I saw a very cute pair of shorts the other day over at Virtually Sally.
Sal was nice enough to search through and drag out the pattern brand and number for me - (Burda 9793) . I toodled off to Spotlight yesterday morning (I have nothing else in my area) and bought it.
I'm not very experienced in using clothing patterns, and I would normally just take it home and cut out the pattern at the size that I currently need. But, this time I actually thought ahead (and yes it did hurt).
The pattern is for sizes 2 - 6 and has shorts, three quarter pants, and pants. I have four growing nephews who currently fit into the size category for this pattern, and will do so for at least another four years. So, I really need shorts in all 5 sizes, three quarter pants in all 5 sizes, and pants in all 5 sizes.
There was absolutely no way on earth that I was going to be tracing off the pattern that many times, so instead, I headed to Officeworks and photocopied it.
My question is:
Is it ok for me to copy it if I'm only doing it for my own personal use to save time in tracing out all of the different sizes? I couldn't find anything specified on the pattern, and I have no intention of distributing it.... What do you think?
31 comments:
jeez - that is sooooo ok(with me). i say it's exactly like tracing, but quicker and smarter. and thanks for the great idea!
paula
I think that is fine as it is for your own personal use. And it is a damn good idea. I will be doing this in future as I have been tracing and it is painful.
Cheers
Lisa
That has to be ok. You have bought the right to use that pattern, if you were tracing it there would be no issue, copying it is just faster and smarter. Good planning ahead!
Can’t wait to see some of the pants, perhaps you will inspire me to make some for Little Guy. Let me know if you think the pattern is clear enough for a novice who has only followed a couple of patterns in her life.
It's perfectly ok to do that. As long as you're not selling the pattern, it's all good!
yep--I say it's fine! I've even done it and no policeman followed me home. I think you're safe ;)
Cam you should check out the Badskirt's posts on copyright, there is heaps of info there, including this:
"There's actually more to it than just home-use. If you read the information sheets carefully, it's actually one pattern per creation. So if you've got four bridesmaids, you'll want four patterns. But if you just want four dresses for yourself, you're in the clear. Confused yet?"
If that info is correct I would think that you technically can't use the one pattern to make multiple sets of pants in different sizes, since they clearly are not all for you.
Maybe talk to Amy about it, she seems to be pretty knowledgeable about pattern copyright!
I would think if it's for personal use by the person who purchased the pattern then it runs along the same idea as tracing so it would be fine? I hadn't thought about Officeworks for big patterns, what a great idea! PS I have the same pattern and it's a great one.
I think that technically this is a no no. I was going to reference Amy's copyright thing too. But it seems to me with that you should be allowed to make one in each style in each size anyway? But if you did 2 in the same style and size that would be bad. That being said, I don't think anyone is going to care. I think that's half the battle with copyright. It's simialar to copying music. If the artist has said that they don't mind you file sharing their stuff, even though it's actually illegal, who's going to say anything?
I promise I won't dob you in!
I have no problems with that one at all. I TELL people to photocopy my multi-size patterns to save time on tracing them off. To expect people to buy a separate pattern for each size is unrealistic.
I have the full copytight documents for patterns (at work somewhere) if you ever want to look for the fineprint and interpret it yourself.
I recently did exactly this with a bunch of Nikki's patterns. It feels weird, doesn't it?
So long as you're not handing them out to all and sundry, I am sure it is fine. I do see lots of people discussing lending patterns, or tracing for others and so forth, and I am pretty sure that is a no-no, even if you are doing it for free, as the creator misses out on potential income.
I think it's a savvy, time-saving exercise to save you tracing the pattern 6 times just so you can multi-size the pattern as your kids grow!
Of course you do. What differnce is there between tracing and photocopying? None and you are using it all for yourself. Just double check that the patterns have not been skewed by the photocopying because that can happen sometimes. Cherrie
Yes I believe making copies for personal use is fine! Listen to Nikki, if she says yes I'd be doing it with a clean conscience.
x G
I know what you are saying, i had the same ekkk feeling about posting up my tracing experience...then i got to thinking....The patterns are made to be used over and over again. Allot of people put in huge hours of work to give us brilliant patterns and if you are going to copy them for our own use isn't that a compliment to their work!! I think Nikki is right on the make...copy the pattern, enjoy the pattern and use it time and time again!!
I think that is totally okay... you are only using it for your own use.
Regarding that only-to-be-used once comment - just because someone writes that on their product, that doesn't mean that they have a leg to stand on under the law. What I'm trying to say is, restricting the use that way is not covered under copyright law. Personally, I respect these conditions if written on the pattern because I consider it morally right to comply with the wishes of the pattern seller, not because it is a legal requirement.
http://www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/CopyrightLaw/Patterns.shtml
Otherwise - think about the rules that you would use for making copies of music... it is acceptable to make a backup copy of a digital file in case your computer dies, for example, as long as you aren't doing it for distribution. Similarly, it would be acceptable to make a copy of the pattern in case you destroy in the sewing process.
Copying the pattern for this use is perfectly acceptable, although you might get trouble from the print shop because they can't control whether you distribute the copies.
You're fine. It's for your own personal use. You just schose to photocopy rather than spend hours and hours tracing them sizes out on paper!
Hi ya, yeah that's fine, so long as it's for personal use. Good luck with all that sewing.
of course it's fine Cam!! you are only doing it for your own use after all
I agree with the majority here Cam, you're fine. And honestly I think that a copyright stating you have to get a new pattern for each size or style is ridiculous. Why print all the styles and sizes on one piece if you want people to buy multiple copies of a pattern.
Nikki's got it right, but we all knew that all along!
I do this all the time, although I usually trace the patterns onto interfacing because it is easier to use (you don't need to pin it as it sort of 'sticks' to most fabrics).
I've used this pattern and it is a good one so best of luck with it.
P.S. I'm having a giveaway for blogtoberfest....not sure how I'm supposed to let you know so you can add to the list,
here is the link
http://3redbuttons.blogspot.com/2009/10/day-21-giveaway.html
feel free to delete this comment later
Absolutely, you're only doing it to save time. It's like photocopying pages of a book at uni rather than borrowing it from the library and carrying the whole thing home with you. No-one's being deprived of income or intellectual property.
Interesting discussion you've generated Cam. I enjoyed reading all the comments and improving my knowledge. Copyright is such a complex area.
It's not exactly a watertight way to go about the copyright thing, but you obviously have a CONSCIENCE aren't distributing it so I say copy willy nilly!
From what I've read copyright law varies depending on your location, as well as the location it was created in. All of this makes it very confusing. Very very confusing.
Funny enough, I was thinking of passing the torch on the copyright page as I haven't been able to update it for a while. If there's anyone interested, do let me know!
Personally I think it's fine to be photocopying for your own personal use. I do it, only cause I'm lazy & we have our own A3 copier here ;)
As for the making one only of one size on a pattern that has been mentioned here - wouldn't that only be if your selling the item? What if you are making for your daughter? Heck when I find an easy pattern that fits, I use it over and over and it's not for ME as such? In the old days, the patterns were used over and over and shared around - the amount of same outfits I had in different colours LOL! I'd say it would be hard to monitor unless your selling them?
Interesting - I wouldn't have thought about photocopying patterns to use - I will admit I have lots of patterns but I'm too chicken to use any of them yet! I would have just traced them. It'll be interesting to see what the copy shop says.
I reckon it's fine- it's for your own use. But I actually prefer tracing it off- onto fine interfacing. Then that sticks to the fabric so you won't have to pin or weigh it down. And you can also see the fabric through.
It is fine as long as you don't give a copy or copies to anyone else. read that somewhere recently. But i do wonder what the pattern companies think of sales on ebay.
I have used multi-sized patterns all the time. Many times, I make the large size first and then, the middle size and then the smaller size. With more than one son it was necessary. That thing about not being able to make multiples of one pattern like bridesmaids dresses would be awful hard to enforce, and why do they make more than one version using the same basic front and back?? I can see it if you made 25 copies and sold 24 of them. that would be competing with the retail stores, and OMG where would we be then?? BETTER DRESSED!!
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