Pattern Copyright
Very Baby Pattern Copyrights
Under copyright law and under the common law misappropriation doctrine; making and distributing copies of our pattern instructions or pattern templates without our written consent is illegal.
That means you can't make photocopies, scans, take photos, trace a copy, or otherwise duplicate our pattern sheets, pattern templates, technical drawings, or instructions in order to sell those copies. You can, however, trace the patterns for your own use.
You can gift or sell a pattern you bought in the same manner you can gift or sell a book. But it is unlawful to copy or reprint that book and then sell the copies. In like manner it is unlawful to copy or reprint a sewing pattern to gift or offer for sale.
Over the years, more than one law firm has counseled us that the act of cutting fabric out in the shape of the pattern pieces is making a copy or a duplicate, and since the copyright forbids unauthorized folks from selling those duplicates it would also forbid people from selling something they sewed with those duplicate fabric pattern pieces.
In the cloth diapering and crafting communities, it is considered to be extremely bad form to sew and sell items made from copyrighted patterns without permission from the pattern maker.
However, we recently discovered The Visual Arts Act of 1990, title 17 states that the items made from 2-D works (sewing patterns) are "utilitarian objects" and while the graphic form of design (pattern) is protected, the utilitarian (or finished, sewn) aspect of the design isn't unless the utilitarian object is reverse engineered to make a pattern.
In light of the above discovery, we have changed our policies. See policies new below.
Very Baby's New Pattern Policies
We have disbanded the licensing program and in its place have created the "Very Baby Seamstress Club" (Membership Inquiry Form). Over the years, many customers in the cloth diapering community have looked to our licensees for quality Very Baby products that feature the Very Baby™ label and name. We want to continue to offer the same trusted venues for customers through our new Very Baby Seamstress Club - while continuing to help mothers start small businesses they can run from home.
Non club members can still sew and sell products using our Very Baby™ patterns. But, if you know you are an excellent diaper seamstress and would like the privilege of producing products with our Very Baby™ reputation and branding consider joining the club to receive all the benefits of club membership.
