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Making Wire Jewelry from Patterns, and Copyright

by Dale Armstrong
Question:

How do I get permission to sell the jewelry that I make from the patterns I get from your book and the DVD`s I bought from WireJewerly?
Instructions
Answer:

First, thank you for your strong personal code of morals and ethics.

With so many people today copying published patterns, tweaking them slightly, and reselling them as their own tutorials, it's refreshing and important for designers to support each other.

When a designer publishes a pattern, it's intended for you to use in making either exact replicas or your own variations, with the purpose of selling the finished jewelry or giving it as a gift.

What is not allowed under U.S. copyright law:

Reworking or copying published instructions for your own profit

Advertising or selling someone else's design as your own original

Even if you're selling an "inspired" version, you must give proper credit.

Use a phrase like: "Crystal Brooch Inspired by Jane Doe"

The meaning of "Inspired Design" has been defined by U.S. federal courts.

You don't need to register your design for it to be protected by copyright law.

Since it's possible for multiple people to create similar work independently, legal ownership often comes down to proof of creation date.

Protect your designs by documenting them early:

Take photos, write notes, make sketches

Mail everything to yourself via certified mail (and don't open it)

Or save files on your computer, burn two CDs, keep one, and give the other to a trusted person

To learn more, visit:
U.S. Copyright Law Overview

Thanks again for asking this important question!

Answer contributed by Dale 'Cougar' Armstrong
Although I can't speak for every designer who publishes a pattern whether in a magazine, online tutorial, or instructional DVD the majority of us share our patterns with the intent that people use them to recreate the design (or a variation) for personal gifts or to sell the finished work.

What is not allowed is copying the pattern directly or indirectly for use in a group class, rewriting it into a tutorial and claiming it as your own, or teaching it under your name.

It's also a violation to advertise or sell the finished piece as your original design when it's based on someone else's published work.

All Free Email Patterns and Free Wire Patterns and Ideas provided by the WireJewelry Faculty (including myself) are available for you to use, make, and resell the finished items.

Thanks for asking and for respecting creative ownership.

Additional answer contributed by Dale 'Cougar' Armstrong in response to follow-up questions on this topic.

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  • Category: Selling
  • Technique(s): Selling

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