stitchinwitch

Speaking of copywrites - patterns and designs that I have saved from the 50's and 60's - I got them from magazines, etc. Can they be copied and sold now? I saw someone from ebay selling patterns that I just copied from the internet - the ebay people said it was OK, and the original publisher didn't think it was a problem-------- that really confused me! ya know, making $$$ from a published magazine! A CURRENT magazine at that!

mollyoldham

I'm intrigued. What is the pattern???

dunster

Are they actually selling copies of the patterns, rather than old magazine issues?

wraez

hmmmm, wonder how this applies to old newspaper block patterns from so many years ago?

Someone sent me a bundle of patterns cut out of old newspapers, many of them I had never heard of b4.

??????

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

Quilting Nonnie

This is the best explanation I have found concerning copyright: http://www.quilt.com/FAQS/CopyrightFAQ.html[/quote]

Thanks for the link. I try very hard to obey copyright laws and this explanation is thorough and contained facts I didn't know about.

dunster

There is one aspect of copyright that I just learned recently, and it concerns me, because I know I am not in compliance. If you make a quilt from a pattern of a copyrighted design, you need to get the pattern maker's permission to display that quilt in a show, or even to display pictures of that quilt. I understand that most pattern makers will readily give permission, but it is an extra step that most of us are not willing to take because it seems so ridiculous to get permission to display what you legally made.

Clueless Quilter

Yes! EVEN if the author/pattern package says is not allowed. No one has the right to determine what will happen to a product made from a legally acquired pattern. That concept was settled by the U.S. Supreme Court, and is referred to as The First-Sale Doctrine.[/quote]

I find the information on the First-Sale Doctrine very interesting. Even though I don't make things to sell, I have purchased several bag and wall hanging patterns over the last few years that have stated that you could only make a certain number to sell (one bag was a maximum of 3) in any given year. Thanks for the info.

stitchinwitch

They were copying the pattern FROM the magazine, and selling it on ebay.

stitchinwitch

I am not the sharpest tack in the drawer, NOR the opposite BUT----If the legal jargon was a little more "down to earth" we all would NOT be as confused as most of us are!

grandma Janice

Does pictures and patterns displayed in Quilt books give the assumption that they are free to use for your own quilts? I make lots of quilts from those in quilt magazines and I give my quilts away. I would have to be hard up for cash to sell one,but who knows. I would like to know if I would be wrong.? lots of times I look at a picture and go make a quilt. most of the blocks are simple blocks we have all used.