LucyInTheSky

I saw a gal on here who is selling her (adorable) shamrock pattern for use with the Twister ruler. I made an American flag with the Twister, where the pattern is a give away for our Shop Hop next month (I work at a quilt shop), and one of the employees wanted to buy it (before I told her it's going to be a give away). That plus all the discussions lately about copyrighting got me wondering - can you make a pattern that uses another copyright tool, for example the Twister, and sell it without infringing on the Twister company's copyright? Obviously I know I couldn't use the Twister's wording for the ruler's insert, but otherwise, would that be okay? "Here's a pattern, here's the layout, use the Twister to cut it up, sew back together - ta da!" Or could the Twister people issue a cease and desist and/or sue? How does that fit into the copyright discussion?

IAmCatOwned

The Twister would only have a copyright on their pattern directions. You can make anything your heart desires with the tool so long as you acknowledge that brand name item.

LucyInTheSky

Gotcha, thanks

Handcraftsbyjen

I am the one with the Shamrock Twist pattern. Before I was able to copyright it I had to have permission from both CS Designs and Primitive Gatherings to include their products and techniques in my supply list.

Handcraftsbyjen

Also, be aware that The Garhering Room Quilt Shoppe in Legrange, KY has a copyright on a Twister flag...so make sure you aren't infringing on it. (There's has been out probably almost a year now.)

Handcraftsbyjen

The copyright takes just a few months and is $35 if you do it online, however, it's $50 if you mail it in.

MdmSew'n'Sew

If that were the case, the Twister folks would have been served a long time ago - I have an old book (well, probably at least 10 years old, not antique) called 'Square Dance' by Martha Thompson, where the prototype for the Twister is used to create a bunch of twister-style quilts. So the Twister ruler is not new, they just used someone else's tool design and are making a fortune - in the meantime, I'm still using the plastic template I made from the book and it works just fine.

GrannieAnnie

Dumb question? Do you fret over using a patented sewing machine to make your top? Whatever tool you are using is patented (items), not copyrighted (words).