Follow this idea that a designer can decide what a consumer can do with an item made from his/her design to the farthest conclusion you can think of. Suppose you buy a blue Ford 150--obviously a design owned by Ford--and suppose Ford tells you that you can't haul fertilizer in it. Suppose you design a yard stick with baby skunks printed on it and try to tell those who buy them that they can't put a hole in one end, tie a leather lanyard on it, and resell it?
The idea that someone who designs a raw material can tell the people who buy that raw material and turn it into an end product that can be sold is logically ludicrous. froggyintexas

I think that there are 2 distinct questions that I have - and I am not a lawyer - but, I have always thought that a design has to formally copyrighted (and then has the right to use the copyright symbol) to dictate exclusive ownership. Is this Right?
Then is my next thought/statement right?
Just because someone who creates a design pattern or fabric (and somewhere along the line the design is plagerized as I don't think there is a new quilt design that someone hasn't already done) and says that you can't copy or reproduce or sell something that you "created" from her/his pattern gives legal or moral ground to just her wishes. They did not make the effort to copyright their pattern/design legally.

No, the copyright protection is effective as soon as your 'idea' becomes tangible (written, photographed, blogged, etc). You do not have to register it, nor do you have to use the copyright symbol or make any statement that the item is copyright protected (though you can do both without registering if you choose to). You cannot, however, prosecute someone for copyright infringement unless you have registered that copyright, an easy and inexpensive procedure.

In other words, if someone duplicates your pattern directions word for word, they have violated your copyright, but you only have legal recourse if you registered it. The law was broken either way.

I don't see how it would be my business to even interfere in this situation.

Boy, I am glad to hear this. I always thought that it was outrageous that they could tell us what can do with our work after it has finished.

One pattern designer--not quilt patterns--but something else....she used to have such a nasty tone on her website about the copy right....I will never buy another of her patterns. On her website she has really toned it down but still says we cannot sell products we make from her patterns. She sure left a nasty taste in my mouth. It was not even the restrictions...it was her tone. And it was not just me...several other mentioned it which is why I went and looked.

I totally agree that they have the right to expect us not to copy their patterns...that is their work and livelyhood. I just do not think they have the right to tell us what we can do with what we make from the pattern. Not that I ever sell anything anyway.

Surely on some patterns it says for personnel use only and may not be copied or reproduced. These patterns when made up can we sell or make with other people at classes? I 'm confused and does this only apply to USA as I live in uk and purchase many patterns from other countries ie aus and nz .?

nycquilter you are not employed in law enforcement, are you? You do not have a personal relationship with the designer, do you? You have so reason to get involved. I admire your loyalty and sense of offense, but you have no responsibility, nor grounds to get involved. Everyone needs to have loyal people like you around them. Thank you for being you!

nycquilter thanks for this post. It certainly raises some very interesting questions. The whole intellectual property issue has intrigued me as we are doing more with computers, file sharing etc.. I would love to hear a lawyers thoughts! how many of us seen quilts at shows, taken photos and then done our best to copy them. what about music and where we get that. Thanks for a thought provoking topic!

I totally agree. Congratulations for walking away.

It will be a cold day in 7734 when a company tells me what I can do with something I make myself.