I have a design folder called "Never Sale" I keep the design files in there to help me remember that the digitizer does not want me to sell or profit in any monetary way using their gift of the free design.
(I would never sell any design file -- to me that is obviously illegal.)
How do you keep your design files -- the ones that the digitizers do not want us to stitch out and then sell the item -- separate from the other designs you have where the digitizer expects that you might sell the stitched item at a craft market or other local shop?
I don't know if many of you know this or not, but many of the digitizers that offer free designs do not want the items you stitch, using their design, to be sold. This includes digitizers that contributed to the DBC or offer their design files via email.
(Edited for clarity)
Copyright: These design are protected by International & US Copyright Laws. The Design Files are licensed, not sold, to you. You have a nonexclusive, nontransferable, limited license to use the Design Files. THIS LICENSE IS LIMITED TO YOUR OWN PERSONAL, INTERNAL USE ONLY: gifts and individual items for resale at craft markets, and bazaars. Unauthorised reproduction or distribution of these designs or any portion of them, by email or any other means, is strictly prohibited. The digitised files and/or artwork cannot be sold, given away, shared or transferred in any way.
Remember designs are sold (or given) as a license to use them per the restrictions given by the digitizer. One cannot just do as they please because they feel they have a "right"
Please be sure to read (and follow) the license and limitations of ANY designs you download or acquire.