Are methods allowed to be shared?
01-06-2012, 05:10 AM
#32
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Quito, Ecuador
Posts: 72
It seems that there is always a lot of controversy surrounding the subject of copyright. Part of this might be due to the fact that there is no one universal copyright law, and there are some variations between the copyright laws of different countries. However, with very few exceptions, most countries around the world are signatories of international copyright agreements, going all the way back to the Berne Convention of 1886 and the Universal Copyright Convention of 1952 (under the auspices of UNESCO). As a designer myself I therefore refer to these agreements to understand my own author rights. And, as has already been stated here, copyright protects the "form" in which ideas are transmitted, and not the ideas themselves. To quote, "To be protected, a work has to be more than a mere idea. The distinction between protected works and ideas lies at the very heart of copyright law. The protection of a given work applies to the expressions of ideas that are contained therein. Accordingly, in order for copyright in a work to be infringed or violated, one has to copy the form in which the ideas are expressed. The mere use of ideas found in a work does not represent a copyright violation."
You can find more in-depth information on the subject (check out the links for several downloadable pdf files on the basics of copyright law) on the UNESCO website: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture...ies/copyright/
Hope this is helpful...
You can find more in-depth information on the subject (check out the links for several downloadable pdf files on the basics of copyright law) on the UNESCO website: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture...ies/copyright/
Hope this is helpful...
01-06-2012, 05:21 AM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Allen Park, MI
Posts: 408
Originally Posted by Tartan
I can't begin to figure it all out so I err on the side of caution. I think it is all a bit silly really because we are all building on a rich quilting heritage. A lot of the "new" patterns and quilts are actually old patterns renamed (I hate that by the way) or changed slightly. It is kind of sad that everything is about money and ownership.
This, exactly. OP, my reply is not directed at you, so please don't be offended.
I have come across several of these threads and discussions, and I've finally figured out WHY they "get my goat" so much.
All this "dont share!" and "that's MY idea" seems to be to be the antithesis of quilting. For many, many years quilters have been sharing - patterns, blocks, material, ideas, methods, etc - why someone would feel the need to be SO stringent with "their" idea is beyond me. Now, don't get me wrong, I do not begrudge anyone making a living from their original ideas, but really? How many truly original ideas are there in the quilting world. Also, as long as one is using something for their own personal use and NOT making money/profit from it (in no way would I defend making copies of someone's claimed pattern and selling them) why should there be a problem? I've spent, I'm sure, thousands of dollars in books, patterns, etc, over the years, and if those authors really think I shouldn't share a thing or a bit of information, I'd gladly send their stuff back to them and not buy anything of theirs ever again. Look at those who share freely - take Leah Day for example - I'd much rather look to them because to me that embodies the spirit of quilting I like best - share the fun, knowledge, excitement of it all. I'm sure she's making money from the things she does sell and she is very generous with her ideas and knowledge.
I see a lot of quilts with "names" on them that are NOT original patterns and have wondered exactly WHY is being called an original pattern? Fabric selection? Because somebody stuck their name on it? I don't think that's right, either.
Maybe I'm a moralless scofflaw, but I'd share my pattern or my book with anybody who is interested. If I know how to do something and somebody wants to learn, I'm there. Want to take me to court? Go for it.
Again, that's just ME. YMMV.
01-06-2012, 05:27 AM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SOO, MI
Posts: 838
Insert staning ovation, very well put.
Originally Posted by Dandish
This, exactly. OP, my reply is not directed at you, so please don't be offended.
I have come across several of these threads and discussions, and I've finally figured out WHY they "get my goat" so much.
All this "dont share!" and "that's MY idea" seems to be to be the antithesis of quilting. For many, many years quilters have been sharing - patterns, blocks, material, ideas, methods, etc - why someone would feel the need to be SO stringent with "their" idea is beyond me. Now, don't get me wrong, I do not begrudge anyone making a living from their original ideas, but really? How many truly original ideas are there in the quilting world. Also, as long as one is using something for their own personal use and NOT making money/profit from it (in no way would I defend making copies of someone's claimed pattern and selling them) why should there be a problem? I've spent, I'm sure, thousands of dollars in books, patterns, etc, over the years, and if those authors really think I shouldn't share a thing or a bit of information, I'd gladly send their stuff back to them and not buy anything of theirs ever again. Look at those who share freely - take Leah Day for example - I'd much rather look to them because to me that embodies the spirit of quilting I like best - share the fun, knowledge, excitement of it all. I'm sure she's making money from the things she does sell and she is very generous with her ideas and knowledge.
I see a lot of quilts with "names" on them that are NOT original patterns and have wondered exactly WHY is being called an original pattern? Fabric selection? Because somebody stuck their name on it? I don't think that's right, either.
Maybe I'm a moralless scofflaw, but I'd share my pattern or my book with anybody who is interested. If I know how to do something and somebody wants to learn, I'm there. Want to take me to court? Go for it.
Again, that's just ME. YMMV.
I have come across several of these threads and discussions, and I've finally figured out WHY they "get my goat" so much.
All this "dont share!" and "that's MY idea" seems to be to be the antithesis of quilting. For many, many years quilters have been sharing - patterns, blocks, material, ideas, methods, etc - why someone would feel the need to be SO stringent with "their" idea is beyond me. Now, don't get me wrong, I do not begrudge anyone making a living from their original ideas, but really? How many truly original ideas are there in the quilting world. Also, as long as one is using something for their own personal use and NOT making money/profit from it (in no way would I defend making copies of someone's claimed pattern and selling them) why should there be a problem? I've spent, I'm sure, thousands of dollars in books, patterns, etc, over the years, and if those authors really think I shouldn't share a thing or a bit of information, I'd gladly send their stuff back to them and not buy anything of theirs ever again. Look at those who share freely - take Leah Day for example - I'd much rather look to them because to me that embodies the spirit of quilting I like best - share the fun, knowledge, excitement of it all. I'm sure she's making money from the things she does sell and she is very generous with her ideas and knowledge.
I see a lot of quilts with "names" on them that are NOT original patterns and have wondered exactly WHY is being called an original pattern? Fabric selection? Because somebody stuck their name on it? I don't think that's right, either.
Maybe I'm a moralless scofflaw, but I'd share my pattern or my book with anybody who is interested. If I know how to do something and somebody wants to learn, I'm there. Want to take me to court? Go for it.
Again, that's just ME. YMMV.
01-06-2012, 06:38 AM
#35
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 5,052
I taught a Small Projects Class last year at our LQS. We did a BOM. Every month I chose a block from Judy Hopkins Book "501 Rotary Cut Quilt Blocks" The owner of the Shop offered the book at a 25% off discount to every one in the class. By the way; it was a great class I had 23 members!
01-06-2012, 06:58 AM
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: southern Oklahoma
Posts: 954
I'm still confused. Is a YouTube video explanation by the author of a book copyrighted? She shows everyone who cares to look how to make the block. How is showing this method that is free an infringement of her copyright?
Last edited by sylviak; 01-06-2012 at 07:00 AM. Reason: spelling
01-06-2012, 07:25 AM
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,496
Originally Posted by LivelyLady
Me too!Where would we be if our foremothers didn't share their techniques and patterns with us?
01-06-2012, 08:34 AM
#40
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Here and there
Posts: 1,669
Originally Posted by DogHouseMom
I know I can't (won't) copy patterns or pages from books to share with others. But I'm wondering about sharing concepts that are gleaned from books that were written for the sole purpose of teaching a method (as opposed to a specific pattern).
For example ... I purchased a book called "Fabulous Fractures". While the book does give some defined specifics about sizes of strips to cut, and seam allowance - the basic crux of the book is the METHOD that is used to create a fracture. The method is basically a simple math equation. The concept, the method are remarkably easy.
Because it was published, I'm hesitant to pass along to others the basic concept I used to make my fracture. A few have remarked "wow - how did you do that" - none have asked me to share, but I'm wondering if I can if asked. I did make a few remarks about the concept, but didn't give instructions and left out some key elements as I was skating on rather shaky ground.
So what do you guys think about sharing methods?
And one more question while we are at it. Is it OK for an LQS to host a class to teach a method learned from a book? Would a requirement for each class member to purchase the book be necessary to teach the method?
I'm curious ... can a "method" be copy written? The words that describe the method can be, but the method itself??
For example ... I purchased a book called "Fabulous Fractures". While the book does give some defined specifics about sizes of strips to cut, and seam allowance - the basic crux of the book is the METHOD that is used to create a fracture. The method is basically a simple math equation. The concept, the method are remarkably easy.
Because it was published, I'm hesitant to pass along to others the basic concept I used to make my fracture. A few have remarked "wow - how did you do that" - none have asked me to share, but I'm wondering if I can if asked. I did make a few remarks about the concept, but didn't give instructions and left out some key elements as I was skating on rather shaky ground.
So what do you guys think about sharing methods?
And one more question while we are at it. Is it OK for an LQS to host a class to teach a method learned from a book? Would a requirement for each class member to purchase the book be necessary to teach the method?
I'm curious ... can a "method" be copy written? The words that describe the method can be, but the method itself??
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