copying someones design

[ttownfire]

Another quick answer: YES!!!

Saying NO here is like saying; you can't make shoes because so many other companies already make shoes. I say go for it!

This is not a moral compass issue either. Those that try to make it a moral compass issue have something to gain either directly or indirectly... which is akin to protectionism and protectionism has never really worked; ask Thomas Edison.

[ArtS]

In my opinion, which is long a legal opinion, if you are not making it for profit and only doing one for yourself I wouldn't worry about it. They will not bother to come after you. If however you are making it for profit you better get permission in writing.

As in art work there is also a fuzzy line. If you are not making an exact copy you may be ok. Again, I'm no lawyer. It's kinda like it's against the law to go over the speed limit but they're not going to pull you over for one or two miles over the speed limit but they could. It's your risk.

If I were making it for myself I probably would go for it.

Art

[SamTexas]

After reading all the replies, I am reminded of such leather masters as Chan Geer, Jim Linnell, and George Hurst. I have had the pleasure of being around these men and seeing how they react when copies of their patterns are being used in contests or items for sale. And these folks do get copied on a regular basis and I'm not talking about patterns or projects that were sold in a book or from a paid class. To a man they are delighted that someone has used their patterns or designs in a project. These men even give folks a lot of their patterns to experiment on. Their reactions go along with the old saying "imitation is the most sincere for of flattery". One of our goals as leather crafters should be to share what we have learned with others and therefore teach by our examples.

Having said all that, I do have a problem when someone copies a pattern then claims it as their own. They should give credit where credit is due. Don't be ashamed to admit that you borrowed a pattern from this crafter or that crafter, or you used a basic pattern from whomever and added your own style to it. That shows that you had the good taste to use a proven crafter as your inspiration. If it's something that is a persons livelihood, by all mean it would be proper to ask.

Just remember, when you put something out there on the internet, it becomes fair game for anyone who wants to copy it, whether we like it or not. There are and always will be people out there without any morals at all.

Well, there's my 2 1/2 cents worth.

Sam Texas

[ArtS]

Also remember that many of these designs that the old masters are doing are adaptions of designs that they learned or saw when they were learning. Those people adapted from designs that they saw and so on going back. Thats how this craft grows and flows. I agree that you should give credit where credit is due.

Art

[tonyc1]

And they do say that "Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery"

Tony.

[Elegant]

After reading all the replies, I am reminded of such leather masters as Chan Geer, Jim Linnell, and George Hurst. I have had the pleasure of being around these men and seeing how they react when copies of their patterns are being used in contests or items for sale. And these folks do get copied on a regular basis and I'm not talking about patterns or projects that were sold in a book or from a paid class. To a man they are delighted that someone has used their patterns or designs in a project. These men even give folks a lot of their patterns to experiment on. Their reactions go along with the old saying "imitation is the most sincere for of flattery". One of our goals as leather crafters should be to share what we have learned with others and therefore teach by our examples.

.......

Just remember, when you put something out there on the internet, it becomes fair game for anyone who wants to copy it, whether we like it or not. There are and always will be people out there without any morals at all.

Putting pics of products on the internet does have it's drawbacks. But if there is contact information with or on the pic then one should make contact with the artist so that we can share our methods.