Question Is there implied permission for personal and commercial use on products bought at craft stores? I have recently made some products, mostly jewelry, which uses designs and images from paper bought from a craft store. In selling these items, would I be violating copyright laws or does such material come with implied permission to use?
Answer Dear Carrie,
I will begin by stating that I am not an attorney. My understanding is that there is no implied permission. My suggestion would be to consult with an attorney on this (perhaps through a SCORE office http://www.score.org/index.html; or research in the US Patent and Trademark Office http://www.uspto.gov/
I believe there is a big difference in using the images for inspiration. And also there are differences in using materials purchased and then selling them commercially rather than for personal gifts or personal use. Once you sell retail or wholesale you jump into a whole different category.
A source you might look at is Amy Butler, a fabric, pattern and creative designer. On her FAQ page there are some questions about the use of her company's fabrics for commercial use: http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/faqs/ But each company can vary.
You may want to contact the company directly, but I would do some investigative homework first with the above resources. Additionally I would check their website out for any information that might be posted there.
Good luck to you!
If you'd like more information for marketing, selling or creating your company I invite you to become a subscriber to my ezine and take a look at the many articles and information on my website.
