In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Brenda Paternoster <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes >Vivien wrote: > >> Hi, we are one of the biggest designers of Torchon lace patterns. >> They are, >> in English law, copy right.
The main problem with Torchon patterns, as suddenly hit me when I saw the pattern books at Nottingham Trent University some years ago, is that it is very difficult to design a truly original piece that has never been done before, and I doubt that many designers do all of the necessary research into what has been done before to ensure that by publishing "their" design they are not, in fact, breaching someone else's copyright. Even if the original was produced in the 1800s or before, it is possible that the copyright still exists - as far as I am aware the rights can be inherited, despite the original designer having been dead longer than x years. This means that although I design patterns for my students to use, I am wary of claiming copyright for anything that looks as if it could, and probably has, been designed many times before - re-inventing the wheel, so to speak. Think how many pieces you have seen in books where the pattern source is quoted as "traditional". At least with redrafting a Bucks piece from the lace there is a good chance the angle of the ground has changed! Torchon only really changes angle when it is distorted into a logarithmic or circular pattern - in which case, it would be a question as to whether the distortion caused enough change from the original straight version not to cause a breach - definitely a minefield. I understood that you could sell on the original if you didn't keep copies of any of the pages. The sticky question arose locally some time ago as to what happens with prickings left behind by someone who has died - where the source of the pattern is unclear - should they be destroyed? I see no problem in loaning a pricking which I have used to a student unable to make the pricking herself, when I know that she also owns a copy of the book that the pattern is in. My lot know perfectly well what response they will get from me if they turn up with a pattern that has not been copied legally! Basically, it is down to common sense. Find out who owns the copyright of the pattern, if you are not making one piece of lace for your own use (which was, after all, the reason why the pattern was published!) ask if it is OK to use it for whatever purpose - and quote the source details for any adaptation you make. For those whose livelihood depends on their design work, theft of patterns by copying hurts deeply - and possibly even takes food from their mouths - but on a personal note, because I share my patterns, and don't sell them, I am happy for my patterns to be used to help needy causes - eg using the patterns to make lace to sell for charitable purposes - and the biggest compliment of all was the phone call I had last year to say that one of my (Bucks) patterns had been used as the basis for a chapter in a book! It is also nice to get feedback as to what people think of the patterns that you have designed - as to whether it is worth carrying on, or whether to just crawl back under your shell :-) -- Jane Partridge - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
