Copyright is quite a sensitive issue in our subculture, because many amigurumi designers or crochet pattern designers make a living from it, it's their main job. So it is natural that we want to protect the unique intellectual product we create and make others understand that selling these patterns is also our livelihood and not just our hobby. If the intellectual product we created, in our case the crochet patterns, is not used legally, someone not only hurts our feelings, but also breaks the law and financially damages the given designer. However, in many cases, based on my experience, this is not the goal of the person who uses the pattern badly, mainly because he likes the style and work of the given designer.
Photo: Own (Rebeka Novák-Szabó ev)
I think we should be the first to state that by purchasing a pattern, you are not only buying the crochet pattern, you are also supporting the particular designer not only financially, but also his creativity. After all, if you have income from it, you can maintain your business and he can turn the dormant patterns in his head into reality, and then use them as a pattern for others to create. With this maintaining our hobby as well, to dazzle our family members, acquaintances, and customers with new and new miracles.
Who is the amigurumi / crochet pattern designer?
An amigurumi/crochet pattern designer is any creative person who can design a crocheted toy/piece of clothing or any crocheted object based on their own ideas.
Anyone who: cannot be called a designer.
- he creates his "own" pattern by cutting the patterns together
- who modifies a little on someone else's existing pattern (adds a few stitches or colors or accessories)
- crochet the given toy or crocheted object from a picture (more on this later)
There are also debates among us (meaning: designers) about how copyrighted cartoon characters Everyone has a different opinion on how ethical it is to publish a pattern created during crocheting as one's own. Some people think it's okay that he didn't come up with the design, but the work invested in creating the crocheted toy is clearly his credit, so it's his intellectual product, while others think it's not correct to design a figure in this way, because it's the same copyright infringement. In this matter, your designer chooses what he thinks, I wouldn't break a stick over anyone for this, however, in my own small business, I proceed according to the following.
Personally, during my crochet pattern designs, which did not come entirely from my own wellhead (such as Pattern by Peti Kócos, obsession Rosy duck), I'm posting that pattern for free since I can't call it entirely my own. The crochet patterns that I sell are all based on my own imagination.
Photo: Pexels (www.pexels.com)
What can and cannot be done?
But back to what can and can't be done with crochet patterns! Here's a list I've put together of what we as designers think about this based on general opinion (I'll talk about what I think about it later). In each case, what and how can be done varies from designer to designer, so it's always worth finding out what the given designer contributes to and what they don't!
WHAT CAN BE?
- Make the toy/product in a small seriest, which you can resell to your own customers. The emphasis here is on the small series, the main thing that a person can crochet himself. The designer always makes a statement about the sale in his sample, whether it is possible or not, so it may happen that the designer does not allow this either (e.g. you cannot sell toys from lalylala's designs).
- You share the finished toy/product you have made and photographed on social media, always tag the designer, as an author. This not only makes it clear to others that this is not your intellectual product, but also helps the designer by letting others know where to find the source of the original pattern. You also support his work with this.
- You can share patterns and books containing patterns (you can lend it like a book) with your best friend, family members, colleagues, but only with those close to you, in a narrow circle. There are designers who completely prohibit sharing to any third party! Please respect this request!
- Using the designer's photos for your own purposes. This arises, for example, in connection with Blogs or sample recommendations, that someone would use images made by designers in their article. The person obviously means no harm by this, as he wants to promote the work of the designer, but the copyrights also apply to the images. Therefore, if you would like to use an image created by the designer in any way, always contact the designer to see if he gives permission. In many cases, the photos are also taken by the designers, so they are also protected by copyright.
- In your workshops, you can explain certain things through samples, however, it is important that not permanently, rather just reflecting on the question.
- Techniques used in samples after mastering it, you can also use the technique in your own pattern, but in any case, make your own photo documentation as an explanation and do not exactly copy the eye numbers and explanations in the original technique. Unfortunately, no one can reinvent Spanish wax in the field of crochet anymore, there is no problem with that if you use the same technique, but you can shape it by serving it.
WHAT CAN'T BE?
- You may not sell the finished product in retail or wholesale to a third party for resale, if you want the contact the designer for copyright and license, so if he is involved, the price can be agreed upon in order to sell in a larger volume, so that the designer can also profit from it and his rights are not infringed.
- It is forbidden to resell samples, books containing samples, ebooks, or share them on social media for free with people who are completely strangers to you. (e.g. in Facebook groups), or on other surfaces free to share paid or even free samples (for the latter, also ask the designer's permission)
- Copying the crochet pattern from a YouTube video is prohibited (especially if the video is not public) and share notes publicly with others. If the pattern is free/public and you made it, include the link to the video when sharing.
- It is forbidden to slightly rewrite the pattern or copy it from a picture, modify it a bit, and then sell it as your own.
- Making crochet packages from the patterns without the author's consent
- In your workshops and crochet club, teach and crochet exclusively based on a paid pattern, which is not yours. In effect, you're sharing a paid pattern with a smaller group, and if you haven't bought that pattern so many times, you've done a lot of damage to the designer.
- If you are stuck with the pattern in the first round, always turn to the designer with your question! I often see in groups that they take pictures of parts of the sample, how they got stuck here and how to proceed, but even if it is not the entire sample, you still share a part of it publicly. If the designer does not respond and you don't have a friend with whom you can discuss the problem, then this method can be resorted to as a last resort, but please show as little of the pattern to others as possible and always mention the designer of the pattern and its source.
Freely translated after Yanina Schenkel, i.e. PicaPau.*
I hope I managed to summarize that well copyrights for crochet patterns in general, however, I would now describe my personal opinion on the issue, and what you can do with my patterns and what you clearly can't.
My requests for bunnymoonHU crochet patterns
WHAT CAN BE?
- You can make small series of toys from it for your own use. Understand: for your child, family members, loved ones or, as a craft entrepreneur, for your private customers.
- You can share a photo of your finished product on social media and tag yourself as the designer of the pattern. Whether it's a free or paid sample, please link the source of the pattern.
- My purchased samples you can share it with your girlfriend, family member or colleague, but remember, by purchasing each pattern, you are supporting my creativity.
- If you copy one of my games from a picture, you can only share a picture of it if you are marked as the designer of the game, indicating that you made it from the picture and refer to the original pattern. I am aware that not all patterns can be bought and an experienced crocheter can easily make them from a picture, however, the design is also the intellectual product of my patterns, so my copyright protects it as well. If your current financial situation doesn't even allow you to buy a sample from me, you can at least show your respect for my work with my link, and give someone else the opportunity to buy it, thereby supporting my small business.
- You can only use photos of my samples with my permission. If you contact me with this request, I will most likely (depends on the use) allow it, but you must ask for my approval.
- You can use the techniques used in my patterns in your own pattern, however, create your own photo documentation/video presentation.
- You can use my samples as an illustration in your workshops, but it is forbidden to make them fully known and made public.
Photo: Pexels (www.pexels.com)
Photo: Pexels (www.pexels.com)
WHAT CAN'T BE?
- You cannot sell in retail or wholesale, or in larger series the toys made from my designs. If you want contact me a license agreement due to, which will contain the terms of the contract.
- You may not resell my paid or free patterns, including crochet packages (kits). If such a package you want make it with my pattern, please contact me also because of the license issue.
- You may not share my pattern or its details widely with a large group/people, or send it to strangers (e.g. they ask you to send the sample in a group, then you cannot do this)
- You can't sell it as your own with a small modification or addition, or you can't share your modified/modified pattern with others for free. Although this also applies to copying from the image. If you copy my toy from a picture and then describe to yourself how you made it, that doesn't make it your model (see section on not being a designer). Sharing it and selling it as your own also violates my copyright. As I wrote before, the design is also my intellectual product, so my copyright protects it as well.
- You may not use my photos, illustrations, or video aids without my permission.
- You cannot copy one-for-one the techniques used in my samples, which are obviously invented by me (e.g. the neck of nap cloths)
- You cannot crochet any of my paid patterns with the participants in your workshops, I would also like to ask you to contact me first regarding the free ones.
Summary
The list is not exhaustive, so I would like to ask you to contact me if my copyrights are/would be affected by your activity in order to avoid a possible legal dispute. If to my knowledge gets, that the someone is using my pattern illegally, I warn you by referring to my copyrights, and then you don't change your behavior user will be reported, and due to the violation of my copyrights, I am contacting a lawyer.
As a final thought, I would like to note that, as I wrote before, I understand that there are a lot of patterns and you can't buy them all, and also how many opportunities there are to get paid patterns for free, but keep in mind that buying a pattern is not only about the particular pattern, but also about the designer, its it is also about support and livelihood.
If you don't respect the rights of designers, your favorite designer might just give up designing and fighting because of illegal crochet pattern users, so he won't please you in the future with his new figures and creativity. There are many free patterns that designers try to make for their followers, however you can't run a business on free stuff, so not all patterns can be free.
You can also support the designer by sharing ready-made toys made from free patterns, so even if you don't have the opportunity to buy, you can also help your designer to create free or paid crochet patterns in the future. You can also get paid samples for free or at a discount if you are interested what are my options, read the previous one 7+1 tips for discounts my article entitled
*Sources: Yanina Schenkel/PicaPau Instagram story
