Very good post Shana. I do want to let you know that you do NOT have to pay for a copyright to assure your designs are YOURS. I am in the business of designing the patterns to and handmaking teddy bears. I do know that once your finished product is offered for sale, that in itself makes that design automatically copyrighted to you and if someone copies it and attempts to sell it, it is an infringement and can be prosecuted. We see it in the teddy bear world all the time. Sewing dog clothing is, as you said, more limiting in the design aspect and I can see where many different people could independently create the same pattern. But I surely would question the same pattern along with the same fabric. Also, not sure if you knew this little tidbit, but did you know that it is NOT illegal to take someone's product apart, copy it and create their own from it?? It is true.. it is not illegal... UNLESS they offer it for sale! Using it to copy and create something for their personal use or to give away as a gift is NOT illegal. Using it to sell is illegal! Crazy but true. Us teddy bear artists have seen this happen over and over and there are cases that were prosecuted with positive results. |