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.
Yes I know about copywright laws and so forth but was I in the wrong?
Hugs Joann
My opinion,
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
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.
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.
Hugs Joann
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
hugs Joann
The site you need is www.quiltsmart.com