I did a search and found a lot of discussion on this topic but didn’t find anything specific to my question.
Q: There are a plethora of plans one can buy to build anything from chairs to coffins. My question is this; if the plan has a copyright on it, does that mean whatever you build from that plan is also copyrighted? Say if you build something from a plan, and then decide to make a few more to try and sell, is that a violation of that copyright, or does it just apply to the paper plan itself? Just curious.
Edited 5/21/2009 9:34 am by seajai
Replies
The copyright refers only to the plan itself. If there are restrictions on what you can do with the items that you make from the plan, they will be given separately. For example, a plan might say, "For personal, private use only."
-Steve
sea ,
It's my understanding that when you buy plans for sale permission is given to use it . Some plans may come with other verbiage relating to selling the item but it would seem unlikely you could steal income from the plan folks by building the items.
It would seem if you were allowed to use and build the plan you could use it as many times as you want.
The copyright may also prevent you from selling the plan if memory serves me correct.
regards dusty ,boxmaker
You have to contact the copyright holder as to the restrictions on the use of the plans or any items you make from the plans. Just paying for the plans does not confer unlimited rights to their use. The copyright holder almost always retains rights to any revenue or potential revenue inherent in the use of the copyrighted plans.
Like others have said the copyright is for "copy" the print. I too have seen numberous conversations and threads about copies of furniture etc. Make your furniture and don't worry.
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
I have been looking at a lot of plans for boats. They usually stipulate that the purchase of the plans gives the buyer the right to produce one boat only. I wouldn't doubt there is a similar restriction on furniture plans. If so, you are only honor bound to comply, I doubt the plans will self destruct upon one use.... but they might so be careful.
Sap..
No Lawyer here but I think You are right on!
Sort of like the old boat I made long ago from plans. I modified it, It stiil floats, I tell others (If they ask) I made it from plans I bough very long ago!
Then I add.. I'm old and forgot what Mag. I got the plans from!
Edited 5/23/2009 9:08 am by WillGeorge
I wouldn't be concerned about it. Our patent attorney told us use two screws where they show one and apply for a new patent. Copying the drawings and selling them woud be a problem and a lawyer's field day.
I wouldn't worry too much about it. Unless you are going to open up major manufacturing facility, who cares. You can also modify the design just a bit and maybe change a profile a bit. It would be different if you wrote your own book and copied their plans. No one is worried about little guys like us making a few quality pieces to sell to support our habit. ;-)
I think I remember Norm saying once about his New Yankee plans that it was ok to build and sell as long as you didn't use his or the shows name to sell the furniture. It's probably the same with most plans. But then again I'm not a lawer although I did stay at a Holiday iInn Express last night.
Dana
"Seen Better, done worse!"
The copyright applies not only to the paper the plan is printed on, but the idea incorporated in the plan. You are usually not purchasing the copyright, but only a license to use the plan in accordance with its terms -- like you purchase a license to use Microsoft software for example.
The owner of the copyright can define the license pretty much any way s/he wants, such as "for personal use only" or "the object cannot be made for resale". The best practice in this regard is to read the copyright notice printed on the plans.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Everything fits, until you put glue on it.
Mike, all of the plans I have purchased to date do not carry any disclaimers that restrict resale or use. However, I have noticed restrictions in a couple of scroll saw pattern books I purchased.
I've seen furniture plans that limit use to non-commercial use (i.e., not for sale), but only a few. Like I said above, it's really up to the copyright holder to determine what, if any, limits he or she wants to put on the plan.Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.
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