My thoughts...on TOU (terms of use):
I decided to create this page here on my blog due to the amount of inquiries I get wondering if items can be sold using my patterns/tutorials, and also whether or not pictures/text from my blog can be shared on other blogs. I am not an expert in copyright law, nor do I pretend to be. What I am is a crafty person who spends a lot of time and effort to make fun tutorials, charts and patterns for you. I honestly enjoy sharing ideas with the crafty community, and just ask that you give consideration to what I would consider fair use of my ideas ... what I am calling "my policies", which are outlined below.
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Purchased Patterns from the Split Stitch Etsy Shop, or Blog Shop Page:
Yes, the purchaser of my pattern may sell items made using that pattern. You may not copy the pattern and resell it/post it as your own design. I have the right to take action against anyone who does this. If your friend wants to make something from a pattern that you purchased from me, I ask that you please not share your pattern with your friend, or give them a copy, but rather have your friend purchase their own copy. I am not here to debate the legality of that issue, but am asking you to consider it as a moral issue ... would it be fair (to me) for you to do that? I would also really appreciate if when selling your handmade item that you provide designer credit to me; a line such as "this item was handcrafted using an original pattern by thesplitstitch.com" would be sufficient. Once again, I am not debating the legality of this request, but am simply asking you ... from one crafter to another, to provide credit, where credit is due.
Free Patterns/Charts/Tutorials from The Split Stitch Blog :
A lot of time, effort, and thought goes into my "free" tutorials, patterns and charts ... for which I receive no compensation. I publish these "freebies" with the intention that you will use them "for personal use only". This means that you are welcome to make items as gifts for yourself or others, and charities as you see fit. But, I am asking that you please not sell items made using my free patterns/tutorials/charts. Why? Because it does not feel fair to me that someone else could monetarily benefit from my design/idea when I have not been compensated for the use of my idea/design/etc. I am not debating the legality of this, but once again am asking you to consider this a moral issue. If you would like to sell items made from a free pattern/chart/tutorial/instruction, then all I ask is that you purchase a .pdf copy of the pattern/chart/tutorial/instruction from me at my normal pattern price. This feels fair to me. If I have a tutorial/pattern/chart that I have posted as "personal use only", please do not hesitate to contact me to purchase a PDF version at: thesplitstitch (at) live (dot) com.
Can you borrow text/photos/etc. from The Split Stitch Blog?
Bloggers are welcome! If you would like to use a picture or a small portion of a post on your site, that is fine with me, as long as you link back to the original post and provide credit where credit is due. But if you want to copy and paste my entire tutorial, put it on your site and claim as your own ... then no, that is not okay with me!! Just use common sense :)
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Thanks for taking the time to read through my policies. I really want to be fair to you, and just ask you to do the same for me. Let's keep our DIY community a happy and honest place! I welcome you to contact me any time.
Hugs, Sara :)
