Question by Angela S: Some questions about copyright laws regarding sewing patterns?
I want to start a home based business selling some homemade crafts. If I create a product similar to one I have seen for sale using a pattern I have drawn up myself, it is copyright infringement? I don’t want to steal anyone else’s ideas and I certainly don’t want to get in trouble with the law.
Best answer:
Answer by dr_smith789
Don’t quote me on this. But what i’ve heard before is the jury will be given deliberation instructions. Just as a jury in a murder trial will be told to deliberate on whether or not there is evidence that ‘proves beyond a shadow of a doubt’, the jury in a copyright infringement trial will be a subjective finder of fact. They will be asked to decide if the artist’s work in question is 90% or more unoriginal. So ask yourself this question. Randomly pick 10 characters from your pattern, and the one you derived inspiration from. Is at least 1 of those characteristics somehow different?
What do you think? Answer below!