I apologise to my blog followers as this post is rather wordy, but I feel very strongly about the subject of copyright, and have recently had a stream of demanding emails from people wanting copies of patterns that I have paid for, so I felt I had to make you aware of the issue of copyright. As most of my blog followers know, I am very fond of patterns by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa. I have been lucky enough to meet her and have been on two courses with her which was very exciting. I really love her patterns - people ask why, and I think it is because they are just that little bit different. I do not have a quilt shop (ohhhh - I wish!!) and I do not have an online shop either - however I do have a very good friend Hanne, who owns a quilt shop in Norway (Lappedilla - it's a wonderful shop!) and I get most of my AnnAKa patterns from her. Also I have also bought patterns from a Swedish quilt shop, Lapp-Elisa, and have been very impressed with the prompt service (thanks Elisabeth!). Well I really don't know where to start with this. Whilst I appreciate that some of my blog readers do not know how to buy AnnAKa patterns, so they have contacted me for some advice, and many of them have gone on to email me and say how pleased they are with the patterns they have been able to purchase through the links that I have given them, I have now received numerous emails from people asking me to copy the patterns that I have bought and wanting me to send the photocopies to them - I'm not sure if this is because they cannot afford to buy them, or because they do not want to source them, but what they may not be aware of is that this is illegal. This has definitely got worse after I joined a FB group called "Sewing and Quilting Enthusiasts" and several members of this group have sent me repeated requests for photocopies of patterns. These are patterns that I have paid for.
I have always tried to politely point out that I am unable to send them photocopies of these patterns because of copyright law - and the response has been terrible. I have recently received several emails demanding to know why I won't do this - in fact one member of this group emailed me after I had informed her why I was unable to send her copies of patterns that I had paid for myself, and her reply to me was "I guess I do not see much harm in sharing a pattern here and there, but that is my belief and choice" - honestly, she has absolutely no idea that she is flouting copyright law. This is a huge worldwide problem, and it would be wonderful if more consumers refused to 'share' their patterns. Sadly I think there are a lot of people who use excuses like 'I cant afford to buy a pattern so its OK to share'.
From a designers point of view, designing and creating patterns is their job, its how they earn a living. I wonder how someone who is happy to share books and a pattern would feel if their wages were stolen before they got them because instead of buying something for themselves they managed to get someone who is often a stranger to 'share' something with them. Do these people not realise they are receiving stolen goods and could be prosecuted for doing so? So please - if you want to source a pattern that you have seen on my blog, (not just the Norwegian patterns) feel free to contact me and I will send you the link of how to buy it - but please please do not offend me by asking for a photocopy. Oh and yes - I have left the FB group concerned. If you are one of those people who have been requesting copies of patterns - shame on you!!!
**UPDATE: The owner of my local quilt shop, Quilters Haven, has also blogged about copyright and she has some stories that will make your blood boil!!
I have always tried to politely point out that I am unable to send them photocopies of these patterns because of copyright law - and the response has been terrible. I have recently received several emails demanding to know why I won't do this - in fact one member of this group emailed me after I had informed her why I was unable to send her copies of patterns that I had paid for myself, and her reply to me was "I guess I do not see much harm in sharing a pattern here and there, but that is my belief and choice" - honestly, she has absolutely no idea that she is flouting copyright law. This is a huge worldwide problem, and it would be wonderful if more consumers refused to 'share' their patterns. Sadly I think there are a lot of people who use excuses like 'I cant afford to buy a pattern so its OK to share'.
From a designers point of view, designing and creating patterns is their job, its how they earn a living. I wonder how someone who is happy to share books and a pattern would feel if their wages were stolen before they got them because instead of buying something for themselves they managed to get someone who is often a stranger to 'share' something with them. Do these people not realise they are receiving stolen goods and could be prosecuted for doing so? So please - if you want to source a pattern that you have seen on my blog, (not just the Norwegian patterns) feel free to contact me and I will send you the link of how to buy it - but please please do not offend me by asking for a photocopy. Oh and yes - I have left the FB group concerned. If you are one of those people who have been requesting copies of patterns - shame on you!!!
**UPDATE: The owner of my local quilt shop, Quilters Haven, has also blogged about copyright and she has some stories that will make your blood boil!!
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