I read that article in the McCalls Quilting magazine and one of the points that was mentioned was what to do if you are at a quilt show or quilt fair and you see quilts and wonder if the person got permission to show them. They suggested that you don't approach the person showing them in case they do have permission, but go to whoever is in charge and find out that way. This leads me to wonder what kind of quilt shows we are going to have if everyone does that. I seems it might put an end to them. I hope not.

I would argue that I am the designer. Even though I used a pattern the design is new because of differnt colors a different border a different size a new twist. As long I bring my own style to a pattern and give it my spin it would be considered "new". Anyone Agree? there is an article about copyright law in an old APQ mag. I'll look into it and post.

Wow, great business move McCalls. That attitude is almost guaranteed to reduce their readership and ruin small county fairs. I honestly doubt that most designers want to be inundated with requests from every single person showing a quilt at their local village hall etc. At this rate, quilt shows will end up self-limiting to pro and semi-pro quilters, and the average home quilter will just not show anymore.

I bought a quilt book by a well known quilt designer. In the book it said email for permission for one quilt to be used in a workshop. I emailed for permission to use the pattern in free workshop for 10 people. I never go a response. I emailed every week for six weeks, even emailed the publisher. Never got a response. I thought about leaving a comment on her blog but decided I wasn't going to beg. I sent the last email saying since she did not say no I was going to assume the answer was yes. I used the pattern for the workshop. Even sent pictures of the finished blocks to her website. Never heard a word.

Makes you wonder, doesn't it, why they tell you that and then don't even reply. Here you are trying to be honest and they respond with rudness. I have gotten to the point where I am not renewing any of my quilt magazine subscriptions ( and I take a bunch) and will use the money on something else. It isn't worth the trouble and frustration.

To carry this discussion a step further - the McCalls claim to every pattern in the universe as stated... "There is no particular amount of change that will make the new work acceptable. If it is a VARIATION of the original, inspired BY the original, it is derivative" (page 54 "make a derivative work." )

ok, on page 34 is a so-called "new" design claimed by a Renee Peterson - nice quilt but IT'S A MAPLE LEAF! How long has the maple leaf pattern been around? How can this person claim a DERIVATIVE WORK of a Maple leaf patterned quilt?

And then claim anyone who makes a maple leaf (derivative) quilt has to ask this person's permission and possibly McCalls magazine to show a maple leaf quilt???????

There are several "derivative" quilts in the current magazine - so is it McCall's intention to suck up all the PUBLIC DOMAIN blocks in existence over a period of years and CLAIM THEM by making DERIVATIVE quilt designs from them?? And then claiming they are NEW and THEN declaring that YOU have to beg on bended knee and PAY THEM to use a PUBLIC DOMAIN block to make a quilt?

And, what about the people who make maple leaf quilts who have never laid eyes on this quilt in this magazine?

It would be interesting to know how McCalls would explain this.

And that bull-crap about QUILT POLICE spying on other quilters and making sure they have permission to show a quilt - WHAT?!?

ps - *I* made a maple leaf quilt for my daughter back in 1994 - this Peterson person did NOT ask my permission to make a DERIVATIVE QUILT from MY maple leaf quilt, and McCalls did NOT ask my permission to use a DERIVATIVE maple leaf quilt in their magazine!! So how about them apples.

I wonder if McCalls is getting any feedback on this? Every quilter in America (and beyond) should send them a letter and cancel their subscription. What they printed doesn't make sense and it isn't fair. I agree with JJs-if someone made a quilt without seeing the pattern in a magazine, what then?? enough already! I plan to write to McCalls and let them know what I think.

Would love to know how McCall's responds. This is a very interesting topic.

I will email tonight if I can and let everyone know what they say. I'm so mad about it, I only hope I can remember to say what I want to say.

I thought about this thread all night and first thing this a.m. This is so ridiculous that it isn't even funny. Why sell patterns if you don't want the end product displayed or shown off. Stupid idea. I think these designers who do that are just too full of themselves and they are the ones we should boycott. Next thing we know the LAQ's will not want us to 'display' their designs without permission either. I'm all for giving credit where credit is due but it seems to me that as long as I don't sell or copy the actual pattern itself, I should be able to sell or display my own work. I have bought my last designer's pattern and won't be subscribing to any more quilt magazines. There are plenty of free designs around. I was just wondering...where does this leave Dunster and her Log cabin Star quilt that she sold on here. I have seen others like it before I saw hers, I even bought her pattern. Does this mean that we can't use the tutorials on this site anymore. This is worse than a merry go round.