Something else that bothers me... In an AQS show you are required to get "permission" from the designer to exhibit or enter your quilt if you used a purchased pattern!!!

AQS is perpetuating the lie that the designer basically "owns" anything you make with their pattern and that they have a say in what YOU do with it.

You can pay an additional amount and have your quilt appraised in shows. Hmmm... if designers say that you can't sell them, then aren't they worth ZERO in absolute monetary terms other than the cost of materials?

I totally agree. They cannot claim copyright to a design in the public domain, and I don't care whether they put the blocks together into "their" design.

See...this is what makes me crazy!! So many interpretations...
I think if we consider the intent of copyrights, we would agree that mass producing or misrepresenting the design is really the base problem. To rename "quilt in a day" as "the 24hr quilt", using the same method and selling books...that is infringement. Making a few quilts from a pattern that you bought, using different fabrics etc and making a few bucks off them...that is just creative to my way of thinking.

I mean, why would designers publicize a pattern if they did not want it to be reproduced? What did they think would happen? When you have a good idea and sell it to someone else, do they really think it stops there? I could see if they made a quilt and 'showed' the quilt because they were proud of the design...and of course, I can understand that one-of-a-kind quilts should not be copied from a photo - that is just not fair , but hey - we all get our inspiration from somewhere whether it be another's work, or design on a tile, or nature...I am forever looking at quilt styles and color combos on this site and thinking that I want to make something like that...do I really need to get permission!!?!!
If a designer wants to copy-protect their designs, then they shouldn't sell the pattern or publish it. I always thought that they are selling their design to make $$ and the only way to do that is to allow others to use it. So if you are making a profit selling your pattern there is expectation that others will be making their profit off the use of the pattern. Considering the options with new quilting design software, soon noone will be buying patterns anymore from the big designers if they are too limiting.
I have been going to craft fairs for many years and not once have I seen 'permission granted' on any of the tables...

I am all for giving credit as due, but this seems to be getting way too complicated.
Next thing you know, we will have to pay a fee to see each others quilts on this site.

I don't care if someone makes a quilt from one of my designs, I'm thrilled.......it's only if someone copies it and then tries to sell it...or teaches it...that's a no-no.........also if someone uses one of my designs, but doesn't see fit to give me a little credit, well, that makes me sad..........

What annoys me about some of the bag patterns I have seen is the fact that, in several cases, I have identical bags in leather or canvas that I have owned for many years.

Did the designer get inspiration from the leather or canvas original? If so, he/she is certainly not giving any credit for said inspiration. If I make a fabric version of such a bag, how does one distinguish between a copy of my own bag and one made from the quilt pattern?

I have no problems with someone copyrighting specific instructions and making money off their patterns that way. However, in most cases, there is nothing particularly original about the actual shape and overall design, so restrictions on the sales of items made from such patterns just seem ridiculous.

If simeone writes a song, you can't sing it for money without permisson Also If you buy plans from and architect, you can only use them on one house without paying him again. So IO could understnd why you could not sell a copyright pattern and sell it.

If simeone writes a song, you can't sing it for money without permisson Also If you buy plans from and architect, you can only use them on one house without paying him again. So IO could understnd why you could not sell a copyright pattern and sell it.

Actually, local bands do it all the time...Are they truly expecting that college kids pay for those rights. or have to get permission from the Rolling Stones? NO....but if they want the real music, they have to purchase the sheet music ...I was Pres of a youth orchestra...we had to buy sheet music for each child - no photocopying and sharing. But once we bought the music, we could play it however, wherever, and charge whatever we wanted. And we did not have to pay each time we played. And we could use the music year after year once we bought it.
I still think it all relates to intent.

I wonder...do all those Idol performers get the songwriter's permission?

In the case of Idol, yes, they do. There have been numerous instances over the years of competitors not being able to sing their first, or even second, choice songs because the songwriters would not give permission.

Wow, this has been an interesting thread, so many variations. Makes me happy that I only quilt for fun and not profit.