Is there a "rule" in this forum that prohibits a quilter from telling what their pattern (in the pictures section) is called or from what book by whom? Someone is always asking what the pattern name is. All of the quilts are beautiful and inspirational Iwant to make them ALL!!!! :roll: :roll: I know copyrighted things can't be reproduced here but can the pattern NAMES?? Just curious!

I haven't seen any rules about posting the names of quilts. I think most people just don't think of it when they post their pictures. Personally, I always "name" (I give them a personal name) my quilts and that's how I refer to them when I post.

No, there isn't a rule against that.

Thanks! Was just wondering why more people don't "share" the pattern they are posting. No big deal!!

here is another answer to your question. So many of the talented ladies here alter traditional patterns somewhat and feel that can't call it by that particular name any longer. But maybe we can all do better in the future about names but always feel free to ask questions or PM someone. Everyone is very helpful here :D

One of the great truths in quilting is that one pattern may have dozens of names. If a person knows a pattern such as Monkey Wrench, there are at least a dozen other names it is also known by. Some I learned in the 70s are being repopularized under different names - tipsy log cabin and mock cathedral window are two.

I've seen traditional patterns worked in a particular fabric line re-named to reflect the fabric designer's line. Other folks like to play and make things up as they go along, and not stick to any certain pattern. While I've bought dozens of books over the years, I have probably bought only a handful of patterns.

Finally, there are some designing women here who make up their own creations, and do not want their original designs copied. I have seen people offended when I had to tell them I could not provide a link to a pattern I created in my head and on scrap paper. If someone wants to copyright their designs for sale in the future, they also would not want to give their design work away.

Thanks for all the info. This IS a GREAT site. I am always learning something here. I certainly wouldn't want to offend ANYONE. I was just particularly "taken" by several quilts that I would like to make - that's all!

I don't mean to highjack this thread, but: If you see a quilt you like somewhere any where and then recreate it how much do you have to change it before you are no longer infringing on someones copy right. I don't sale quilts but I have a friend who wants me to make a quilt but I would not want to infringe on anyones copyright. Thanks!

g

One reason we don't see the names is that I think sometimes we don't read carefully to see that people are asking questions. When you read through a thread, you can see that we skip stuff a lot. I don't think it is on purpose, but sometimes from the time I start something until the time I finish it, I have misplaced the source and can't readily put my hands on the book or magazine it came from. Sometimes I get an idea from a thread here, and then I can't find it again, so I don't know the name. Just my take on the whole situation. :?

I always try to give the information about the project I've posted; I've seen others do it to, but as Moonpi pointed out there is a name problem sometimes. I've done 9 Patch & Stripes from the Eleanor Burns book, but I know my LQS has a pattern that I would swear is the same thing but has a different name by a different author. All I can do is to say what pattern I myself followed, or at least give a nod to whoever I got the inspiration/idea from - I think that's just the right thing to do.


Quilting G, the short answer is none - if I were to use someone else's idea, it doesn't matter how much it's changed - it is still derived from someone else's work, making it a derivative work and the copyright is still theirs. Changing something by a magic percentage is an old myth. The best source of info on this is the horse's mouth (LOL) - check out the government's copyright website.

http://copyright.gov/

Hope this helps!

i think that for the most part it boils down to good manners and common sense.

anybody, who is offended by the fact that somebody else likes their quilt so much they want to make one of their own is an idiot. :roll:

however, if they're convinced it's their own original copyrightable design and don't want others to copy it without permission or payment they should politely include that information in the picture post.

and if you like somebody else's quilt and want to make one of your own but don't know for sure whether or not it's from the public domain the polite thing to do is to ask.

(and just between us ... if the quilt is made using blocks from the public domain they can't say no. the most they can do to "stop" you is to insist you track down the blocks and instructions yourself. :lol: :wink: )

I thought if we used someone else's idea or pattern we had to acknowledge them

[quote=PatriceJ
anybody, who is offended by the fact that somebody else likes their quilt so much they want to make one of their own is an idiot. :roll:

[/quote]

My thoughts exactly Patrice - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! :D

K x

naturally i agree with myself. :lol:

the central question here, though, is whether or not we can legally:

-use somebody else's design without paying for the pattern; or
-copy something somebody else made and then claim it as our own.

ask 5 lawyers about any specific situation and you'll get at least 57 opinions.

the first thing to do is to "read up" on copyright law and issues. the information is easy to find on the internet.

in addition to considering the law, employ ethics. if you don't admit you got the idea somewhere else, aren't you implying it was your own idea? is that ethically right? how would you feel in the other quilter's shoes?

if somebody made a quilt like it after seeing my Chisholm Plaits and didn't mention they'd been inspired by my use of those blocks, could i sue them for a copyright violation? NO ... because every element of that layout came from the public domain. i just happen to have realized they worked well together.

if somebody made a quilt like it after seeing my Chisholm Plaits and didn't mention they'd been inspired by my use of those blocks, would i be seriously ticked off? you bet

I belong to a lot of crochet boards and the subject of copyrights comes up a lot. If you use someone's pattern and post a pic of it somewhere the designer would appreciate their name being credited for the pattern. They don't appreciate their patterns being placed on the boards without permission either. Most designers will let you use their patterns on a forum if you ask permission.
Darlene

Here is an example of when I have a problem.This is a wall hanging I did for the Spaniel Club National when I did the logo for the event. It was on the trophy table and later the memorabilia table.

The pattern is a Double Irish Chain-a pattern in the public domain. So no problem to see it reproduced BUT the centers are my original art work from the logo drawn by me and printed to fabric. I cannot tell you how often I saw that drawing reproduced and used without any credit or asking if they could use it. Not only is that copyright infringement BUT it seriously made me angry.

Mostly I have no problem sharing. Every once in awhile I do something that I would like to have as a one of a kind piece and those I don't post anywhere. Just makes sense to me to handle it that way.

Wow! Lots of discussion.. GREAT! Thanks for all your comments! The quilt in question was stated by maker as a pattern she bot in a soon to be going out of business shop somewhere USA. The date on her post was 2006. She did include the website but after 3 years - it was no longer there. Oh well! It was a beautiful quilt. All is not lost! I'll just design my own....

Just do a search of the quilt name if you have it. It should come up with the pattern available somewhere.

Tried that. nothing even CLOSE! SIGH!!!

Really? Hmm...which one is it may one of us can help.

Love your quilt Swan!

K x

Thanks k3n. That's all that's left of it, pictures. One of the things my daughter packed away never to be seen again. :cry:

Swan Song, I can relate. I actually confronted one person who copied my art (it was not a quilt) and she blew me off saying I had "inspired" her. Imitation is not always flattery, especially when the work is taken out of context. If you see that your work is being used inappropriately, follow up on it, but most people will play dumb and say they didn't know

Some people would never walk into a store and take stuff without paying, but think it is just fine to help to anything they see online. Then, they are cluelsss about who or where designs come from. As if that isn't enough, they pass the designs on to others without attribution, or post as if it was their own work.

This copy right buisness sounds like confusing lawyer talk. If I buy a pattern at the store it is now my pattern,right? just as if I buy a couch, I can sit in it, jump on it or change the color because it is mine.....ask the government because they made me pay taxed on it. If an artist sold their idea to a company it would seem it no longer is theirs. They have me afraid to hang it in my window without a sign in my yard saying their name. Does this sound like anti-lawyer talk. I have 4 of them in the family Joanne

I guess our laws are probably a little different, and I have to admit I haven't studied them a lot.

Laws aside, it does seem plain good manners to mention if you have copied a pattern or were inspired by someone else's work.

Many patterns you buy here have a note by the designer saying you cannot sell the finished product (quilt, bag, whatever) without permission from the designer.

There is a local designer who does amazing work here, and she has in her patterns that you can make and sell 5 without having to ask, as long as she is acknowledged as the designer.

Joanne, you are right if you buy something it is yours to make. That's why people publish their patterns. You can make it any color you want, you can give it to whomever you want. What you cannot do in most cases is mass produce it, sell it and make a profit without the designer's permission. You also cannot represent it as your design. Your work in recreating it yes, your design no.

As far as an artist selling their design to a company it depends if she/he also sold the copyright to the design. If they did then the company now owns the rights to the design. Same deal as above except now it's a company not an individual.

My issue with the wall hanging was not that it was reproduced, the design is in the public domain. I don't own the rights to a Double Irish Chain. The centers however were not. The logo there was reproduced from the website I put up for the club and from pictures taken of the logo and then used to generate money for different individual's "causes" (there were many :? ) after also removing my signature from the drawing. I used it only as an example of the differences in something being in the public domain and something not. I really didn't mean it as any more than an illustration of that and how an artist can be hurt.

Do I have a problem sharing? No. I produced it initially to be used to generate money for The American Spaniel Club. I did not however relinquish my copyright to the club. I gave them permission to reproduce it for the purpose of promoting their show and raising money for the club at that show (and they made a bunch). After that the art work was mine to do with as I wish. I lived and learned. Frankly, I wouldn't have been so angry if my signature had not been removed or if they had at least asked.

I think this has gotten way off the original topic though. I think the OP wanted to know why people didn't cite the pattern or book or whatever they used for the inspiration for the quilts they have posted here. I for one think it is a good idea to cite what design or book you used. Not for copyright issues but just so others whom you may have inspired to know what you used so they can find the pattern or book.