lalaland

People ask me all the time for a copy of a pattern I've used that they like. I have to be honest, if it's really really old, and not being published any longer, I'll make a copy, otherwise I'll tell them who the pattern maker is and let them know where they can buy it themselves. The last pattern I copied was nearly 25 years old.

A few years ago a coworker that was retiring was asking me to make copies of all sorts of patterns she wanted from me based on projects I had made. I couldn't believe how brazen she was. I gave her all the info she needed to find and purchase the patterns for herself. All were patterns individuals had created and copyrighted. She never spoke to me again! She knew exactly what she was doing, she wanted something for nothing, and I was not about to oblige her!

I have the same issue with my SIL but I just never provide her with what she asks for and eventually she forgets about it!

JanetM

I believe it is illegal to copy a pattern to share with others. Everyone should buy their own pattern so that the creator is compensated for their intellectual property.

Quilt shops are very careful about this subject and always ask their students to purchase the pattern or book for the classes they conduct.

Rebecca VLQ

I'll echo what others have said...you may pass along the original pattern to someone else, but you may not copy it.

yonnikka

Copyright laws are enacted to protect the original creator's rights to benefit economically from their work, and to receive due recognition for their creativity. The law states that another may not infringe on their right to PUBLISH the work. Many times you will see the phrase that the item (a pattern) can be photocopied, enlarged, modified, etc. for the purchaser's own use, but not multiplied with the intention of sharing it with the entire group of quilters, or subscribers to your website, etc. Sometimes it is techniques that are subject to copyright or patent.

MyWifeMadeME

<grin> and congrats!!

dixiechunk

I would be surprised if anyone on this board would actually say that making copies of copyrighted materials is okay. But my question is what about tutorials? If someone posts a tutorial on the board and gives measurements and demos a technique in a published pattern isn't that the same thing?

Buckeye Rose

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The copywriter gets the money from the buyer who pays for the pattern. It then belongs to the buyer, but s/he can not SELL this actual pattern or a copy, but I think can give it or loan it to others. The resulting quilt I think can put it up for raffle or sale for charity, but the selling of the quilt, well, we've had a lot of comments on that, probably is okay, and from what I've gleaned from all the fall-out, making a quilt from that pattern for a client might be legal. Making a quilt from this pattern for gifting, I'm sure won't make any pattern maker rush to a lawyer.
If I'm not correct, please comment on this.[/quote]

Legally, you can sell the actual pattern, but not a copy...it's just like cd's and dvd's.....what you make from the pattern is yours and can altered or made exact without giving credit to anyone. They made the pattern to sell and that is where they get their credit and $$$. What I do with the pattern once in my possession is my business. If I so choose to let everyone know what the pattern is called and where to get it....good for me, but not required.

gunny148

Ok i think i understand...If i use a pattern out of one of my quilt mags from 1987 is it mine? i bought the book the pattern is in the book, right?

Ramona Byrd

I think this is a very confusing idea, but I wondered if the copyright has an ending date.

I do know from my late FIL, who patented plants, that his patents had a life span of about 17 years, after that anyone could take cuttings, grow and sell those same plants under any name they choose to put on them. That was in the 1960s, I think now it's 20 years.

But intellectual property seems to be far different. This is what I found on the Internet.

On the other hand, this doesn't bother me since I find it difficult to follow intricate patterns and much prefer to make up my own, or some I find in old family pictures. Those I suppose could be legally "mine" if I would care to do something about them, but they look a lot like most you see now so there's no problem about doing something like them.
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How long does a copyright last? In 1998, Congress fine-tuned the law to allow works to be copyrighted for the life of the creator plus 70 years. This means that 70 years after the creator dies, the copyright expires if no family heir files for an extension to renew it. After that it is in “Public Domain,” allowing anyone to use the work. So the fact that a magazine, book or pattern is out of print, or the author is dead, does not mean you can copy it.
(Or at least until it is so old no one could read the printing?)

yonnikka

Copywrited written (Published) works (in the U.S.A.) have a copyright that expires 70 years after the Death of the copyright owner. That time frame gives the spouse/children/grandchildren/corporation time to collect $$$ on the publication, through republication, re-creating it in different forms (from script to book to recorded book, to braille, etc) for a very generous amount of time.