hanging. Table Runner, Purse or what ever ithe free pattern is, then make a copy of the patterns often retyping it and sell it.

I would think that when it gets right down to it, they couldn't prove they were first. What I find interesting also is the companies that copy right their quilting fabric. I understand things like Spongebob, Batman, and other characters but sometimes it's surprising to see a copyright on the selvage of a seemingly common little print.

Makes one wonder could we play with a sweat sgirt turn it into a jacket then copyright how about placemats, tablerunners the list could go on and on then I wonder about these books first came stack and whack then came one block wonder same pattern different lay out another oned was dancing [something or other| had pattern for us to male pattern using tenplate plastic I took the class then along comes the twister by someone else same pattern but plastic template included also I have old quilt magaizines dated back to 1979 and now I see some of the same patterns pop up by someone different and you guessed it COPYRIGHTED so I do have a question on quilt patterns and fabric WHAT IS COPYRIGHT I realize it is illegal to copy a pttern and sell it but once purchased seems it should be ours any answers to this would love to know

...so they are copyrighting the design shown on the article? Well,there are so many other designs that may be just as appealing. I think this company is shooting itself in the foot...it is amazing what heights human greed can reach

someone in here just gave all the cutting instructions on a pattern that was for sale online . also gave the link, but come on.