Copyright is one of the most commonly asked questions by crafters that are considering making up our dolls for their hobby, their retail store or commercially.

Can't I just change the design and make it my own?

Many crafters think that they simply need to change a small feature to avoid copyright.

THIS IS NOT TRUE!

A person does not necessarily avoid infringement by making changes—as infringement is determined by what has been copied, rather than what has been changed.

When do you need permission from the copyright owner?

Unless copyright has expired (life time of creator plus 70 years), permission will usually be needed from a copyright owner to:

• make a craft work which is a copy of another person’s craft work; or

• make a craft work from another person’s design, ink-pad stamp or pattern.

Permission is granted, without the need for written permission, for the use of Gathering Stitchers designs in your hobby and for limited support of non-profit charities and organisations.

Without exception, all finished dolls not created for your personal hobby must be clearly labelled "This Doll is a copyright Gathering Stitchers design created with permission" - or similar statement.

Reasonable additional permissions will be granted when a written request is made and the copyright owner is acknowledged.

Each Gathering Stitchers design has many distinctive elements to make the design unique. Changing just a few elements of the design does not remove copyright. We consider copyright to have been breached when the nature of the design is copied.