Recently, Karri G wrote with this question:
“What do you say when someone wants you to make them a copy of a pattern without sounding holy than thou?”
First of all, can I just say I don’t care about sounding “holier than thou”. I think a little righteous indignation is a good thing in this instance, because maybe it will change the game.
Instead of “OK, let me copy that for you” being a standard answer, let’s practice a few new ones:
- No. Copying a pattern is stealing.
- No. Copying a pattern is a copyright violation.
- No. Copying a pattern cheats a designer out of the income they deserve.
- No. If it inspires you, you should honor the designer by purchasing it.
- No. You wouldn’t ask me to steal food for you, so please don’t ask me to help steal a pattern.
- No. I don’t copy patterns. Please buy your own.
I know that we nice women prefer not to say NO, but in this case, I think we need to get used to it. Give it a try… it’s pretty empowering!
And Karri – thanks for writing with the question, and linking your copy-happy friends to my WASWI writings! On behalf of my industry, a huge thank you!
My sister-in-law asked my mom to copy a pattern for her and my mom did it and I explained that was stealing but she didn’t care. I was surprised because my SIL talks a big Christian game and Christians aren’t supposed to steal. I bought the pattern and had it sent to my SIL but she returned it and I got my money back. I guess there’s only so much one can do.
Why not say…”Sure, just bring me the pattern you purchased and I will be delighted to make it for you!” and if they say, but don’t you have a pattern that you bought…”yes, but is has expired.” They won’t understand, but we will.
I know someone who bought a new book by a new designer. She then decided to start a knit along at our knitting group by photocopying patterns from the book to give to other knitters. She even had the cheek to take other members to a different yarn shop to get yarn for the copied patterns so they could all sit in our local knitting shop using yarn and patterns, neither of which had been bought from the shop we were in. And she wonders why I am avoiding her at the moment?
I am living in Denmark. And I would like to ask a question. A person buys a pattern, but cannot read it in English. I offer to translate it for her – and just for her. I am not going to use it. But she will have to mail it for me and I will have to mail the translation back. Would that be wrong too?
What I think is that it should not be. Because I think it is a shame she cannot use a pattern, just because she cannot read the language it is written in.
What do you think?
Two comments:
The Danish friends that needs a translation for a purchased pattern I think it’s ok to translate.
To the person that wants you to steal the copied pattern from you: ask them the question “would you steal this ( name some item at the store) for me?
No??? Then I won’t steal for you either.