I ordered this kit off of Craftsy.  It was $25 on clearance.  

 

So, this is the first quilt I'm attempting on the new Juki 2010.  So far, so good.

 

I was nearly finished with the rows when I discovered that about 20 squares were missing.  I contacted Craftsy, and they were terrific.  They sent replacement squares within the week.  

 

So the goal is to work on squares that line up properly.  So far, so good.  Then, the goal will be to quilt it!

 

So, copyright:  a kit.

There is copyright on the pattern.  There's also a copyright on each of the individual fabrics.  There are a few decisions that I make.  So, there is a thin copyright on my version.

 

The kit is interesting.  It is designed to make a copy, a derivative work of the original.  It is inherent in the interaction.  I am paying in some ways for the license to make the work.  

 

The pattern itself contains a copyright notice.  But no restrictions or other information is included.  

 

So, I buy the kit.  A downloadable pattern is made accessible to me.  The fabric comes in the mail about a week later.  What keeps me from posting the directions? Well, the work is under copyright, of course.  But lots of works that are under copyright are posted and shared everyday.  (Look at Pinterest).  

 

Maybe as a society we recognize that we paid for the pattern, and that the payment didn't include further distribution?  But wait!  The pattern is available for free from the copyright holder.  Why would they do that?  The pattern is the enticement to buy the fabrics.  It's a company selling fabric.  

 

 

I think that is an important point.  Yes, there is copyright in the pattern, and in the presentation of the pattern. But the real value for the company is in selling fabric to make the quilt, giving people ideas on how to use the fabrics.  I think this is true for a lot of creative industries.  There are many permissible uses by the copyright holder - -free download of the pattern is one example.  Because in the end, copyright is about economics.  And sometimes, the better business strategy is to offer for free something, even if it is under copyright.