Changing the design a little makes it yours. The main thing is not to sell that pattern to someone else. You can make items and sell them though.

So WHY on Earth does it often say in books that you can't? That's what I don't understand. :shock:

I just did some more googling and here it says you CAN'T sell a quilt made from a copyrighted pattern because in effect, you are reproducing the pattern in the quilt itself. http://www.quiltingbusiness.com/quilting-copyright.htm Now I'm REALLY confused so am going to read further! :shock: :-D

Do you realize what it costs to get an actual copyright?Copyrights are for printed material. Patents are for objects and what you are making is a patent. I had a copyright on my song I wrote and it at the time cost me 125.00. A patent costs even more. Then there is a thing called a license on things. That would be like taking a painting someone did, printing it out on fabric. I can show it, donate it to non profit, but I can't sell it legally for my profit. http://www.copyright.gov/circs/index.html#fl

http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#what

This one explains it better.

I read your link and I see what you were talking about. Just change your design or style of the pattern so it isn't the same, give it a different name. If you are just selling at flea markets or locally, you shouldn't have any problem.

Just to stir the pot a little more -

If I make something from a pattern I purchased - even if it's something using a 9-patch or rails - which was probably modified from a zillion other sources -

I donate the item to a charity that is SELLING or RAFFLING the item to make money -

???????

all this talk about the copyright police reinforces my penchant for using TRADITIONAL blocks set my own way!!

I've never bought a 'pattern' put out by anybody but I do have lots of books and magazines -

Here's a good page that has actual legal cases and the results of the cases.

http://www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/trademarks.shtml

I was told that when I got permission from the owner of the buffalo prints that I used on a quilt, I could donate it to a nonprofit and they could sell it but I couldn't. Can you figure out that one? LOL That is why I'm changing the 2 pictures on the side borders on Crazy Horse Glory

I am very interested in this topic. How does copyright apply - or not - to items made from tutorials that are on blogs? It does not involve buying a pattern, but you are making the item based on the blogger's idea and tutorial. Opinions??