I have a good quilting friend and recently we went shopping and I purchased a pattern. It was a $12 pattern with lots of embroidery in it and we both loved it. She works at a quilt shop where there is a large light table and said when it came time to trace my pattern I could come in and use it. When I was there yesterday she asked if I brought the pattern so "we" could start tracing it. It seems she assumed that I would share the pattern with her. I think that if she wants to make her own, she should have have purchased one herself. Am I being selfish? The designer of the pattern deserves her cut too! I am concerned about offending my friend. I know people do this all the time, but it doesn't sit right with me.

Then tell her that you are very sorry, but you can't share the pattern because it would be unfair to the designer and a violation of copyright law. And tell her that you would like to "support" that designer by having as many people as possible buy their own pattern. In other words, "Just say NO".

if you're uncomfortable with it just tell her that - i've found people get offend when you make up stories, just tell her the truth - you believe the quilt artist she get her cut for her time.

The fact that you are using the light table at her workplace puts you in untenable situation. Stay home and copy it on a window facing the sun.

You are correct and she should know that. Kudos to you for being fair to the creative people who made it in the first place.

Taking your friend's comments in the best possible way, she might have been saying that she would help you trace the pattern for yourself particularly if it is intricate and will take some time to do it. However, if that might not be the case it will be very awkward as I agree with you about patterns and copyright. It seems to me you have two choices. You can simply tell your friend that you are very committed to design copyright practices and she is putting you in an awkward position by asking this when the pattern is still available for sale and easily obtainable. or... you could take the turtle approach. Work on it out of her sight and if she brings it up again say that you've gone off it for a while. If she gets insistent, tell her you'll sell her your copy and then get yourself another one. Although best to make sure in advance that you *can* still get another one.

Actually I have a much bigger problem with your friend's rudeness in assuming that you will share. It's one thing to accept an offer, it's quite another to insist on a share you have not earned in something.

Just my humble opinion and worth the price paid for it.:-)
Diana

Actually, I do agree with this one, sort of. Not the untenable part, just that this does avoid any conflict.

I think that she misunderstood when you bought it and thought that it would be shared. Perhaps some of her other friends share them like that or she shares her patterns with them. I think I would explain to her the misunderstanding and then share it with her just this once to save her some embarassment but make it clear that you aren't going to do it again. Then I would have her do the tracing, you paid for the pattern, she should do the work to copy it.

This topic has come up a few times, friends who want/assume they can use patterns that they know you have and the controversy with regard to the designer's rights to the pattern, not to mention the markup the retailer would have received, and the printer (etc).

So I have to ask. What is the difference between someone "sharing" a pattern and someone selling a used pattern here on QB? The only difference is that the original purchaser gets a few $$ but not anyone else in the loop.

Just curious - not judgemental. I've bought used books here and I guess now I'm questioning it.

I'm sorry you're in such a sticky position. I agree with copying it at home and pointing out that violating the copyright is illegal. If she's a true friend, she should understand.