I’m sure that by now you have read all about the hot topic of the week: copying another’s work vs. inspiration. It started up when Maureen saw a pillow she liked and thought, “I could make that.” Who hasn’t thought that at some point or another? That got her to thinking all about how original someone can actually be and the ethics of copying another’s work. The bottom line was that the magazine she had seen was totally fine with her copying the pillow, or even making her own project inspired by the pillow. They even went so far as to say that they would even feature her tutorial if she decided to make one. That was a very generous response on their end, especially since Maureen made it clear that she never had any intention of making the pillows, selling her version of the pillows, or even writing a tutorial for them. You can read her whole post here. I’m not wanting to rehash it, just give you some context.

After that, Rachel gave her own response to the situation, primarily focusing on crediting the source and the legality of copying another’s work and even selling it. She basically said that legally you can sell what you want, you just can’t copy another person’s words or pictures as that is infringement. In addition, it is blatantly wrong to sell or distribute another’s pattern as your own. As far as crediting goes, she felt that you should give credit if you can remember what your source is, but if not, don’t sweat it. You can read her post here for her full response. Again, I’ve only summed it up to the bare minimum for the sake of providing you with some amount of context.

Now I want to give you my thoughts. I want to focus primarily on the ethics of copying another’s work, especially for your own profit in any amount. I’m not going to address inspiration, simply because I think most people have the understanding that no one person owns an idea and that being inspired by an object is not the same as copying it.

I was utterly taken back by the hostility of some of the comments against artists who choose to protect their work by labeling it “For Personal Use Only”. And it is at this point I would like to say that at the end of this post, you may leave a comment. But I do require that you be respectful in everything you say, otherwise I will delete your comment as there is no room for hostility on my blog.

For Personal Use Only

If you flip through any project book or pattern, or even browse through FAQs on an artist’s website, you will likely find a section stating that you may make any pattern of theirs for personal use. This means that you may make as many as you like for yourself or to gift to others. Here are just a couple of examples from some very popular artists in the handmade community: Anna Maria Horner’s “Handmade Beginnings” (Here you can view the copyright page, where she states this at the bottom of the page), Amy Butler’s FAQ section states this under the question, “Can I buy the patterns and make the projects to sell?”

Likely following “For personal use only” will be something along the lines of “not intended for the production of goods for sale in any quantity.” There is zero room for discussion on this one. Clearly, those who label their work with such a statement mean that they do not want you to make an item from their pattern to sell in any form. That means whether you are at a craft show, or you run a brick and morter business, you may not sell a good made from their pattern. By purchasing the pattern or book, you are ethically bound to abide by that statement. And just like the law, it doesn’t matter if you don’t like that you are not allowed to surpass the speed limit. If you do, you are still wrong, regardless of your own feelings on the subject. And even though you may not be locked up for disregarding that statement, and you may not even be caught, you have still violated that artist’s wishes.

Now put yourself in that artist’s shoes. Legality aside, do you feel that using another’s work for your own personal gain is ethically right? You may, and that’s fine. But let’s move on to some other common statements like this one:

May Be Used for the Production of Goods on a Small Scale, but Not for Mass Production

This is another self-explanatory statement. Small scale would refer to selling the product that you are making yourself in avenues such as Etsy, craft shows, and the like. An artist who labels his/her patterns with this statement is pretty much giving you free reign to sell what you like, so long as you are not mass producing it. Mass production refers to the production of goods in large quantities, and by division of labor. In other words, having multiple people tackle a single project in steps for the sale in large quantities (Picture Target, or Wal-Mart, or even a place like Anthropologie).

Licensing Programs

Some artists will allow you to purchase a license to sell a good made from their pattern. A great example of this is Liesl Gibson’s Oliver + S patterns. Her patterns are labeled “For Private Use Only”, but she does have stipulation saying, “If you wish to make and sell items from this pattern, please contact us for terms.” If you visit her website, you will find this link, where you may purchase a license and label enabling you to make and sell a single item produced from one of her patterns. For each additional item you wish to sell (even a like item), you may purchase additional licenses and labels.

Not all licensing programs work this way. For instance, there are some patterns that you can buy that come with a license to sell as many items as you wish in small quantities, but this falls under the previous section, “May Be Used for the Production of Goods on a Small Scale, but Not for Mass Production”.

But why would an artist want to limit me from profiting from their ideas?

This, I think, is really the issue that needs addressing with so many people. Its simple, really. While no one can “own” an idea, one most certainly can (and should be able to) own their own work. Pattern writing is a very time consuming project. It takes hours upon hours to write out directions, more hours drawing out diagrams and pattern pieces, and many more hours to make and test the pattern. After that, there is much drafting to correct and perfect the pattern so that it is ready for the consumer. One pattern can easily eat up over 100 hours of a person’s time. Just imagine what goes into writing a book filled with patterns! These artists who we so admire work their butts off trying to give us ways to make beautiful items for ourselves and others.

When a person whips up an item made from one of those patterns and lists it in a storefront of some sort, they are making immediate profit off of the work (mainly intellectual work) of another person. The artist certainly does not own or have any right to what you make with their pattern. But keep in mind, they are the writer, the producer, the brains behind that product. Ethically, I think we are bound to respect the policies of each individual artist.

On creative ethics

Lastly, I want to address the flipside of Rachel’s question of what people are doing for the creative community by restricting the “copying” and selling of goods from another’s patterns. I want to ask this question, “As a handmade seller, what are you doing for the community by copying another’s goods?”

I think variety in any field is a good and healthy thing. Not everyone likes the very same things. People want to buy products that most suit them, and since every person is different in some way, a variety of products is really a great thing. This is where inspiration comes in. Blogland, Flickr, and Pinterest are such wonderful tools for inspiration gathering! Is it not amazing how quickly an idea takes off and take on so many different forms? In a sense, we all have such different ideas. And its wonderful for those ideas to come to life, to become so many of the things we hold dear and valuable. Rachel really hit on the great thing about our ideas and projects being so public- that we can be inspired and really see the evolution of those ideas! It gives us such a wonderful opportunity to grow and push ourselves whether we are the home hobbyist, or we are the artists making goods to sell so we can feed ourselves and our families.

But here is where I believe the line must be drawn. We must recognize the difference between selling at item that we have made that came about from inspiration from another’s (or many other’s) work, and selling an item that we have made using a published pattern that we have purchased from another individual. There is a stark difference between letting your creativity combined with your intellect flow into a wonderful, evolved project, and using another’s creativity and intellect combined with your choice of fabric to make a good to sell. I just want people to see that there is a difference there. In addition, if you are offended or disagree with an artist’s policy that you may not sell goods using their patterns, then just consider not purchasing the book or pattern in consideration.

As far as credit goes, I think Rachel did a great job of saying that it is best to credit others if you have made something inspired by their work, but as long as it is not copied, don’t sweat it. Its not mandatory, its just a matter of etiquette. But if you truly cannot remember, not a big deal.

Just remember this, we are all a part of this wonderful handmade community. The sky is the limit! We ought to put our all into everything we do, and I believe if we all hold ourselves to this measure, we will be benefitting the world in a wonderful way by giving to them products and ideas that push the norm, and really strive for great. And if you are not doing that which is morally right by respecting the stated wishes of a fellow artist, how much good are you doing the community, or even yourself. I encourage you all to keep creating, and doing what you love. By respecting each other, we are only encouraging the growth of this rapidly evolving community.

Again, I’m not wanting to call out any particular person, just to address a side of the topic that I feel should be addressed.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. But please remember to be respectful of others. If you cannot abide by this code of conduct, your comments will be promptly deleted.

You know its not often I tackle a heavy subject such as this, but I do want you to know I’ll be back to posting about my crafty adventures next week!

-Meredith