I have been meaning to post about this for a number of years as it is a topic that I am quite passionate about.......Copyright. I am sure that the majority of stitchers abide by the rules of copyright but I know that there are quite a few who don't. As a designer, I know how many hours it takes to draft, make, re-make and write the patterns for projects so that stitchers can make them up. For most designers it is not just a nice little hobby that they do to fill in the hours, it is their job, their life, their bread and butter. Every time you purchase a pattern or a book it is covered by copyright. So what does this mean? Well to put it simply....you must not scan, photocopy or reprint the pattern and sell or give it away to your friends or family. There have also been numerous fb sites that scan and upload patterns to share with the world......totally wrong and very disheartening for the designers involved. I have even had a customer bring in a photocopy of one of my own patterns and ask to help her select the fabric for the quilt......I was dumbfounded! I am quite a generous person and probably would have given her the pattern for free but that it not the point.....copyright rules apply.
So what triggered this at all was an email I received last night. It reads:
Hello,
I'm french.
I want to do "fairyland toadstool" bag from kaleidoscope book.
The pattern is not sold in pdf and it's too expensive to buy and shipp the book from australia to france
I just wanted to know if you can scan the pattern of this cute bag.
I can mail you another pdf pattern of melly in exchange.
I really want to do this bag for my daughter.
Please, give me an aswer
Thanks
Nathalie
My reply to Nathalie was this:
Hi Nathalie
The rules regarding copyright is very clear. I will never scan a book (or pattern) and send it on to a third party as it is against copyright. Melanie has worked very hard to design wonderful projects for stitchers to enjoy, and to do this is morally wrong. My suggestion is that if you do not want to pay for the book, then you should buy an alternative pattern that you can make for your daughter.
Regards
Linda White
Gum Valley Patchwork
I am sure that I won't hear back from her, and that it won't stop her from breaking that law.....yes it is the law.....but I felt a little better knowing that I didn't do anything wrong!
Linda :)