Originally Posted by
pennyhal2
If something is patented, you can go online at the to see if it actually has a patent on it. Just go to the Smithsonian's website and look the patent up. If it's not there, it doesn't have a patent. If the patent number is not on the printed directions, it probably is not patented.
Lots of confusion here between "patent" and "copyright".
Regarding quilting - you cannot copy and distribute someone else's written directions for a quilt pattern without their permission.
You CAN look at a picture of a quilt and figure out how to make it yourself. In fact, maybe you'll come up with a better method! 😁