Better Beader Episode 33 - Copyright and Bead Patterns

In this video beading tutorial from PotomacBeads, Allie talks about copyright and bead patterns. She addresses many questions you may have about pattern etiquette.
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Enjoy this Better Beader Episode to help you become a more creative and happier beader!

[@sue7777]

Amen to the Kindness suggestion, Allie! Thanks for this informational video-this was like sitting and talking with a friend who knows a whole lot more about something than I do. I am so grateful for folks like you who are able to design and bring that design to me through a pattern--without people with your talent for designing, patterning, and presenting in video form, I would not have been able to even attempt to bead anything!! I subscribe to several beadweaving channels, and I learn something from each and every one.

[@Potomacbeadco]

Thanks, Sue.

[@meloneebeal1060]

Allie, Thank you very much for taking time to research this topic and make this video regarding copyright laws. I agree that kindness and respect of your fellow beater is most important!! You are wonderful person for giving us your time to teach those of us who are new to the beading world! Thank you, Allie! 💖🌠🌹

[@SsmithSmith-py2kq]

Thank you Alley, I found this very informative. I tell others often that the design came from you. I love giving my creations away. It makes my day, plus others enjoy being thought of.🌻

[@mjanechipser7640]

Thanks, Allie for this information! And ALL you do! It's always good to give credit to designers who do all the hard work and share with others!

[@tammyambrose6977]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. An issue that I have come across when buying patterns is some designers say you can only sell a certain amount of a piece made using their pattern or you cannot sell it at all. So people can be impolite at either end but I believe in carma and treat people the same way I would want to be treated. Meanness never pays off. Thanks again! I love your videos 😄

[@marycowan7419]

Thank you for such thoughtful and clear advice. I think it comes down to what we learned in grade school and the golden rule. It may be easy for those who have never designed and or more importantly never written technical instructions to just share without thinking of all of the hours of work behind it. I loved your comment about how we enable the continuation of more creativity and more patterns by buying patterns. I believe that we as beaders are likely the only ones who care who actually designed something when it sold. However, having "birthed" a couple of intricate designs myself, I completely understand why people want credit for their hard work and creativity, not to mention the hours and hours it takes to create the instructions. Thank you again. I hope all serious headers watch this video and get on the same page!

[@afiesty12]

Thank you, Allie! I truly appreciate all that you've explained. I always try to give credit to those I've learned from. And with your videos, I've truly learned alot.

[@denajohnson8111]

Great information! Thanks Allie for doing the research!!

[@rebeccajns]

LUV THIS EPISODE!! Such a popular topic. Allie, u always explain things so well. Thx for sharing ☺💖

[@kateb4318]

Copyright law (especially digital) can be confusing and you’ve done an excellent summary of a complex subject. Really enjoying all of your new digital content and new faces/designers! Keep up the great work and thank you all for your generous sharing of knowledge and creativity. :)

[@rebeccak6290]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I’ve been designing, creating and selling for a few shows... you reinforced all that I have been practicing. I’ll be in touch soon as want as I’d like to do more in the future.

[@robinaowens]

💕 well said!! I appreciate all you guys do to share information! Thank you for your tutorials and information!

[@Potomacbeadco]

Thanks, Robina.

[@lorrainerauert1237]

I do love the be kind. Thank you

[@donnahoefler2748]

Thank you Allie so much for this information. You are right it is always a hot spot of conversation In any classes I have taken. It is nice to know we have someone who knows the rules to inform us and educate us. We love to share and experiment with patterns and such and glad to know we won't be going to jail for it. I always check first and give credit to anyone whos pattern information I share even though I do not copy or distribute paper copies. I love to show my work and always tell who I learned it from. Thank you again.

[@Potomacbeadco]

You're welcome, Donna, it's definitely a hot topic at times!

[@sarajean671]

This is THE BEST video I have seen on copyright in the craft world. You are very informative and clear. Thanks for your positive attitude. Methods and patterns have never been able to be copyright. I like to think of it as sharing our knowledge with others when we show how to do something. But you made a very good point about people selling their patterns like you showed in the video. Yes, it certainly does help the creator with a little income to keep designing and teaching those designs. I like that your bottom line is to be kind. Keep making your videos--I love them and learn so much.

[@Potomacbeadco]

Thank you, Sara Jean!

[@marieroecker747]

Thank you Allie!

[@rhondawilliams9449]

Amen. Well done, Allie.

[@NuclearMango.]

This is wonderful information. Especially for us beginning beaders. I skipped purchasing a lovely pattern on Etsy because the designer stated that if you don't give them credit when selling your competed pattern or if you share the pattern, then they will basically come after you to the full extent of the law. Well, of course I didn't want to be sued so I moved on to a different designer. This helps me tremendously when picking my patterns from now on. However, I'm looking forward to creating my own designs, too. I'm a avid crafter and dabble in everything from sewing and quilting to crochet, and from polymer clays and needle felting to silk flower bouquets... but I've absolutely fallen in love with beading and make something, however simple, every day. Thanks for helping your fellow beaders out. Karma means a lot and I know you have a lot of great karma coming your way for all that you do. Blessings!!

[@Potomacbeadco]

Did you see this video I did recently? Better Beader Episode 33 - Copyright and Bead Patterns kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5aah6ybrMesY7c

[@carolyns9687]

Very informative!! Thank you!!

[@Puchi630]

Thank you for the information...

[@vivianiacoboni6273]

Fantastic and balanced!

[@Potomacbeadco]

Glad you like it!

[@laurajeanvalentine]

Thanks ally, this is an important issue. I wondered how it works. I don't post photos of my jewelry. None are my "own" design. I gift many but don't sell any. Great video

[@MichellesHandmadeCreations]

Great job researching and sharing the legalities of pattern design and use. Personally, my conscience wouldn’t allow me to copy and claim a design is mine. Sad that some people, even knowing better, seem to have no conscience. I really appreciate your willingness to share your creativity so openly. Should I be so fortunate to start selling my work, I’ll be happy to give credit where it’s due. TFS

[@bevdowdy9483]

Thank you so much

[@Stampinology]

Thank you, well said !

[@genevieveberens8299]

Ty so much for taking the time to do a video like this. I always wondered because a lot of bezelling, herringbone, embellishment videos are out there. Just wondered how rhatf worked. I personally have never sold my jewelry I've made, but I have posted pictures and have given credit when the creators name was available for the pattern I followed and if it wasn't, I always let my friends and family know beaded by me, but pattern by unknown or what have you. Anyway again ty for a great video.

[@Potomacbeadco]

Thanks, Genevieve.

[@susanpicken6874]

Thanks for the information! I always put the designer if I'm posting! I didn't know if I could sell others designs!

[@alikc25]

Thank you this video. We all need to be kind and give credit where is't do.

[@danetteblair5446]

Thank you soooo much for clearing that up. I thought to my self, if beading has been around for many many years how will I not creat a something that hasn’t already been created.. sweat off my brows…lol 🥵🤭

[@ritachikita1468]

Thank you for saying this. I always credit the designer. And I ask before using/selling someone else’s design.

[@sharenreyes7324]

Thank you

[@rebeccafionacornel6558]

i kind of understand that because i recently sent a picture of what i just made to my brother from my dad's phone and it was only meant to be seen by him and my sister-in-law but some how it turned up in one of my mum's friend's phone and she asked my mum what was wrong with my dad and i felt bad and angry that it went to someone else which was totally unintentional and my mum made a huge hue and cry about it

[@butler140]

Thanks Allie. I try to always say this is based off of so and so's design and even put a link to their website. My only worry sometimes is what I make, might actually be more of a discredit to the designer more than it being a credit to, as to my color choices or work quality etc. That being said though, I still try to remember to always mention the original designer.

[@cinderellassober8265]

Brilliant job, Allie. I see it on both sides. The 'for personal use only' is what gets me. Why are you selling patterns if you don't want anybody else to profit from it but you? How are we supposed to afford to buy more patterns if we can't at least get our money back on the expensive beads we purchase to make your pattern? So silly. And then you see the copies of designer's patterns for sale on Etsy with no credit given. So I agree with you, be kind and respect the designers but also don't expect people to not sell what they make at craft fairs because we all want to buy more beads.

[@Potomacbeadco]

The purchased pattern and the project you make from it are two different things.

[@tatianashevchenko4184]

Thanks for opening that topic!! I have another question. Let’s say I don’t want to purchase pattern/tutorial, but i can make same piece just looking at ready made project. Will it be as copy? If author says for personal usage only, but I can do same piece without loooking into pattern, how then copyright works? May I still sell that piece I’ve made?

[@lindaanderson2974]

Well said!!!!

[@anniekelmon]

Hi Allie, hope you and your family is safe and sound. I have a question for you, from watching your video am I to understand that all I have to do is change the size or type of beads in the pattern or change something about the pattern to make it my own?

[@Potomacbeadco]

You can do that with our tutorials, but for most designers, you need their written permission. However you can get lots of ideas for your own designs by watching and learning different techniques.

[@fallenangelsakuya]

?? I am a beader that can reproduce from a picture, most of the time I don't use patterns; but I do find I have trouble giving credit to the original designer because the pictures I find have been over shared on social media so much that i don't know who really to give credit too. So, as fellow beaders how do I handle this, do I post "This is not my design. The original designer is not known to me, but thank you for the inspiration" would this be enough?

[@dyeitb1ack]

Spot on, Kindness and respect is key across all artistic, creative communities! 🙏😊Thank you so much for this thoughtful video. I was wondering In your research were your findings just USA based or internationally too? As I am a member of lots of international groups and I know this topic comes up continuously.

[@Potomacbeadco]

Copyright laws vary from country to country.

[@dyeitb1ack]

PotomacBeads Thanks, for replying. I think Your video will still be very helpful regardless the country, as the overall message is such a good one.

[@IreneKiew]

Allie, I always try to credit the original designer, but for some patterns they're floating around on the Internet and I don't know where they originally came from. Sometimes I see a picture of a finished work and try to figure out the pattern myself, and the picture has been reposted so it is not possible to trace who originally made the piece or put up the picture... So I worry I'll accidentally end up using a pattern which should have been paid for and shouldn't have been freely downloadable 😬

[@1015SaturdayNight]

I've been posting photos and crediting the designer from each tutorial. It only takes a minute :)

[@chandlerbuck4854]

Can someone claim copyright if someone just used similar material but different patterns and colors?

[@allisonvonblon5219]

Great video. I was wondering about pinterest designs. I tend to copy a brick stitch design from the picture posted and just recently sold some. I started worrying about whether this was okay or not. I don't buy a pattern I just look at the picture and copy. Is that okay?

[@Potomacbeadco]

That would be OK for personal use but if you're going to sell them, you really need to ask the designer first.

[@allisonvonblon5219]

@@Potomacbeadco I totally understand can you guide me on figuring out how to find the designer name. I really want to be fair but most of these pictures don't tell me a designer's name or information.

[@debracannon8572]

There are a few designers I have contacted for permission to sell jewelry I’ve made from their designs. The people who have responded have generously offered their permission and support, but many haven’t responded. Is it ethical to sell that jewelry as long as I give them credit for the design and a link to their KZbin channels? This is a wonderful video that I’ve watched a few times. I just want to give credit where credit is due and possibly even send a percentage of the sale proceeds to them as thanks.

[@Potomacbeadco]

Hello there! For the designers who have not responded, it is best not to sell the jewelry they have designed, just to stay on the safe side you could say. Thank you for watching our video and we're so glad you found it helpful! We have a variety of Better Beader episodes that cover and range of topics! Feel free to browse anytime! www.potomacbeads.com/how-to/better-beader/

[@debracannon8572]

@@Potomacbeadco Thank you so much for responding, and I will take your advice. It’s such a confusing topic!

[@tammyeaton4791]

Is it okay to say “inspired by……” if it’s NOT identical?

[@Potomacbeadco]

Yes!

[@mouseboots46]

Can a designer limit how many of their design can be made to sell?

[@tammyambrose6977]

No they can't.