Anyone ever copywrite their own sewing pattern?

Dear Msorano,

I have patterns and books that are copyrighted. Some were printed in Doll Reader and Doll World Magazine, and the publishers acquired the copyrights in my name. Books were through Dover Publications, and again the publisher copyrighted the books in my name. I also sold patterns through the mail, and copyrighted the patterns myself.

If you have given away this pattern without having any type of copyright on it, you cannot copyright it now, unless you change it in some way--add a picture, change wording, etc. You must then write Copyright (c) and the year, with your name. Then register the work through the U. S. Copyright office. Nowadays, you might be able to do that, or at least get the paperwork online. By writing Copyright on the work, you have declared that it is your own original design, and you can then safely distribute it before you get confirmation from the copyright office.

Teri

Respectfully, I don't think this is quite correct. It is not necessary to register; copyright exists from the moment the work is created. However, defending copyright *may* be easier if the item in question has been registered.

A copyright can be registered without a lawyer, and since the cost of legal advice could easily outstrip any income from the pattern, it is worth considering a "do it yourself." Copyright law is on the web.

Dear Joanne,

It has been years since I tried to copyright anything, but I have to admit that work gets plagiarized anyway. There was a magazine, now out of print, that stole my work to launch its first edition. When I complained to Dover about it, I was told that litigation wasn't worth the trouble. So the magazine got away with it. But it is important that any work that is distributed must have a copyright mark on it, registered or not, or anyone can claim it.

Teri

Actually the amounts you can claim depends on if and WHEN you file the copyright with the copyrights dept. Some one stole the main page of my website several years back. Used everything on it just inserted their name for mine and address etc. I paid the attorneys, got the official copy rights and nothing more that the person tool the site down. All for just under $1,000.00

Plagiarism is a major problem these days - I'm not sure why. My DH teaches at the university here, and every semester some student loses credit and is put on academic probation because of it. Unfortunately, theft of intellectual property may not have sufficient financial aspects to make the litigation worthwhile. Personally, I think punitive damages are appropriate, but you can't get blood out of a turnip, either.

It's a shame you couldn't get anyone to go after the magazine - seems like they ought to have some assets to recompense you for your loss.

I have always been careful to include a copywrite mark on my work just to be safe, so I think I am OK there. Do magazines pay to publish your work or is it done more as a way to get your name out? I see patterns out there that are packaged in clear plasric bags with camera type photos inside along with the pattern pieces that I assume are being produced by the designer? Is this a good way to start? Thanks for all the good advice !

I never sold anything to a needlework magazine that didn't pay, but none of them pay much.

Publications that don't pay are usually a bad idea for getting your name out. They don't get the best material, so you aren't in good company, and they don't pay their editors much better than their authors, so you might be made to look very silly.

An exception is the "magazine" put out by a needlework society. This is really a newsletter, and anything printed in it was a contribution to the society. (Some will extend your membership by a set amount for each contribution.) Since such magazines are distributed only to members, this is not a way to get your name out, but it can be good practice. Mainly it's a good way to get "this is great -- for maybe ten people in the whole world" stuff off your chest.

Joy Beeson