It is confusing!! i owned and operated a needlework shop for 15 years. At some of the conference i attended, we were told that anyone who bought Ie) a cross stitch pattern could make a copy for herself in order to keep the original nice. But to copy to avoind paying for it was wrong, because it deprived the designe of her rightful income. I believe it was Vicki wo brought up ruby Shor McKim's book. I have a Dover edition copyrighted 1961 (40 years after ruby published). In the intro of my book she explilciletly say you can copy them. "....and drafted patterns from which you can copy them." It sounds to me in the ea4liler part of the intro she's collected these patterns which had never been printed before--just passed on quilter to quilter. The table of contents lists has a section called "Original Quilt Designs" for which there are pictures but no pattern. Then comes the list of Patterns. If this is a book you would like to use, you can always email mckinstudios.com and asks who holds sthe copyright--them or Dover. Thanks for letting me put my 2cents in.

Wellllll, actually, you were wrong. Don't get too upset about it. They have to protect their copy write or it isn't any good.

The right mouse thing is used by ticky tacky web designers who think they can keep people from copying images from their site. Any half decent programmer knows how to get around that. We view those web designers as... bush league.


If there are no Bernina 830s in Heaven, I ain't going!

tim in san jose (just this side of heaven)

I have an e-copy of that book (legally reproduced by antiquarian e-books.com). only the 24 bird patterns have ruby's copyright. none of the others appear to be copyrighted or attributed to any one designer. they are all patterns i've seen "all over the place" so must surely be in the public domain.

the e-book is $10.95 from http://www.patchwork-quilt-patterns.com/

regardless of the source, since Ruby passed in 1976, i wouldn't use any of her copyrighted patterns for commercial purposes until 2066. i could be wrong, but since i figure i'll have "given up quilting" by then, it is simply not an issue for me. LOL

a lot of ruby's work was included in the Kansas City Star's quilt patterns series. They published 1,001 patterns between 1928 and 1961. the complete collection is available in a series of volumes compiled and reproduced by the Groves Publishing Company. each of the 10 volumes costs about $21 including shipping.

http://www.quilterbydesign.com/kansascitystar.html

Groves also sells reproductions of a long list of ruby's original patterns.

as to the KCS patterns, 798 of them are also available in the quilt block encyclopedia compiled by Barbara Brackman. the CD version of the book is $70 and can be purchased from ElectricQuilt.com and their authorized vendors. it's hard to tell from the CD whether any of those blocks is still covered by a standing copyright. the overwhelming majority, though, are obviously public domain. i'll buy the book soon (around $30, i think) to see if that makes it more clear.

it seems to me that anybody who wants to make a commercial living from quilting or designing without creating their own unique block designs has a wealth of public domain blocks to work from without needing to risk violating any standing copyrights held by quilters on the market today.

if my own dream comes to life and i find myself a "for real" professional some day, i'll consult an attorney to see if i can legally make quilts for any customers who want a specific copyrighted pattern - provided they buy the pattern and just pay me for materials and labor. (that's years away so anybody who wants to pay the lawyer now and tell us the answer is sooooooo welcome to do us that favor. :mrgreen: )

It's a whole lot less trouble, to just design your own.

For my own piece of mind, I am going to check at the library to see if the two other books mentioned are there and do some research. I am not going to be doing this in any big way, but then again don't want to step on any toes, assuming someone is even interested enough to pay for a quilt. I figure that I have 2 years to research it out. Think that'll be enough time? Complicated subject!

i think we (me included) are making it more complicated than it needs to be. i figure if i stick to top designs based on the 1,000 plus public domain blocks available and/or my own originals i have nothing to worry about.

unless we can blame it on the lawyers.

yeah! i like that idea better. let's blame it on the lawyers.
:mrgreen:

Sounds like a plan to me :D

Just a quick question..

I purchased a magazine. I intend on making one of the patterns in this magazine. I then plan to put it here so you can see it when it's done. Do I have to site the magazine? Do I have to contact the author? I just want to show you what I have when I have it. Any suggestions?

i suggest you not worry so much. :wink:

seriously, though ... as long as you don't try to claim the design as your own (which we already know you wouldn't do) or try to sell us anything related to the quilt, the magazine, or the pattern, and don't also post (or offer) copies of the pattern, etc. you can post your picture with no worries. it would be courteous to say which magazine, issue and pattern you used. it will also save you time 'cause i'll betcha lots of people will like what they see and will ask if you haven't already said.
:P

Patrice....I hope you know you rule!!

thank you ... thank you very much ... but i'd prefer to ROCK.

we don't need no stinkin' RULEs.

LOL LOL LOL
:mrgreen:

too funny!!

I've been really interested in the copy right issue because my sister and i have been trying to sell items we make including afghans, quilts, totebags and so forth. Much of the time we just start sewing and see where it takes us but we also enjoy using other people's ideas and patterns. When I see something I like and admire I ask the designer if I can use it and offer to include their name and a link to their website with the item listing. I haven't been turned down yet. It's a plus for both. :) If I can't find any mention of whether it is copyrighted and use is prohibited what I do is what I would do in any case...I attribute the design to the designer. I do not want to take credit for someone's hard work. I have also pulled items from our website when I found out later on that something I made and listed was in fact not allowed to be used. Those are items I will use myself or give as christmas gifts - and won't spend my time making again.

The way I feel about it is that we should all work together to try and keep those "lost arts" alive and well. I want credit for the work I put in to it making the item but am very happy to give credit where credit is due!

Whisper

Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures!

I agree!!
Virginia

I like your pot holders, hmmmm let me think........I invented the 9 patch. If you truly believe, I'll show you my bridge and sell some stock maybe. LOL :wink:

I'm researching this issue now! I was looking into it because I am selling quilts. I want to do it correctly! I had no idea I was not supposed to sell quilts I made from a pattern I purchased. That stinks! Although I understand why better now.

I created a pattern and I assumed folks would see it in a shop where I was selling quilts and copy it--I didn't think I'd ever be able to prevent that. I didn't really care.

I think I'll have to stick to traditional designs, if I don't want to try to create my own. I'll use the public domain ones for any sale items. And I feel I should email the creater of the table runners to get permission to sell those.

Since I'm at a place where I don't make anything I might not consider selling, I don't need to buy any new patterns--ever.

Gee, the Civil War ones must be okay. :lol:

Does this apply to quilting patterns quilters buy? Are they to just use the patterns on their own quilts? And not on any they are getting paid to do?
What a mess it could all be.

Edited to add: And what about all the log cabin books of variations--such as just making the light side skinner so it makes a circle? Surely that is still under public domain...

I think I'm going to be making a lot of log cabin and 9 patches. :roll:

I have been admiring the Watercolor quilts recently. You mean to tell me that if I designed a quilt using a photo that I myself took into a watercolor type quilt....it would be a copyright infringement? And yes I would sell a copy of that quilt to as many as I wanted to.


Hmmmmmmm..........I guess they will have to hire some Quilt Police now....geeeeeeeeeeez.

Linda D.

I would think that if you designed the quilt using your own photo that it would be ok. Just my 2 cents...hmm with inflation - maybe my free thoughts. ;)

I saw this come up the other day, and checked my Eleanor Burns books for info. There wasn't anything stated, so I e-mailed and asked :-) This is the response I just received:
-----------------------------------
Hello Roben, It is fine for you to sell your own quilts you have created. As
long as you are not copying any of the material out of the book(s). This is
very acceptable. Thank you for planning ahead and having your information upfront. Please let me know if we may be of further assistance.

Thank you for your inquiry!
Have a Wonderful Day

Cozy Regards,

Peggy Stinson
Customer Relations
Quilt in a Day
------------------------------------

It never hurts to e-mail, and now I know instead of having to guess! If I ever get good enough to make quilts to sell, I'll do some Eleanor Burns and give her a whopping credit on the label; not only is it allowed, but I appreciate the response in a day (pun intended!)

I read that response as saying you cannot sell quilts made from patterns in her books. She said--"of your own design" or am I reading it wrong?

For what it's worth, that's how I read it, too, Karla. You can use the techniques, but could not use any of the quilt patterns (that is, the arrangement of the blocks) found in any of her books.

For clarification, this is the e-mail I sent, asking specifically about the quilts made using the books/videos (putting the two together helps - we should have a smiley smacking a forehead just for me!)

---------------------------------
Good Morning!

I currently own 7 Quilt in a Day titles, 5 by Ms. Burns and 2 by Wendy
Gilbert. I enjoy them very much! I have made several quilts from the
terrific instructions both in the books and from notes I''ve made while
watching the QIAD Videos available on QNN.

I''ve looked over the copyright information in all of the publications I
have, and am not finding whether or not it is permissible to sell a quilt I
have made using the books (or the videos.) I have no plans to make, let
alone sell, hundreds of quilts - but if someone should ask to purchase one I
have made I would like to know that it is or isn't allowed. If there is a
procedure (such as optaining written permission or a certain form credit
should be given) I would also like clarification on that as well. I love
telling people about Ms. Burns and her methods - it is so much fun when they
get the book(s) and find out they can do it too!

Thanks so much for your time,
Roben

Oh--that does make a difference. It does sound like she's saying you can sell quilts from her patterns. She just doesn't want you to photocopy the information.

Thanks. Wonder if they'd all say that?

Thanks for the clarification, Roben. That does make a difference! :)

Sorry for the confusion :oops: Like I said, I need a smiley with a hand hitting the forehead!

My philosophy is simple when it comes to this stuff. If it isn't spelled out, I ask. If I get a 'no' or no answer at all, it goes under the heading of I'll not buy that company's stuff again. I personally think some of the restrictions people are placing on their designs/patterns fall just short of ludicrous, but it's my cash they'll be missing. I won't break their rules; I just simply will use someone else's design/pattern etc.

If I were going to be selling the quilts I made, you can bank on the fact that I have a file with the printed permissions all tucked away :wink:

Such an interesting topic! You know, I've been to several quilt shops lately where owners have made kits for patterns that I've found for free on the internet. I recently asked one shop owner about one of her "designs" I knew I had seen and pasted into my favorites and she gave me a story about how she came up with it when her daughter was going somewhere...blah blah blah.

She doesn't want people to know it's a free pattern because her kits are expensive but I have to wonder about the copyright issues in this case. I've found almost every one of her kits online now on freebie sites or video clips from quilting shows. Now, you know I love my freebies but I'm not selling them as mine in a shop, either. What's up with that?

Makes me wonder if I'm not supposed to be selling all those tote bags I make.

I thought once you bought the pattern and made them, as long as you tell everybody whose pattern it is and that you didn't design it, it was okay.

Ferrrrrrgit it! I'll just have to design my own bag. I can't be worrying about this!

That's what I did Cordelia with my bag. I saw a pattern on line, but made my own twist to it.

I think it's everywhere.... I don't think 10% of the quilting population even understand the whole copyright issue.

I honestly don't even think those who have copyrighted material understand what the law states.

To me--purchasing a pattern and making it to sell is a perfectly natural step. It's a compliment to the creator!

I'm probably be sticking to patterns in the public domain.... unless it's easy to contact someone who's done a pattern I want to make more than 5 of--

My quilt program has dozens and dozens of blocks, contemporary blocks, traditional blocks, etc., and you can design your own.

Just using those thangles and arranging them in a pattern or making a sampler is your design and you don't have to worry about taking someone else's design.

Aside from patterns and copyrights, you also have copyrights on the FABRIC as well.... collegiate, cartoons, etc
Some fabrics have it stated right on the selvage - no resale of anything made from the fabrics without a license agreement..

But you see things made from those fabrics all the time if you go to craft shows - down here it's the colleges - every other booth has SOMETHING from college fabric.

Some people seem to think its 'ok' if it's a non-profit organization - well, no it isn't. Other people just look at you like you're nuts if you mention it to them - like you are just being nasty.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I just like using TRADITIONAL (ie - public domain) patterns and new materials...
and I think if somebody wanted to buy one of my quilts (hasn't happened yet :D ) I'd be absolutely sure to use a public domain pattern AND safe materials...

better safe than sorry....

Yes--Janeen--I was told that long ago when I was making my Talk-About Quilts--that no cartoon kind of charater type fabric can be made into pieces to be sold. I believe it was someone in Joanne's who told me that. Glad she did!

Fabric has copyright rules too? Suddenly this whole mess seems ludicrous. I can't make a charm quilt with baby prints and then turn around and sell it because it has Loony Tunes or something in it? It's hard enough to watch patterns, but fabric too? What a mess!!

This drives me nuts- I see it all the time, patterns popular in the 70s and 80s re-emerging and being claimed as "new" and "copyrighted". This is one of the reasons I seldom buy patterns, and most of the books I own emphasize techniques and not specific patterns. I also love designing, so that seems to be where mine come from. I may use classic patchwork, but would never consider a variation of only fabric pattern or border to be any copyright infringement.