public domain quilt blocks and patterns
 

How can one know if a block, or quilt, design is in public domain?

That is a VERY good question!! So many blocks are from the Civil War thru the 30's.

The quickest answer is everything prior to 1923 is in the public domain. There was no copyright law.
Next, anything from 1923 to 1963 for which copyright was not renewed.
Then, anything that was put directly into public domain by the originator.
And anything for which copyright laws do not apply.

For the rest, do some research. Public domain is one of the easier questions to resolve. Here's a start.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain
http://www.teachingcopyright.org/han...lic-domain-faq
http://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview...omain/welcome/

A broader view of that last reference, covering NOLOs total copyright section, is here:
http://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/

Once you have all that info, start tracking down the first use of the block you have in mind. Try the MSU Quilt Index for samples, many are dated, of old quilts. There are also several websites that detail historical blocks and several well known books as well.

http://www.quiltindex.org/

I wondered the same thing as I am on a no buy concerning patterns,books, and magazines. This is as I am tired of copyright stuff so I will eliminate the issue from my quiltind. I have started researching and creating a master list. I am using internet, old catalogs like ladies art company, etc. It is slow going but someday I will get it done.

Thank you for the info.

Facts instead of opinions are always helpful.

I appreciate your question, but I am convinced that people are suffering over copyright questions unnecessarily. All quilts are based on squares, rectangles, triangles , circles or some variation of other shapes that exist in nature. I seriously doubt that it is possible to copyright how to put them together. Obviously, if you have written instructions for construction, no one should sell or give away your instructions without your permission. On the other hand, how many ways are there to put a nine patch together? froggyintexas

Froggyintexas has the right idea.......

Totally agree.

If you're looking for blocks to make for yourself, check out quilter's cache (www.quilterscache.com). The blocks themselves are not copywrited, but her directions for making them. She has some original blocks mixed in with the old ones, again, no problem for making into your own quilt, but don't give away or sell her directions.

I am with Froggy!