Originally Posted by mlaceruby

Someone several years ago had posted to a machine embroidery group about this type of issue.
A lawyer( husband of amember) responded that to make a case of copyright infringement a designer would have to prove a loss because of your actions.

So they would need to lose money because you were competing with them in the marketplace with their item.
the example of Disney was used.
Disney has stores and sell items embroidered with Disney cartoons on them mickey mouse,pluto etc.
If you made and sold embroidered hats with the same cartoons you would be taking away from their income so copyright infringement but if you only made for yourself and you purchased the designs from them- no infringement.