This topic came from lace chat where the discussion is to do with original artworks (e.g. a painting). However, on the topic of 'copying' lace patterns, I shall add some random thoughts here:
I agree it could be vexing if potential sales are hampered that a lace group buys a single of a pattern and shares copies amongst themselves - although I wouldn't call it stealing. Illegal use, sure (at least it is 'use'). What I would call 'stealing' is if someone were to put their own name on my design! As a lace pattern designer myself, there are considerations - ' do I want my designs out there and in use, or do I put a price on them, and try to control where they go? ' Regarding Torchon patterns: on the regular grid, simply by recombining the various stitch elements characteristic of this lace, they are easy to design for many of us. It isn't too difficult to look at a generic Torchon pattern or an existing lace and copy it from sight if one wants to - so this gave me the thought about protecting the design - a good way to protect a design is to make it distinctive, recognizable to lacemakers as 'that' designer's work - then if copied and passed around among friends, there won't be any doubt as to whose design it is. This gives respect to the design, even if money doesn't change hands, and protects the designer against someone else passing it off as their own. There are many, many ways to recombine Torchon stitches, and we can substitute one for another depending on the pattern. When I do a Torchon pattern 'from scratch' I'm not really confident in calling it 'original' unless I make a drastic change from convention. One thing I tried was putting a 5-leaf crossing where technically only 4 should go - it wasn't easy to work <g> - originality in Torchon is hard to pin down (pardon the pun). For copying lace patterns, therein lies a quandry also for the lacemaker - can we use 'copyright' lace patterns without copying them. Fortunately most copyright holders (and litigators) are agreeable to the personal use clause. If not, then they don't want us to use their patterns - and I guess better not to buy them ;) One last thing, I don't understand how re-selling an original copy is illegal. The buyer owns the piece of paper, not the design. And on that line, auction houses and secondhand bookstores would be in big trouble <vbg> but if there is a logical explanation, I'd welcome it. Others have weighed in, and I think I'll head off to do some lacing, or gardening... -- Bev in Sooke BC (on beautiful Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada) On 4/17/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi, we are one of the biggest designers of Torchon lace patterns. They > are, > in English law, copy right. You may not copy at all without our > permission. > We tell our customer we don't mind them copying the bought copy for their > own > use. It is illegal to copy and give away copies and it is illegal to sell > the original after you have finished with it. All this I got from our > solicitor > - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
