Trish, ALL designs are automatically copyright protected.
Minecraft is licensed. If it is free or very cheap to buy, you can rest assured that it is an illegal design. Also, the person selling licensed designs need to display, in a very prominent place on their site, that they have purchased the license. Again, if you don't see this, you know it is illegal.
ok, Thanks for the information, licence/copyright I am assuming is the same? will check the site again, thanks heaps
No Trish. There is a big difference between copyright and license.
http://www.cuteembroidery.com/350...
Thanks for the link, BOY, this licence/copyright thing is very complex...... I think I`m getting it now, that site I was on yesterday which made me ask this question in the first place has a lot of the designs that is mentioned in the link, when I went back to have another look for the mention of copy right and licence all I saw was the words copyright 2013-2015 and that's all. I reckon I will keep away from there, just to be safe !!
As Minecraft is now owned by Microsoft, you would have to see their permission (included license) listed with the design.
You might check one of the bigger names in embroidery like iBroidery as they might be able to afford such a thing.
Good luck!