Thursday, October 21, 2010

What about out of print charts...?


Val:
My friend has a chart I dearly love but she won't part with it because it is out of print She has offered to make me a copy but I refused. Now I'm wondering if maybe it would have been alright since I can't find it in any of the needlework stores.

Auntie Robbin:
Out of print doesn't mean "out of copyright". The terms are not interchangeable and more than likely, the copyright still applies. Out of print charts show up on auctions so you can try that approach or write to the copyright holder and see what they say. You may just be lucky enough to hear that they still have a few copies left or would be willing to reprint a chart if the current demand was great enough. 

The Law says this:
In General. — Copyright in a work created on or after January 1, 1978, subsists from its creation and, except as provided by the following subsections, endures for a term consisting of the life of the author and 70 years after the author's death. This law can be found here: http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap3.html

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The purpose of this blog

Dear Readers,

Thank you for stopping by the Needlework Copyright blog. 

The purpose of the blog is to educate and create an awareness in the needlework industry as to the seriousness of a problem that seems to be growing larger and larger.  Some people feel that their actions harm no one, so it is the goal of supporters and followers to show you that real people and businesses are feeling the effects of this illegal activity.

No one person or company represents the blog.  We are a community of needlework designers, shop owners and suppliers. 

It is our hope that positive and constructive dialogue can begin in your groups, shops, and neighborhoods.  It's our industry we are trying to preserve for the future. 

We remain positive in the hope that spreading the word of copyright rights and wrongs is the best defense we have toward preservation of the needlework industry.  Some designers have already left the  industry because the fight to preserve what belonged to them was too large.  Though it may sound cliché, every stitcher can make a difference.