A friend of mine is working on one of my patterns as a gift for her son. Sweet friend, sweet and lucky lad to have a mama that quilts for him.
And a friend of hers stopped by. For the sake of keeping these people straight, let’s call my friend Mary, and her friend Jane. Names changed to protect privacy, innocence and all that – and with huge apologies to the Janes and Marys I know and love.
Jane geeks out over the pattern (yay!) and decides to make one. She swipes Mary’s copy of the pattern, saying “You can just print another.” (Mary had the PDF version of it). Mary let it go because, hey, we’re women, and we’re NICE, right?
But it weighed on Mary. She respects what I do for a living – heck, she’s pitched in at my kitchen table on more than one occasion. Yes, this is my LIVING – I have no inheritance, no trust fund, and no partner with a salary behind me. It’s just me and my customers.
So she tackles Jane about it. Explains to her that she’s not happy with having facilitated giving my pattern away. Tells her where she can buy her own copy. But Jane pushes back. And here’s the interesting part… this isn’t a pattern that is languishing in Jane’s sewing room in the “I’ll get to it someday” pile – nope, she’s actually making it. She bought the fabric. And she tells my friend that the fabric was pricy and she “can’t afford another $10 for the pattern.”
Jane, Jane, Jane.
It’s not the paper the pattern is printed on, it’s the intellectual property.
I designed a thing you thought was cool, and you want to make it. And that’s great – I’m always flattered when someone likes the things I create. But that has WORTH. Without the pattern, you’d be just holding a pile of fabric (beautiful fabric that someone designed). Unless you feel like designing your own, you NEED the pattern as much as you needed the fabric you paid for. So yes, I should get paid for it.
Jane – when you did your Thanksgiving dinner shopping, did you buy all the trimmings but steal the turkey because you thought it was expensive? My guess is NO.
So pay me for the pattern, OK?
( And yes… I used to copy patterns when I first started out. But I don’t do that anymore, and I’m working on putting my karma back in balance by fighting for us all.)
Brilliant. Thank you Sam….and Mary. The more times we stand up to the Janes of the world, the more likely this industry will survive. Thank you!
We really are all in it together, aren’t we?
🙂
Well said Sam! I used to copy patterns from friends at times, but the more I learn about this & other industries I understand and now purchase my own copies. Happy Holidays!
I’ve been getting way more rigorous about that stuff too. It’s time 🙂
Doesn’t matter if its a book, a piece of jewelry, a dress pattern, a print/painting or a quilting pattern originals start in our heads and have a value. As artists and makers it would be nice to have the respect that buying instead of copying or stealing, gives.
Yep. Exactly!
I remember when my friend & I wanted to teach a pattern for a guild workshop. I contacted the designer & told her what we were doing & that we wanted to buy patterns for it. She was very gracious & even gave us a break on the patterns (I think we bought a dozen), which I wasn’t expecting at all! A few people complained that they had to purchase a copy of the pattern for the class, but overall they all understood I’m happy to say. I guess there are always those that will grumble. For me, if there’s a pattern I want & I can’t afford it, then I just wait until I can. You should be able to be paid a wage for all the design work you do. It’s only fair.
I think a lot of us have lost sight of the “wait until you can afford it” option 🙂
I have bought many patterns and don’t mind paying. Helping keep the quilting going for the future. ♡
Thank you!!!!
You know in Ireland if you owed someone money it was perfectly acceptable to sit on their doorstep on a hunger strike until the debt was repaid. Real, visceral cause and effect.
Jane darling, maybe you don’t have the ten today, but i’m betting you will soon or at the very least can give a dollar a week to your friend for the pattern. Don’t be a deadbeat using a lame ass excuse. You knew this hobby was expensive when you started it. Woman Up! Make it right.
Stacy – you just absolutely made my day! If Jane pays up, I’ll be paying your generous gift forward to a deserving artist! Hugs ~ Sam
Good for you for calling Jane out on it and explaining the IPR situation to both of them. I had the exact same thing happen to me during a class I was teaching locally. The class called for each student to buy a copy of my pattern and everyone did. Except one person (let’s also call her Jane) who boldly announced she was going across the street to copy the pattern for herself and a few friends in her guild. It was 12 sheets of foundation pieced blocks along with my instructions that I had written with tips on how to foundation piece. I was essentially selling the patterns for $12.
I took a long, deep breath and politely explained to Jane in front of the entire class, that she needed to purchase her own copy of the pattern from me if she wasnted to use it. I explained that I had copyrighted the pattern and the instructions and it would be unlawful for her to just make copies and hand them out to her friends. Her friend pulled me aside and apologized after class. “Jane” honestly didn’t know it was wrong to copy a pattern instead of pay for it. The rest of the class said I handled the situation well, they would not have been so polite to her.
The upside of this story is this Jane has invited me to teach at her guild since the situation and she ensured that everyone paid for the class and the patterns I required. She is now an advocate for pay for what you use.
Education counts!!
Big breaths for being calm and having some decorum on this, but seriously, we as designers work very hard at what we do and Sam has made some great pieces of art as her patterns. So standing up for what is right I agree. Bring Jane out on the carpet. Don’t be so low as to dishonest and taking the pattern. Totally not worth it…
🙂
I would like to add one additional thought. I have met quilt artists that inspire and bless me with their fabulous designs and have purchased their patterns and their books to promote and encourage their business/art. I am not even close to wealthy, but I think we can all afford a $10/shot in the arm for a friend or fellow artist whom we appreciate. I fully support the illustrations you have shared above and bravo for all of the Mary’s out there!!
Please let us know when Jane pays for her pattern.
Actually, Mary paid me for Jane’s steal because she was upset about it. But I’m waiting to hear that Jane has paid Mary back!
I’m glad “Mary” came to her senses. Let’s educate all the unknowing “Jane”s of the world.
I almost jumped on someone who started her blog post off by introducing her own tutorial for someone else’s pattern…. but it ended up that she did it in the right way. She gave the link so you could go buy the pattern then explained how she made the thing her own…. in a way that doesn’t make sense unless you actually bought the pattern. Whew.
Yes! I totally agree with your post!! and I love your book and patterns!!! I never thought about what damage I was doing to designers and writers when I had been copying for a friend… I don’t do that anymore either, I totally understand. Its like having someone copy my own idea from my etsy shop and then turn around and say it was there pattern when I have seen nothing like it. Some people have great ideas and come up with similar patterns at the same time- ive seen this numerous times- but each pattern is unique and I would hate for someone to copy me verbatim and I loose business because of it!
Sometime I think it has to happen to you before you see that you weren’t supposed to be doing it either!
I love that you called them Mary and Jane.
LOL!
Yes, it’s completely cheesy to steal patterns, and good to get people thinking and talking about it.
It’s hard to manage intellectual property sometimes, especially when it comes to figuring out what is controllable and what is not. I realized couldn’t control people pinning images on Pinterest and such, unless I stopped posting pictures altogether. So I stopped worrying about that so much. If an image makes it to print without permission, that’s another story. I’d be unhappy. After a while it gets a little easier to set these types of boundaries, although no less irksome that they are warranted.
It is super tricky with the interwebs now. My rule of thumb is if I absolutely don’t want it stolen (like a pattern in development) I don’t post it anywhere.
I totally get copyrights, and I never (ever) make a copy of a pattern for someone else. I believe designers and artists should be paid for their work – every time. But, I will say, that when I see a quilt design that I can sketch out on my own in about 5 seconds, I do it. I can’t believe someone would ask for $9 for something so simple that it doesn’t even NEED a pattern. I would appreciate your thoughts on that.
I hear what you are saying… but not all of us are at the same level. Our super newbies need help just making 4 patches, other people can’t do the match to figure out how much yardage they need – and others are happy to pay for someone else having figured it all out. It’s a combo of skill, desire, available cash and so on. I’m with you – there are a lot of patterns out there that I wouldn’t have taken the time to write, but in the knitting world, where I’m a newbie, I buy the simple stuff because I don’t have the skills to figure it out!
I totally agree. Often when I see family members (or friends, but its usually family), I’ll just go buy another pattern, so the designer gets two purchases, and I don’t have to confront family. I’m a wimp. 😀
I can honestly say that I really don’t like confrontation either, but in this case I’ve decided to just be the person that stands for us. The one thing confrontation does is educate people as to the error of their ways – and that matters a lot in terms of changing the tide of perception.
Sandy — what you may be missing is a fantastic different way to construct a block, etc. I will sketch a block and note the pattern designer; pattern name; and where I saw the pattern. Then when the money is there, I contact whomever and order the pattern. I design a few things and sketches are part of my process. And let’s face it, if anyone could come up with the block design, they would’ve –obviously you didn’t or you wouldn’t be sketching it from someone else’s pattern/block/quilt.
That does make sense. Thanks!
Great point!
When you create a pattern you should be paid for your time and creative effort. Educating pattern users is key to stopping what some see as harmless. Intellectual property is complex, while you own the rights for the pattern you have ceated, you have no rights over the product that someone creates from your pattern. I think a lot of people dont understand this, by putting on your pattern sheet something like,”for personal use only, finished product cannot be sold,” means nothing. Your intellectual property only covers your pattern not the product of it.
For those slackers that take you pattern and change a few things thinking this makes a new pattern and is alright. Its not because it is not the changes but what is still the same that determines a breach of intellectual property.
I have two relatives that are HORRIBLE about this. One was going to copy a pattern and send it to the other. I said “you can’t do that–it’s stealing.” She had made significant modifications to the pattern, so it was a little but of a different situation. I was not going to let this go, however. I ordered the pattern and had it sent to the relative. She returned it and my credit card was credited. I don’t know if the pattern copying happened or not. I didn’t ask and they probably wouldn’t have told me.
That is such a common problem. As a beginning, years ago, I was taught that it wasn’t my job to make someone else’s hobby affordable. Now as a teacher, I do not understand why people will spend thousands on a machine and want to spend 50 cents on thread. Why do they spend $30k on a Longarm but complain when they need to spend $30 to buy a ruler? Why will they pay $20 a yard for that beautiful fabric but want to copy a $10 pattern? I just don’t get it. If they can’t afford their hobby, they either need to slow down and make fewer quilts or find another hobby that doesn’t cost as much. (Good luck with that because all hobbies cost.)
Truly – I have such a tough time with the :can’t afford it” argument whenI see people with expensive machines and a pricey frothy coffee in hand….
I also buy my own patterns, was taught very well by my first quilt teacher, but what does everyone do, when a group is making charity quilts and the pattern is in an old magazine. It is OK to share that, or do we need to try and track dpwn the old magazine and buy it?
technically, yes. Permission should always be asked for. (that said, I always grant it)
This is why I design my own. I sometimes see a quilt block that has interesting elements and I may alter the basic design to make it my own, but I would never ask for a free copy of copyrighted patterns. I have friends who copyright, teach and sell their designs and it is a mark of respect to either purchase the patterns or leave it be and not try to score a freebie. My goal is to eventually sell unique quilts and quilt patterns that I have designed and I AM a firm believer in Karma.
There are STILL people out there who ‘don’t know’ that it’s wrong to photo copy patterns – really? I find it hard to believe that someone wouldn’t know that.
The other classic is ‘it’s OK if you change it 10%’ – really? So you knowingly start with something someone has designed, steal it deliberately then try to cover your self by changing it? I just don’t get it.
You hit the nail on the head when you said Mary let it go because we as women are ‘nice’ – so true! There is real peer pressure to ‘lend’ or to ‘help’ in groups. Crazy part is, most of those patterns don’t get made anyway – so what’s wrong with waiting until you can afford it? I like how people are starting to get called out, but it’s a hard road. I used to photo copy as well, but got rid of that stash.
Keep up the good work!!!!
So if Mary paid for Jane, is Mary enabling Jane? Thank you for bringing this subject up. I too believe in the pay as you go philosphy and respect the designers out there that make it so easy for us to create beautiful pieces.
I would say no – Mary took it up with Jane and hit a wall. She did the best she could, and then she made it right by buying the pattern for her. Jane is at least aware that she shouldn’t be doing it, even if she continues. I don’t expect a friend of mine to lose a friend of hers over me 🙂
A friend who would steal a pattern, and then not pay you for it when you remind her that it is illegal, should probably not BE a friend anymore.
I had a friend I worked at a LQS with who would wait until the owner wasn’t there & then copy patterns for a friend. I asked politely her to please not do that especially when I was there as I didn’t want it to appear that I approved. Her response was that she just considered it to be sharing. So this was my response & I think it finally clicked with her: I asked her that if on the way home she stopped at a local grocery store & saw a homeless person outside begging. Would she go in to the store, grab a loaf of bread, a carton of milk, and some bologna and take it outside to give it to this person without paying for them first as that would be sharing? She was horrified & said no she would not do that. I then asked her why it is okay to “share” a quilt design with someone when she would not do the same with food for a homeless person. I don’t know if she continued to do it, which I suspect she did, but at least I felt like I explained to her why doing that is stealing. What I have found is the majority of people who do this know full well that what they are doing is wrong and they just plain don’t care!
Despicable!
Thank you for the post Sam – You’ve hit the problem head-on! On a similar subject, I’ve seen ladies in various forums and groups suggest that they can sell the end product that they create from a purchased (or free) pattern without contacting the designer and asking for permission. Personally, if I’m asked, I would give permission to the quilters who made my design and now want to sell it on e-bay or elsewhere, as long as they are giving credit back to the designer AND they have my permission to do so (AND they are not not mass producing it). But geesh — I see quilters suggesting that they will sell the end result without even thinking about reaching out to the designer. This bothers me so. I’ve taken some steps to reach out to them and advise them of the copyright and that they need to ask permission to sell, but I’m certain there are many that slip through and are sold without even considering reaching out to the designer for permission. Frustrating. Awareness and honest is the key I guess… Thanks again for the post!
Karen, people are not required to ask a designer’s permission to sell a quilt, etc. they made from the pattern. If they want to “mass produce” them that is a different story. Also, they cannot copy the actual pattern & sell copies of it. Unfortunately a lot of designers have the wrong impression about what is covered under copyright laws and it has caused a lot of hard feelings. That being said, you should give credit to the designer when you are displaying the quilt in a show, etc.
Janet, I understand about giving credit to the designer when displaying a quilt in a show, and I always do that, but do you need to ask permission of the designer if you want to display/enter a quilt you have made from their pattern in a show.
Pip, you do not need to ask permission to enter a quilt in a show unless the show coordinators make it a requirement. Some show coordinators started doing that to avoid any potential problems, but it isn’t really necessary. I know a lot of very well known designers, such as Judy Martin, starting giving out blanket permissions after they found themselves so inundated with requests for permission that they were afraid that would be all they would have time for. From what I can tell, at least for some designers, where some of the confusion came in was when they sold kits with fabrics that matched their original quilts. That made it difficult for the average attendees at the shows to tell who made the quilt. I know of one designer who became very upset when a quilt made from a kit she sold was displayed in a show. Her reasoning was that she would have no control over the quality of the workmanship & was afraid that someone would mistake that quilt for one she made. To that end, I believe if you are that concerned about someone mistaking someone else’s workmanship for yours, you should not be selling kits with identical fabrics as you really can’t have it both ways!
Thanks for the reply Janet, it must be a real PITA for the designers. Unfortunately in Australia the majority of shows make it a requirement, which makes it quite hard for quiltmakers who make a quilt from a really old book/pattern as they then have to attempt to make contact with either the publishers (if they are still in business) or the designer (who may have retired or passed on), to gain permissions. If you have a paper trail to show of your attempts to gain permission, you can submit that but it all takes time and some quiltmakers find it all too hard and subsequently don’t exhibit their quilt.
Janet – thanks for the feedback – I am very green in this area. For clarification though…. If, on my written tutorials and/or patterns I explicitly state ” items made from this pattern/tutorial are for personal, non-commercial use only, unless given explicit written permission” it doesn’t protect me from someone selling the item without contacting me? Thanks again.
That is correct Karen. They are legally allowed to sell the 1 quilt (or whatever) they make from your pattern. However, if they want to take your pattern and make multiple copies, then that is another situation altogether & that is when they need to contact you to get permission. In other words, if I make a red/white/blue quilt and then later on decide it no longer goes with my bedroom, I am allowed to sell that one quilt as it is my quilt. I just can’t make several red/white/blue quilts from your pattern with the intention of selling them.
I am concerned when I see people onselling patterns after they have made a quilt, or clearing up their stash and selling no longer wanted patterns. The money is now going to the original purchaser not the pattern designer.
Lyn, it is perfectly legal for a person to sell or even give away the original copy of a pattern they purchased; it is just not legal for them to make photocopies of said pattern & sell those. The designer/publisher, etc. has received their royalties from the sale of that one copy and that is all they are entitled to.
The patten designer made the $$ on the first sale (hopefully!) so the subsequent sales don’t matter (think selling and buying a used book)
Phew, I posted a pattern to a friend this week after I had made it, as she commented on how cute it was without giving it a thought. It was a simple pincushion., but like many people I assumed it was ok to do this, I never copied the pattern but sent her the original that I had paid for.
Many times I have seen quilters, sewers, and embroiderers say they copy things but feel it is OK since it is for their personal use only. This is NOT OK. Just because you are not re-selling or making a direct financial profit, it is still stealing.
I have also seen designers take people to task for copying their designs and the designers have been assured, sadly to my mind, that the similarity of designs (sometimes even in the exact same colors!) was all a big coincidence. That really sets off my nonsense meter. This happened quite recently. The copied designer is trying to take the high road, and to believe it was all a big coincidence, but I’m not buying it.
What amazes me is that I have a friend that is continually asking to copy the quilt patterns that I purchase or to borrow & use current quilting books that I own even tho I tell her that is someone’s pattern/book that they have produced to earn a living so she should buy her own copy. When that doesn’t seem to be acceptable to her I also remind her that I’ve worked hard to earn money to purchase these patterns/books for me to use. Then I’m told she can’t afford these patterns & books so it’s rather selfish of me because quilters always share. Yet …… she’s another one that somehow seems to purchase beautiful & expensive fabrics for all her quilts & projects!!!
I have such a mouth on me about this stuff, I would be calling her out on the expensive fabric!
So well said!! Awesome 🙂
Cheers!
Well said, I love the simile of the Turkey shopping or stealing…… Why do people do this? They would be the first to grumble if someone did it to them.
I hope she pays up.
I have been known to copy the odd cross stitch pattern to share but have long since stopped doing that when I learned it was a copywrite infringement. I always think it’s a good thing for designers to get the word out and remind people of the importance of oayong for what you want. Stealing is stealing. It takes many different forms but it’s all called the same thing.
I’ve been an avid proponent of people buying their own patterns for a while now. The first time I made a SewTogether Bag a friend said she wanted to make one. I didn’t even give her the chance to take my copy. I told her where to find it to buy her own and told her where to find the tutorial that helped me make mine.
It’s so hard when people just don’t understand that they really are contributing to a real person that put hard work into that pattern. $10 is small change compared to the work, testing, fabric, more testing, more fabric, thread, getting other people to test the pattern, corrections, more testing, then trying to make the pattern look good for printing and maybe even printing the patterns which is a whole ‘nother level of work. All of that can take tens or hundreds of hours and that time is money.
With the holiday season upon us maybe we can all use this as a way to spread the word. If a friend asks to borrow a pattern we should all say “maybe you will get your own copy for Christmas?” A not so subtle hint that the pattern will be paid for and should be paid for since it obviously has value. Also, a great way to support designers and buy a quilting friend a gift she will use.
Thank you for continuing to speak out in support of yourself and your hard work. You make it harder for people to make light of the work everyone in the industry does. Thank you!
The scale of $10 is startling, isn’t it. It’s a big deal to a designer!
Well… usually if you want a pattern….. you BUY it…Not steal it. If I wanted to make something I purchased a pattern.
My first thought was to commend Mary for her conscience. But then that contradicts the message in all of this… it should be a GIVEN that for each person making use of your pattern there should be a purchase of said pattern. A thought-provoking post, Sam.
I certainly agree with the premise of intellectual property. My husband and I have battled a similar ‘theft’ with computer software. I am interested how many quilters will apply the same standards when it comes to their software. Somehow because they don’t feel the same connection to the ‘artist’ or creator of the software, it seems little easier to copy that quilt label-making CD or those CD’s with templates on them. I always get the same response, “well they charge too much and it’s not like a person developed it”. Really?
Not to pile up on the ‘cheap women bashing’, but at a quilt show I commented to a lady that wanted to take a picture of the sewing tables that a small company had on display, that she was stealing their plan. This had happen right in front of the vendor and this woman didn’t skip a beat when she said ‘her husband could make it better’. I looked at the vendor and apoligized for my gender….
We truly are our own worst enemies at times, sadly.
Sew well said’. Kudos to you and thank you from one designer to another….this puts it perfectly!
The fabric was pricey? well another $10 should not have mattered!!! Yes there is way too much of this happening………….it is the same as stealing really. I remember another designer who found her patterns had been stolen and were being sold as someone else’s designs on the “net. tHow mean can one get???
I am a new designer, and so far all of my quilts have bee unique appliqué styles and I have drawn the designs myself so they are my own work. I am just starting to dream up some quilt designs using traditional quilt blocks, and three block patterns are everywhere, so is that ok. Eg block patterns like stars that are found in multiple tutorials all over the internet or in patterns. But your design is adding in your own twist.,so how do you know that some one somewhere in this big wide world has not already come up with this pattern.
Copyright is finite. Depending on what is the subject of the copyright it can last from 25 to 95 years. Traditional blocks that have now been used for centuries would not be subject to copyright.
Keep in mind that the older published quilt patterns were copied in whole or in part from folk quilts. Who’s going to credit my g-g-g-grandma??
Well said.
Well said. I teach in my home and design patterns as well. I eagerly share what I have but when it comes to paid patterns I have my students buy their own patterns regardless of who designed it. I don’t think people realize what goes into designing, writing, testing etc. a pattern.
Well done Sam, we have to keep repeating the message. Too many people just say, hey, what can I do?
Well said!!! Love your analogy about Thanksgiving Dinner and the turkey!! That had me laughing out loud.
I am not a designer but even so I totally understand where all designers are coming from. Holy Toledo!!!…… it’s not at all difficult to understand that people are trying to earn a living!! I do find it very difficult to understand though how the rules only apply to “other people”. I know it’s not a “rule” like “no chewing gum in school”….but it is a “rule” of ethics and morality that a person does not take what is not their’s. It’s just that simple to me. To me there is no gray area. I wish it were so for everyone. Maybe some day.
[…] unnecessary, but I couldn’t in good conscience make the quilt doing so – I’ll have to thank Sam Hunter for that […]
This is something that I am becoming more and more sensitive to. And now I have a question. I just bought your book (because my very sweet LQS owner couldn’t stop talking about it), and I’m going to be using your lettering in a quilt that is going to be donated for silent auction. (Okay, that’s not the question, but this is) – I am a very small scale quilter/sewist and I am looking to do a craft fair locally to bring in extra money to help me off-set the cost of Christmas (as a single mom, I do what I can to make sure he’s covered). If I wanted to do a couple of quilts or some placemats that incorporated your lettering, would I need to buy a license from you? I would totally not take any credit for the design. That’s best left with you (I’m not that clever, trust me), but wanted to ask before I forged ahead. <3 I LOVE your book. I have already read the entire thing and will be starting my grand paper piecing adventures this evening!
Hi Brandy! I grant you permission to you the designs from Quilt Talk for sale objects (and best of luck!), but the permission really lies with C&T, the publisher, as they hold the copyright to the book (I know, you’d think that it’s mine, but it usually isn’t in this industry – nuts eh?). Please check the language inside the front cover for their description of their rights, and contact them if you have any questions about what they mean. And thank your LQS from me! ~Sam
I sure will! I’m there often enough that I could probably tell her today (I saw her yesterday…lol). And the note in the book (clever! See, told you I wasn’t very clever when it comes to this stuff) says that I need to give full credit (with very specific wording) on a tag permanently attached to the item I am selling. Good to know! I’ll be tagging you on IG when I finish projects out! Thanks Sam!!
I wholly agree with your stance on intellectual property theft, and it looks as though you have a lot of support on this.
It seems a little ironic to me that a few days later you write a post promoting some pins in your shop that you helpfully explain are derived from certain popular TV shows. Did you know that’s also intellectual property theft – unless of course you have obtained the appropriate licenses from the creators of Firefly, Dr Who, Game of Thrones etc.
Hi Sharon – Thanks for writing – and I see your point. FYI, all the the catchphrases associated with any shows are deemed under copyright to be “fair use” unless they are specifically trademarked (you can’t copyright the words, only the pictures… and I know this because I tried to copyright other of my sassy buttons, and they would only let me do the ones that had drawings, and told me to look into trademarking for phrases.)
The good news is that most of the people that create shows that have rabid fan followings are happy to let the products that support and promote said fandom get created. I’ll be the first person to comply with a “cease and desist” when one arrives on my doorstep. ~ Sam
When I was new in town I joined a small quilt guild. The ladies were mostly older and had been friends and in the guild a long time. I discovered that it was common for one person to buy a pattern, photocopy it for the others, and then each person would make the same quilt. I called the president about this practice, told her I was uncomfortable with it, and that it was illegal. She brought it up to the group and reported back to me that they planned to continue doing as they had always done. I immediately resigned from the guild.
And you know these same people wouldn’t steal from a grocery store!
That’s why I love my local library so much. I rarely make the same pattern twice so their vast variety of quilting books helps. I make a quilt from a book and then return the book. All above board and legal.