I’m making up a garment this weekend from a pattern company that sadly hasn’t existed for 3 years. It’s got me thinking about the ethics in sharing pattern files you can’t get anymore. I’ve got a few in my stash that I love, but when I share my make on social media and someone asks about the pattern, I can’t recommend it as they can’t buy it anywhere. I personally wouldn’t share the files with anyone but am I being too mean? Also, if I’ve got a digital file for a pattern I’ve tried and not enjoyed, or printed out and changed my mind, could I destash the physical copies?
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I do not the answer in this one, but its an interesting conversation. Legally I do not know either because ive read that although pattern designers will include their policy regarding making to sell, and the pattern ownership but legally its wobbly
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Legally, the answer is no, to all the questions.
Even though the pattern company no longer exists, the author retains copyright for 70 years after death. Digital or paper, patterns are generally marked ‘Not for Resale’. eBay is full of patterns that can’t legally be sold.
Selling on or giving away a print out of a digital pattern is also contrary to the law. Morally/ethically, with planet saving in mind, I personally would give a printed out copy of a pattern to friend who I knew had also purchased the pattern that I have, just to save the paper, ink, energy. But I use a projector nowdays so wouldn’t have the printout to offer.
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That’s more or less what I thought. Thanks. It’s a shame there are pattern companies that are now gone. I suppose the moral of the story is to support the indie designers so they can keep trading, and not the AI knock offs
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