Thread: Question about copyright

I was hoping someone might be able to help.

I saw a fairly simple geometric design on the internet and thought it would make a great quilt. I found lots of pictures with the same design but I can't find anything about who might have designed it. I googled copyright free designs and it comes up on numerous sites but you have to pay for the digital copy but it says it is "royalty free".

Even with my basic art skills LOL I have drawn out the pattern, can I use that design? If I enter my quilt in a show do I put it down as my design? I am fairly new at this and would hate to get this wrong.

Thanks for your advice

Good Question. I'm curious to see what others have to say. If you were just going to make a quilt for personal use, i would say there's no problem. I've made quilts where I've drafted the pattern from a quilt I saw online, so I hope this is the case!

If you were going to market the pattern, or sell the finished quilt, you would probably have issues.

Don't know about using it in a show.

A fairly simple geometric design in itself probably can't be copyrighted. Imagine what would happen if somebody had copyrighted a square.

Originally Posted by Scissor Queen

A fairly simple geometric design in itself probably can't be copyrighted. Imagine what would happen if somebody had copyrighted a square.

I'm in agreement. I know of people that put copyright on anything and everything they post or do. It doesn't mean a thing. In fact, I know a woman that puts copyright on the web sites she creates......and it doesn't mean a thing. She said it just stops people and they believe it. As for copyrighting any designs in the quilt world....very few are unique.

An acquaintance was the sister of a Disney copyright attorney. She told me he laughed when he heard the rumor-mill was churning again with stories of the little old lady who was sued by Disney for selling baby clothes she made with Disney licensed fabric. He joked 'big bad Disney' was at it again, which of course meant the story was hogwash.

I learned from the Tabberone website that some business people knowingly post incorrect copyright information at their businesses because it makes most people do what they want. Even if it's saying "when you buy my pattern you can only make 2 items that are for sale". Hogwash!

I'm thankful for people like Tabberone, it's so nice to see someone setting things straight.

Why are you asking for legal advice here? I mean, half of us aren't from the your country, and I can't imagine the other half has a clue? If it's something you're that worried about, you really should be asking a lawyer, right?

Originally Posted by Christine-

Why are you asking for legal advice here? I mean, half of us aren't from the your country, and I can't imagine the other half has a clue? If it's something you're that worried about, you really should be asking a lawyer, right?

do you for some reason believe a lawyer could not be a quilter? or a member of this board? this board is full of many many knowledgeable people, Lawyers, Doctors, Designers, Authors- there is no reason to not ask the questions here.