I have a question about COPY RIGHTS.

[Judith T.]

I have a question about COPY RIGHTS.

I am making a quilt using a block and technique I learned when making a quilt. This technique / block has been around for ever.

I am using the settings technique I learned in another quilt pattern. I am not sure how novel of a setting technique it was but it is contemporary style. I have not seen the setting technique used in quilts I have seen until the last couple of years. I do not know if that is because everyone loves the technique and pattern or because it is easy way to make your blocks stand out an look great.


I have been asked to teach a workshop / class for a group of quilters. I plan to write my own instructions for the various techniques used for making the quilt. Would it be copy right infringement to use the contemporary setting technique?

I hope this question is written clearly as I really need some input.

[Hannelore N.]

I'm not a lawyer, but have learned a lot about copyright, on both sides of the Atlantic, over the years. As far as I know you cannot copyright a traditional block or technique. But you can copyright your instructions and/or you photos (if you took them yourself and they show your work).

Lorchen

[Hannelore N.]

LOCHREN,

THANK YOU for responding... I am not worrying about the traditional block itself as the technique and block has been around forever.

I am concern about the contemporary setting techniques. I have only seen one quilt designer use the technique even though it is simple and makes a lovely secondary pattern.

I would basically be taking her setting design and applying it in a different way. .... I would write up my own instructions for the workshop.

I wonder if INVENTORS face this type of dilemma.

[Hannelore N.]

Yes, they do. All the time. I used to teach international patent lawyers German, and it's quite mazing how much you have to check in order for your own design/invention to be legal.

Again, you obviously cannot copyright the actual setting of the blocks, but you can copyright your instructions of it. It would help if you can find out the name of the person who used that type of setting, contact her/him, and ask if it was their original design or if they had seen it somewhere before. You can then include that information in your instructions. It's also possible, of course, to say in your instructions that the project is based on a design that has been around the quilting world for some time, that you unfortunately don't know the origins, but that the instructions (and any pictures) are your own.

A little story here: Some years ago a very large US retailer used an image of a needlework Christmas motif in all their stores as part of their seasonal decorations. They did not check out the copyright situation. The designer of this piece of needlework took them to court, and achieved a very high settlement that she donated to charity. Rumour has it that it was a 6 figure sum. If they had asked her, she probably would have given them permission for a couple of thousand $$$.

Lorchen

[Jenny C.]

Hi Anna
You said you learnt the setting from a quilt pattern, did that pattern have a copyright on it. check the search engine on the forum under copyright i know this topic has been discussed before.
Jenny in Oz