Originally Posted by tabberone
Fons and Porter has ONE registered copyright for a magazine in 2000. Assuming they did hold a valid copyright on the pattern or on the design, once they sell you the pattern they have sold you the right to make the item and then sell it. Unless there is a mutual signed agreement stating otherwise. In 1908 the Supreme Court ruled a copyright owner cannot impose use restrictions on something they have sold by simply placing a statement on the copyrighted item. They must have a written contract. Likewise, saying after the sale that there are use restrictions are not enforceable.
That is right. Another thing that gets me is embroidery designs. when someone buys and design and doesn't want it anymore and wants to get rid of it by selling it, the designer can say no. If someone buys a house from an architect and then wants to move can the designer say, "you can't do that???" No! I am just speaking out I guess. I sold my machine so I don't do that any more.