Copyright

[CanadianScroller]

I think you would be safe. The point is they do not want people massproducing them and selling the patterns or products.
Someone will say personal use only but I cannot see why anyone would make ten of the same project for themselves.
I know one pattern supplier was pressing this point but I think it fell flat for the reason I mentioned.
You are not slow on the uptake, people like to stay clear of the subject o be vague with answers.

[Jim McDonald]

Carl-
The only reason I would ten of something is to give as gifts. Christmas ornaments, etc.
Having been the "victim" of copyright infringement in the early 70s through some unauthorized reprints of some disaster photos, I am slightly touchy on the the subject.
If the offenders had just asked, all I wanted was a photo credit and a copy of the publication.

[flekka]

What is the norm for street art.. being from the U.K. I am thinking along the lines of "BANKSY" now he sprays pictures on buildings all over the place and people who own the buildings have actually cut them out and sold them for a lot of money... now if that image can be sold .. can a copy of that image be scrolled.......

banksys site Banksy welcome to hell rat with placard

john

[Arcy]

There's a difference between selling Banksy's original artwork (and the wall it was painted on) and making a copy of it.

--Rob

[Jediscroller]

There is legal precedent in the US for this. An "artist" tried suing a photographer in LA for sell photos of a building with his "artwork" on it. He lost. US Copyright law holds that if it's visible from a public place (buildings, bridges and such) it is in the public domain.

[flekka]

Kevin, that is along side my way of thinking, if he willingly puts it on the street's how can he defend copyright.. hmmm tricky laws these..lol, and how come when he comes forward to defend his work .. he does not get done for defacement... hey my defence could be, i was scrolling a picture of the wall and your artwork just happened to be there..

john

[pattern_guy]

to give an answer on copyright, one must go to the source of the image and get them to give permission in writing that you may use the image as a pattern. I work with a group of pencil artist who give me a trade off. I give them the original cutting for the use of the image. Some charge me a percentage of what I make off the image and some just give me a letter of permission. I always give the artist credit on my website for furnishing the image. I also list their website.

Joining different art groups give you access to many more avenues to acquire images for development. I plan to cover this item in depth on my blog at Scroll Saw News and Opinions sometime in may.

[pattern_guy]

I would love to cover this in detail, but I do not have the time right now. I will really get down with it on my blog though.
The best and only way to be sure of copyright is to get permission from an original artist or photographer. There is no such thing as a free ride. If I take a photo and post it, it is still mine. I own it. When I post it on "Public Domain", I am giving permission of use. This does not mean that I am giving up the copyright to it, I am only giving my permission for you to use it. Now,
If you make a scroll saw pattern from it, that is OK as long as you do not claim the copyright to the image. I am probably one of a few pattern developers who draw their own pictures. (lets get this out in the open, I am talking about portrait type patterns). I also use pictures of others wheather they are drawn, painted or photo's. If you have looked at my website, you do not see a copyright logo anywhere. This does not mean that I give permission to just give away a pattern that I have spent 100 hours developing. YOU spent your money buying it, let others do the same.

Always research the subject, find the person who created the image and ask their permission to use the likeness in a pattern. You will find that about 90% will give you the permission for a cutting or a small fee. Also "toot" their horn by referencing their website and that they gave their permission.

Enough. I will shut up now and will dig deep into the subject in an upcoming article on my blog. This is a definate subject to keep in the forefront.

[Arcy]

Originally Posted by pattern_guy

When I post it on "Public Domain", I am giving permission of use. This does not mean that I am giving up the copyright to it, I am only giving my permission for you to use it.

Actually, giving up the copyright is exactly what you are doing if you place your work in the Public Domain. I think you mean that when you post it in a public place you are NOT putting it in the Public Domain.

The rest of what you say is reasonably accurate (although I suspect that most commercial pattern vendors are drawing their own work).

Given how badly even the people giving reasonable sounding advice (including myself, I'm sure ) misunderstand copyright it's probably best for copyright owners to be explicit about how they intend to share their works, even if it's not strictly necessary. That way well-meaning people know exactly what your intentions are for how your work is to be shared (or not shared).

--Rob
Oh yeah. I promised myself I'd stop discussing copyright. Bad self. No doughnut