Another copyright question...
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lansing, MI
Posts: 1,038
my quilt instructor told me that if you take a pattern you like and want to make your own spin on it, you need to change it by at least 30% from the original...then it becomes your own. Sometimes when I find a purse or bag pattern I like, the instructions can be horrible. I showed her how I had to rewrite the instructions (for myself) then end up making a lot of changes to the pattern, she said it's now my pattern because of the amount of changes made. The bag looks similar but quite a bit different from the original. Not sure if this helps or not but thought I'd pass this along.
#22
EQ7 is a program designed to allow you to create. Selling someone's intellectual property using your name is illegal. Using a program designed to allow you to create your own design is not infringing on someone else's rights.
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Jozefow, Poland
Posts: 4,474
I wanted to take a photograph of a wall quilt at the Houston show one time. The booth attendant asked me not to and said it was against the rules. The fear was that I'd take the photo and make my own pattern. Instead, she gave me some handouts with much nicer photographs of that quilt and several others. I really didn't have the heart to tell her that I could make a much better pattern from her handout than I ever could with my photograph.
Restricting pictures because you might copy it? That's pretty crazy, IMO.
#24
The answer is no and no. A simple arrangement of squares, rectangles and triangles can't be copyrighted in the first place. The pattern *instructions* are copyrighted. No you don't need to send them money
Still not a copyright violation.
You violate "the right to copy" when you take somebody else's written instructions, change the name to your name and copy and sell it.
Still not a copyright violation.
You violate "the right to copy" when you take somebody else's written instructions, change the name to your name and copy and sell it.
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Maine-ly Florida
Posts: 3,926
Sometimes picture taking is restricted at shows also to protect quilts too. Also picture taking does make sense at times. And people do copy designs from pictures all the time so it can impact pattern sales in MHO. But it should be handled in a civil way. If you buy the pattern, the rule should be bent so that you can take a photo. Usually at booths at quilt shows, you are also asked not to take photos.
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,018
I wanted to take a photograph of a wall quilt at the Houston show one time. The booth attendant asked me not to and said it was against the rules. The fear was that I'd take the photo and make my own pattern. Instead, she gave me some handouts with much nicer photographs of that quilt and several others. I really didn't have the heart to tell her that I could make a much better pattern from her handout than I ever could with my photograph.
When we visited the quilt museum in Paducah, we were told not to take photos......I could understand the "flash".....who uses cameras anymore, anyway, daughter used her smartphone, was seen doing that and was told to cease or leave.....needless to say she ceased. Just wanted to show them to friends back home...as we were leaving we noticed a "book of quilts" being sold at front desk....go figure!
#28
I took a class in copyright law during my legal career. There are different restrictions for different things and different expiration dates for copyrights. For quilting it is very long time. The key word regarding art/quilting is COPY. Also if a designer wants to pursue legal action, he/she must have the copyright actually registered. Most homegrown quilters do not. Putting the copyright symbol is not enough. Also techniques i.e. paper piecing, fusible applique, binding, etc. cannot be copyrighted, only the written word. Designers have no defense by making statements such as, you can only make one, you cannot give this away, etc. etc. there are some fabric companies you dont want to take a chance with if you are planning to sell items as they have the resources to pursue legal action and they do! I.e. Disney and national sports teams. I "heard second hand" that if someone walks into Disneyland with a homemade item made with a character fabric, they will confiscate it. Notice that in Joanns their chacter fabric is in a separate section. Instead of asking legal type questions here try google for more accurate info. Google quilt copyright law and you will get several choices. This one is pretty straight forward. http://www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/...Quilting.shtml
The other thing is about the moral factor. When I teach quilt classes from a pattern, I think it is only fair to the designer to have class members buy the pattern. I refuse to COPY a pattern or change it with other wording and hand it out. I must say though that I think the price of hand scribbled 2 xeroxed pages has gotten out of hand!
The other thing is about the moral factor. When I teach quilt classes from a pattern, I think it is only fair to the designer to have class members buy the pattern. I refuse to COPY a pattern or change it with other wording and hand it out. I must say though that I think the price of hand scribbled 2 xeroxed pages has gotten out of hand!
#29
my quilt instructor told me that if you take a pattern you like and want to make your own spin on it, you need to change it by at least 30% from the original...then it becomes your own. Sometimes when I find a purse or bag pattern I like, the instructions can be horrible. I showed her how I had to rewrite the instructions (for myself) then end up making a lot of changes to the pattern, she said it's now my pattern because of the amount of changes made. The bag looks similar but quite a bit different from the original. Not sure if this helps or not but thought I'd pass this along.
Originally Posted by rush88888
copyright can expire, but i am not sure how long that would be for any given material.
http://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm
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