Sewing mamas!Calling all AmityMama's who like to sew! Do you make quilts, clothes, diapers, bags? Do you love to run your fingers through fiber? Can't get enough just sewing, but want to talk about it too? Come on in!
Anybody intersted?? Would a "pattern exchange" be legal?
I was thinking about this --- if somebody has a pattern that you would like to try and you have one that they would like to try, could the patterns legally be "borrowed" to eachother and then returned? If this was legal, wouldn't something like this work out to the benefit to alot of us? I see alot of s&s that I would like to try, but can't go and buy every single pattern without going broke!
I have no idea but I don't feel right about it. I won't even trace patterns for others or myself unless I am buying the pattern or it was given to me and they aren't using it anymore. But then we don't burn software or CDs either. We are pretty strict about it in our house The companies really don't care if you are exchanging, to them its the same thing. They don't care if people are stealing patterns as long as they are sharing theirs too lol
I don't think it's legal either. I *have* loaned out an Ottobre and a KS book. What they do with it while it's at their house I don't know, lol....but I don't make a habit of it. Usually when I borrow something I end up buying my own copy anyway.
Every guild that I know about (ie. American Sewing guild, American Smocking guild, etc...) have chapters that have pattern libraries. Our local ASG guild has a huge pattern library. I'm not a member, but my friend is. The members borrow, use and return the patterns all the time.
I make copies of cds too, though. They're for my own use, though, as I don't like to have my originals floating around the car and I'm always listening to cd's in the car. In my mind, that's not illegal either since I did pay for the originals.
I would think as long as you returned the original, and didn't keep any copies, it would be legal.
that is why I couldn't make up my mind, since only one person is using it at a time. But if you make copies and keep it to use later, that would be illegal. Ok, I just wrapped my brain around it lol
My "official" answer is "yes, it is legal". You can exchange, use and return original patterns. It would not be legal to buy a pattern, make 10 copies of it and then lend those copies out. Understand?
For instance, I can go to my local public library and check out books with patterns for sewing, knitting, woodworking, etc... I can make what I want and then return those copyrighted books. All legal. Everything I'm borrowing from my library is in its original form...books, cd's, magazines, etc... The library does not buy one copy and reproduce more for loaning out. Same thing with Blockbuster or any other place that lets you borrow/rent copyrighted materials.
So, I can buy a pattern and let you borrow it. You cannot make a copy of that pattern and then let someone else borrow it. However, you could lend out the pattern I lent to you and it would be O.K.
My library has a copy of one of Sandra Betzina's books and it has a huge envelope in the back with master patterns. Like most other libraries, mine allows you to check out CDs, DVDs, and videos. Any lender can easily copy one of these and then return the original to the library, which is obviously illegal. But lending something out, allowing the user to use it (watch the video, use the pattern to make a dress, etc) and then returning the original, is not illegal. It's the making a copy to keep after returning the original that's illegal.
Or that's my understanding anyway...
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Sarah
mama to Daniel, 5 yrs., and Amelia, 4 yrs.
We're super strict about copyright things as well and I was totally thinking about this this morning. I'd be game for loaning and returning but I would never keep tracings.
__________________ Amber, mama to Svea, Rory, and Tait!
I would be in. Maybe if some feel uncomfortable with making a tracing for themselves maybe there could be a borrowing from someone who has one already cut or traced in the size they need. Then all they have to do is trace it on the fabric and sew.
I hope we do this for I need a few patterns myself to sew somethings for my girls. Hope someone has some plus sizes