I have a problem. I am making a cell phone holder that has 2 pockets inside. I paid a few cents less then $17.00 for this pattern.To me that is a lot but wanted it so that I will have something different that nobody has to sell at craft shows. Now for the problem. I gave one to a good friend of mine. She took it home and gave it to a older friend of hers to copy and make. She said it was for school and it was to give away to teenagers. I don't beleive they are giving it away. Anyway I contacted that friend and told her not to copy my pattern and why I bought it. I then told her if she insisted on having it I would give her the address and she could buy it for herself. She said she was busy making curtains and she would return the holder to my friend. Well last night she got around to telling my friend, my friend called me and ask if I did that and I told her yes. She then said she was very disappointed in me for doing that and she pays 150.00 to join a place and gives it to everyone. I would like to keep our friendship but I don't feel what I did was wrong. What do you think.

i would love to know where you got the design from as it sounds nice I would not tread on your toes as i am in the uk could you post a link to it please

1 comment

by bonnetgirl 14 Sep 2012

I will give you the site...my problem dose not involve tramping on toes...since anyone can purchase this design it is with making a copy of it.
The site you need is www.quiltsmart.com

i would love to know where you got the design from as it sounds nice I would not tread on your toes as i am in the uk could you post a link to it please

I think that has already been said, but I will reinforce it, this women is not your friend. We need to have friends who share our values, you value honesty and integrity, she does not. This is clearly creating a conflict for you. She is not a good fit for you as a friend.

I say move on...don't waste anymore time trying to rationalizing what your "friend" did...her conscience is in her hands...not yours...and if this is the way she treats "her friends...you..." she is not your friend.

1 comment

by bonnetgirl 14 Sep 2012

My other friends I should of said I was diapointed in her for sharing my holder with someone else. But enough said, she did what she did and now does not like that I confronted the other party. Her loss not mine.
hugs Joann

Some people are so used of stealing that they think that everybody else is doing the same and don't feel guilty at all. She even told you to be "very disappointed in you".

Is it possible that she doesn't know about copywright?
I would ask her to join this forum, which is free of charge, so she would read what the Cuties do and don't do and make new friendships at the same time.

Hugs, Lidia

1 comment

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

I don't think anyone is so dumb not to know about copyright laws and I did try to get her to join here but she don't seem interested in embroidery much anymore but she does sew.

Wow. This has been interesting reading. I would never do that to a friend, I would have brought my own copy of the pattern and be happy with you for sharing it. However, Would you still be upset even if your "friend" had paid for the pattern??? You wanted something different that nobody has to sell at craft shows. She sounds very selfish to me. xx

4 comments

by lyns 13 Sep 2012

On the flip side, I often buy items at craft shows & car boot sales, etc, with the intent of taking them apart to see how they are made & then make my own. I never thought about copy right laws. Where do we stop? We all get ideas off each other. We look at the projects & beg for the design. We are still copying what they did. I made a pattern from my favoraite shirt & now have 4 of them. Is this against copy right? I'm confused. xx

by lyns 13 Sep 2012

We look at the projects & beg for the design. We are still copying what they did. I made a pattern from my favoraite shirt & now have 4 of them. Is this against copy right? xx

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

Yes I wanted a design that nobody else had but I made the offer so that there were no hard feelings. I don't buy at craft shows to tear apart others pattern either and copyright laws are there to protect people who make the pattern

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

I know because I used to design knitting patterns and published a book myself and know how much work goes into it. Anything worth making is worth doing it honestly.

I would drop this person. You are her friend but I don't believe she's yours.

1 comment

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

You said just what my better half always says. He always tells me I let people use me. I am always willing to help anyone weather I know them or not. I just tell him I am working my way to heaven.

We are constantly reminded of copyright. The bad thing with your friend - she didin't even buy the pattern! Why make the copyright law your problem. Can you imagine how your friend's friend would feels if she designed something and was selling the design and you get a copy from her friend and pass it on. BTW why pay 150.00 to join a place - she can just get the patterns for free from her "friend". I really don't think you were wrong so don't let them upset you. Stick to your rights. Hugs Elizabeth

1 comment

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

she joined the site as soon as she got her machine. As to why she lets others use it I don't know. She offered to me but I didn't take and to this very day I have not used any of the designs.
Hugs Joann

I think you were not wrong - they were! And it sounds kind of strange to pay a $150 to join a site and then give away? Maybe you could find out somehow what site it is and see for yourself.

1 comment

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

I guess we all have to answer to God for things we do. It just is some will have a little more to answer to.

I'm having a hard time imaging a place where you have to pay $150 to join, then everyone copies patterns to give to each other instead of buying them. Whoever is responsible for organizing this place and taking in the money seems to to be breaking the law big time. It was certainly wrong of her to not tell you that she was going to give this pattern to other people!

I would evaluate just how much you want to keep this friendship. The fact that she concealed her true intention in "borrowing" the pattern belies a level of deceit that is disturbing to me. You say that you would like to keep this friendship, but you have to accept that the relationship has changed dramatically.

I have several friends that buy my stuff at church sales just for the patterns. Some of the things I make and don't want anyone here to see, I just make for family. Hate it, but what can you do. Also, we do the same thing on here. I come here to see what the ladies are making and get Ideas, same difference

2 comments

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

Not the same at all. Most of us on here are offering to share...when a person buys an item that item is probably copywrighted. She knew I purchased the design but also knew how many I have sold. Out of the 50 or so I have sold already only one has decided to take the pattern. I also offered to give her the address to buy the pattern if she felt she needed to have it. She turned me down.

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

to take the pattern. I also offered to give her the address to buy the pattern if she felt she needed to have it. She turned me down

Joann, if you gave her the finished product as a gift then you did no wrong.
But both of your friends did.They both contravened the copyright regulations. One for giving it to her to copy and the other one for copying it.And it does not matter whether it was intended to be made up to be given away, or sold.They are both guilty.
I would be very careful. If that person paid $150 to join a place, or group, to give away designs, then I would say she is in a group that shares. A definite no no!Also illegal.
You did the right thing. But just be careful of that friendship. They could be taking advantage of you.

2 comments

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

Yes it was a finished item. She don't have a cell phone but hates to take a large purse with her so gave her one of these to carry her lic, debit card and small amount cash with her.

by elizabethak 13 Sep 2012

Copyright is copyright. Even if the pattern was free you cannot pass on patterns - they have to go into the site themselves and download it. dowright illegal to copy. We all get ideas from craft fairs but ideas doesn't mean you are taking the item and copying it.

No, you did nothing wrong, your first friend did, the second friend only did as she was asked, but may not have been aware that was from a pattern, copyrighted to someone else, that you bought and paid for.

I'm afraid your friend is NOT your friend or she would not have done such a thing.
Perhaps SHE does not understand that she is breaking the law and the reality is that she could be sued for stealing the pattern.
It seems like such a simple thing to do, to copy a pattern, but it is theft after all.
Just my opinion as I see it. I would be very annoyed if a friend of mine did it.
Hugs n roses, Meg

1 comment

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

The second person I only know through the first...She understands but thinks I should give it up because it is her frined. I always help her when she needs it with sewing and learning how to do something.

when you give a gift, it is their gift to do what they want with it, like it or not. my opinion. live and learn. now that you know what she does with her gifts, you might want to keep them. Betty

2 comments

by mpo14011 13 Sep 2012

Sorry Betty.That is not quite true.If that person copies a design or pattern she is breaking the law by going against the copyright regulations.

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

Yes to use as she pleases but this is stealing especially after I personally told her I would give the address to purchase the design. Sorry but I think you are wrong and at $6.00 price each the friendship must not mean much.

Not much of a friend. Friends do not do that sort of thing. Sarah.

1 comment

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

I agree and for some to think it is ok to copy, I just don't understand. Its like saying it is ok to steal since I gave it to her.

I don't think you are wrong in this matter, I would be offended if a friend did that and then didn't understand my disappointment. As for the argument that she shares with everyone, she is not o.k. to do this and her argument is null. I realize the friendship is important to you but her reaction in this matter might be a reflection on how important the friendship is to her.
My opinion,

1 comment

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

I am always there for her when she needs help with her machines or sewing something, so this is hard for me to understand. I guess you are right as to how much it our friendship means

She doesn't sound like much of a friend to treat you this way. I can see why you are feeling betrayed. You are not the one who is in the wrong. Hugs Joyce

1 comment

by bonnetgirl 13 Sep 2012

Thank you I was feeling like I was wrong and I am sad she felt I was unimportant.