What the lady buying the fleece was doing IS illegal. The team logos have some sort of trademark and copyright associated with them. Like the Disney designs on embroidery machines. You can't use them to embroider items for sale. And Disney's lawyers do find "little people" who are doing this and they deal with them.

It seems as if the fabric designers must now be copyrighting or some such thing their designs. They have a right to do so but who knows why they are.

I don't sell quilts, and I would not buy fabrics like that.

Well you said it best for me too Dunster! Thanks.

Amy Butler, for one, is removing the restriction from all her fabrics in future printings. She mentions it in the FAQ on her website, along with being very clear in saying you can use her fabrics to make projects to sell or in the manufacturing of finished goods.
http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/faqs/

That would be a good idea! What about buying on-line? Are those stores going to advise us if a fabric is marked as not for commercial use?

I agree totally with you. This will make the point to the LQS and then they can let the MFG. know they no longer stock these designers lines. If that doesn't make a point where it hurts nothing will.

That stinks! I don't sell my quilts but I feel if you purchase fabric you can do with it as you please. I also send it to friends that quilt for charity and I certainly do not want anyone to get into trouble. What next?

Wow, I do not make items to sell but this is ridiculous. I agree we should post the names of the ones that have this restriction so we can avoid them.

totally agree with you.

this is just so stupid. If you make items to sell it means that you will be buying large quantities of fabric. Then, the company would make more money. or not?

Why would they limit the use of the fabric without limiting the sales of said fabric. They are not thinking with their right mind.

I wish people would STOP posting this site...it is so WRONG...and quite frankly SHE does not have the time, nor the money to research EVERY legal issue there is concerning the NEW copyright laws!

YES, these designer, CAN and ARE demanding that their fabrics NOT be used in items for sale. Pattern designers too....the best thing WE can all do as a collective group is to collect the names of the designer/lines of fabric and the names of pattern designers and BOYCOTT the heck out of them.
I know many LQS owners will NOT carry patterns with limitations on them, so maybe now they will have to learn which fabric lines to not carry as well..and it is up to them and US to let the manufactures know why we will no longer support those designers...really, enough is enough...and all this makes me happy I have a large stash of older fabrics....

that is a VERY valid point....will be interesting to see what they have to say...going to ask my professionals groups!

If we can find out the names of the Designers I think we should send a letter, sign a petition, etc!

http://www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/...edFabric.shtml

I read through this site although I didn't follow all the links. Surely there is a difference between an artist/crafter and a major manufacturer? I certainly do not have the expertise to follow the legal tangle or come down on one side of the argument or the other. However, if it is sold at retail and I purchase it, I intend to use it as I please. Until they install a GPS signal in the threads, I hope to duck the Designer Police.

If they don't want they're fabric being used for commercial reasons then it's simple don't sell the fabric to LQS and if they want to do business with the LQS then it should be marked right on the display area "not for commercial use". I don't think the companies attorney's are going to visit every craft sale/flea market or LQS store to see who's playing by the rules.

Giving voice to a situation is the most important thing you can do. Make it known girls! I will not buy!

EDIT: Greenheron Rocks! Jaciqltznok too!

I agree--seems to be a case of bullying....reminds me of a recent article in our Sunday paper about people who own beachfront homes who put up all kinds of legal-looking "no parking" and "no public access" signs in the hopes of deterring people from perfectly legal access

If I remember correctly, this has already been taken to court on several occasions and settled in favor of the crafter/purchaser of the fabric.

I will not be buying anything that says I cannot resell it. I did not know about this welcome information but you better believe I will be looking at the selveges from now on. Thank you.

Hurray for AB. I like her fabric too!

And we're the ones buying the ingredients and making the piefor their benefit!:D

Excellent solution! I agree!

IMHO it means you can't sell it to a factory, however small, where they make it up into 1500 purses or whatever. But a lawyer with nothing to do might find a case against that. Do you think you can sell it at a garage after your kids have outgrown it?

does anyone write the manufacturer and express their opinion???

It has to be okay if it goes from my home to someone else's home with NO Store in between even if I get paid for making it.

What if you purchase the fabric and there's no selvage on it? This won't stand up in court. here's a little more info about this I don't know how to do the link where you can just click on it. www.tabberone.com/trademarks. I agree you'd think they'd be happy someone is showing their fabric in their book. Free advertising I'd say. They better be happy people are buying fabric with the economy what it is. Just my 2 cents.

Too funny my DH said the same thing about the fat quarters!! If you have no knowledge about it how can you honor it?

I don't KNOW any of the laws around this topic -

But I don't think Ignorance of the law gets one off the hook if one broke that law. Whatever it may be.

Or how unreasonable it seems to be to an ordinary person.

Smart lady.... hopefully we'll see this happening with other designer's.

That's what Judge Judy always says that ignorance is not a defense.

Well I do sell some of my quilts and even if I didn't I would still be concerned. You never know what your economic situation will be tomorrow in this economy. My stash is going to my daughter when I pass and I'm going to try my best to have a stash free of "legalities." She does not need to deal with this.

Will keep watching this thread. Will also be checking selvedges.

I get it and I don't get it. I can't wrap my head around all the legalese of this stuff. I will be checking the selvages from now on though. Those I order online, I will cut them off before folding them neatly and adding them to my stash stacks. Behind closed doors.
I feel for all of you that create to help out your families budget. I know I would feel the same if I were in your position.

I agree--dont buy their fabric.Once I buy something I consider it mine and I dont like anybody telling me what I can or cant do with it!!

Amen to that.

Fabric may say something on the selvedge but I don't believe there is any compact between the designer and me when I purchase some. But oh, oh, oh! Just thought of another piece of utter madness in this material(istic) mess. See if you can follow my scenario---Martha makes some much needed money crafting and sewing. She's good and is known for the lovely t-shirt quilts she assembles for customers. Her quilts often contain shirts bearing the licensed logos of colleges and professional sports teams. Is this an illegal license infringement? Will there be a knock on her door? A 'cease and desist' order? Will her iron be confiscated? She's profiting from the use of logos!

Greenheron, if the customer provided the shirts and is getting the finished quilt back, no change of ownership has taken place and Martha was simply compensated for her labor and supplies. Whether the quilt now counts as a derivative work is a whole 'nother stinky question.

Thanks for that solution. I was going for a 'reductio ad absurdum'.

But..........if quilters include 'home use only' fabrics in a quilt could they not give the fabric as a free gift and charge only for their labor and other supplies, as well as taste and talent and misc. costs?

What about pre-cuts? I make quick quilts to sell all the time with pre-cuts and there is no way to know what the salvage says.