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Is is legal to change a copyrighted apparel pattern to fit ...

Sent to Legal Experts March 11 2007 at 9:01 AM
   

Is is legal to change a copyrighted apparel pattern to fit your needs and manufacture and sell the items made from the changed pattern. Would this be "fair use'? --- A tank top is being made using the main part of a pattern bought in a fabric store that has a copyright. On the side of the envelope it came in- it says "to be used for individual private home use only and not for commercial or manufacturing purposes". A part of the top is being changed which is not in the pattern. I am using the frame and changing the sizes and seams. Before I manufacture this for profit.I want to know if this is legal?
Please site any legal references I might need to refer to - Thank you!

 

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Ashland, Virginia

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Getting on line to look at copyright laws, relating to manufacuring. I have a check list for fair use, but am not clear if changing the pattern itself is enought to allow me to use any part of it.

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March 11 2007 at 9:25 AM (23 minutes and 33 seconds later)
         
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Hello and welcome to Just Answer.

Simply changing one or two elements of an existing design does not make a new original design. In fact, copyright literature defines this practice as making "Derivative Copies." Only the originating designer may make and profit from derivations of the original design. Copyright law prevents others from doing so. Penalties can be severe for artisans who deliberately violate these statutes. (Click here for more information)

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March 11 2007 at 9:49 AM (24 minutes and 29 seconds later)
         
Reply to Jen Sterling's Post: Do you have suggestions of what to do- I am ready to manufacture and have combined my own pattern with lines from this one- where would you suggest I go from here-
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March 11 2007 at 1:31 PM (3 hours and 41 minutes and 31 seconds later)
         
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