Moonpi

jstitch, I download pictures from here to get a better look. Generally, I don't even keep the jpg file - I just want to see the details that I can't see on my browsers.

As an artist at various times in my life, I have had my work copied and used without my permission. It devalued MY hard work in coming up with idea, pattern, and execution. When I met and confronted the person who did it, she "tee-heed" and said I had "inspired her"

I've had clients turn down logo designs, saying they "changed their minds", only to see my design show up on their business cards months later. It is hurtful.

Most of the patchwork I do is combinations of time-worn patterns. Applique designs usually come out of my own head, then onto paper. If I have inspiration from someone, I talk to them about permission.

One thing I see happening that bothers me is people claiming copy rights on old patterns. One in particular is the mock cathedral window, which I learned in the 70s, now being renamed and claimed as "owned" by several different individuals.

jstitch

Generally, yes...designers should give credit where credit is due and most of the time, I have noticed this to be true.
If I draft a traditional pattern in a different size or piecing technique, I usually disclose this.. If the design came from an antique quilt, I usually share a picture of the quilt it came from or at least disclose that fact.

babeegirl

If I see a quilt either in a book, shop, online, or in a magazine and I go home, get out my graph paper, draw it up for myself, make it then put it on my wall or couch, I doubt the quilt police are going to batter down my door. What's at the heart of this discussion is intent. ]If what you want to make is for you and that's the intended purpose, then what "law" has been broken? none that I can think of. Let's face it, as quilters we are inspired by the work of others, whether it be a color scheme, a block layout, or a technique. Don't be scared to try out something new that you see, because in all truth, aside from art quilts, there's probably not one truly new block that hasn't been done already. Do you NEED to always buy the pattern? I say no. Just because something is published doesn't mean I'm obligated to purchase it when I'm perfectly capable of recreating it for myself. My intent just for me. Now, putting that same quilt I just made either on a website, or in a show, would obligate me to credit my ispiration or the original creator of where I got my idea. Then, the copyright scenario comes into play. If I did that, then my intent would be to gain recognition or credit for myself. Do you see where I'm going with the intent?

jstitch

Hey Moonpi, I wasn't saying that everyone who downloaded my pictures were doing so to copy or "be inspired" by them.. sorry if that is the way it came across.

My statement was more to the fact that some posts here actually were indicating that if I shared my work then it was theirs to copy.. That is the point to which I was taking exception..

You can look all you want and Im happy that you want to see the details.. As a matter of fact if you want to see something that doesnt show up, let me know.. Ill send you a better pic...

lfw045

Exactly!

Linda D.

jstitch

This bothers me too, Moonpi. And I have done a lot of thinking about this one. Here is what I have decided about that...

The designs of these old blocks that are in the public domain are just that, in the public domain. I can draft my own version of the design or even new techniques in construction and publish a pattern.. That pattern or instruction sheet is my work.. that is what is copyrighted, not the block or technique

And people who take the original content and try to copyright it, I do not believe is legal.. I have seen that too.. but I will have to do some more checking on that,, it is like republishing the a literary work that is in the public domain and calling it yours.. not

jstitch

Babeegirl, I believe that is what has been said here. As I said in my original post, drafting your own version of a block is not stealing.. or even putting the same blocks together into a quilt...or using the same coloring and values.. all fine in my book..

The stealing comes in from copying original works, and some block quilts are very original, taking credit, free distribution of purchased patterns, and copying a piece of original art from another medium..

babeegirl

I agree, but I think we went way deeper than the original poster's posed question which can be very daunting. Heck, I sure don't post someone else's instructions claiming it as my own but I'm definitely not rich enough to buy every pattern I see. I'm not rich enough yet to pay someone else to do my thinking for me :)

jstitch

shelly, if you are talking about any basic pieced block, you are free to draft your own, make the block , make a quilt, for yourself, friends, family and even sell the work.. I doubt you are going to get into trouble doing that. The real problem arises in original art and that is where the trouble begins...some things are obviously someone elses creation..
I believe that there is very little in the way of pieced blocks that are original and they have been used, borrowed and reborrowed many times over..
babeegirl is right we did get rather deep here, but that indicates that there are some serious issues with copying..do draft up all the blocks you want, but dont copy GKs clock quilt...its not a block but an original..

justquiltin'

jstitch and moonpi,
You two seem to be the experts on this, so I'll ask you to clarify something for me...
You're saying that if I buy the book -- let's say I subscribe to Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting magazine -- then I have permission to make the quilts, even for sale? Is that right? Or is it OK for me to make them for personal use/gifts only?
I have much more experience in copyright with sheet music, so this is a whole new area for me. And it's not at all the same.
Thanks for your patience and experience here.