patricej

personally, i take the lazy way out.

i won't make a quilt to sell that i made using somebody else's pattern.
i won't enter a quilt into a competition that i made using somebody else's pattern.
the same goes for anybody else's quilt i saw that is [or at least seems to be] truly unique and original.

if i ever have enough confidence in the quality of my work to enter something in a show, i will check the rules carefully. if something is unclear to me, i will contact the show coordinators for clarification. if i don't like the rules i won't enter the show.

i won't buy any book or pattern that is sealed in such a way that i can't first read the copyright notice and attempt at restrictions. whether or not i agree with what's written, if i don't like what i see i won't buy it.

i will not wrap myself around an axle worrying about whether or not i like the law.
i will do my best to obey the law as i understand it.
i will continue to look for and read reliable articles from competent sources until i am sure i understand all the finer points of copyright law as it applies to quilting and my country. (laws are not the same the world 'round.)