Last year when all the publicity was going on over the McCalls magazine article on copyright, there was a basic Lone Star quilt featured. Of course it had a copyright on it. I called a knowledgable person ask why a traditional pattern could be copyrighted. that person had also written an article on copyright so felt she has some knowledge.
I was told that the Lone Star was not copyrighted but how it was constructed using the fabrics. That made it unique. As for as the basic pattern - that was not copyrighted. Also the instructions were copyrighted.