Copyright Statement and Information

The copyrights to all patterns by White Dragon Designs, free and paid for, are owned by Ruth Hilton-Robinson*. Where a pattern by another designer is made available on this site, the copyright belongs to the designer of that pattern.

You may not:

• copy and distribute these patterns for free, whether you have obtained them for free or purchased them (except for the creation of a 'working copy' for your own personal use);
• copy and sell these patterns for profit, whether you have obtained them for free or purchased them;
• use the images, charts or text contained in the patterns without prior permission from Ruth Hilton-Robinson or the copyright holder as these are covered by copyright legislation;
• make minor alterations to the pattern and claim it as your own design.

However, you MAY:

• make as many items from the pattern as you wish;

• do whatever you want with those finished items - whether that means you keep them, give them away, hoard them, nest in them, insulate your loft with them or sell them.

Yes, you read that right - you can sell your finished objects without needing any permission from me. I don't own your finished item and whilst the dragon may become a little testy and rain fiery retribution down upon you if you give away, sell or plagiarise our patterns, that's all copyright legislation allows us to do. In fact, if you choose one of these designs to make and sell, far from being upset both the dragon and I will be immensely flattered!

In fact, this does not just apply to my designs; I'm not just being nice (although I am, and so is the dragon). I have no legal right, under copyright legislation, to restrict what you do with your finished object. No designer does although many will try to argue that they do. All copyright covers is the pattern itself as the designer writes it down; this does not include stitch techniques such as lace or cable designs although it does cover the charts the designer creates and any original artwork, such as in intarsia or Fair Isle designs. However, no item deemed a 'useful object', which includes all clothing and homeware, is copyrightable. Toys are a different matter and legislation varies from country to country so check what your country's legislation says but the above is definitely true for the US and UK. The UK has 'design rights' which allow a designer to register a design for their exclusive right to produce and distribute it - however, even if they have registered their design, by selling the patern they invalidate their right to be the sole producer of that item from that design.

Many designers do not want you to know this. That's why so many of them include what has come to be known as 'The Clause of Doom' in their patterns. Basically, this is a little spiel somewhere in the pattern, the gist of which is "Thou shalt not sell thy finished objects made from this pattern because COPYRIGHT. GRRRARGH!" 

This is not correct, or legally enforceable. It's as ridiculous as trying to say "You can only knit it in pink." It's a blatant piece of selfish, miserly copywrong fudgery and it gets right up our noses (and as I'm sure you'll appreciate, anything which gets up a dragon's nose is likely to be killed with fire in pretty short order). In fact, attempting to assign to oneself and assert rights one does not have by using copyright legislation is an offence in itself, known imaginatively as 'Misuse of Copyright Legislation." Now that's something that will get you in trouble.

More information can be found in the Copyright Matters group on Ravelry, where there are friendly and knowledgeable members who can help you with any questions (requires Ravelry membership).

Alternatively, www.tabberone.com is a mine of information, particularly this page.

Anyhow, even if all that were not the case and designers could tell you what you can and can't do with your finished object (which they can't), I would still be perfectly happy to waive such rights because I'm not a control freak (well, not about this anyway) and I can't see what the designers who attempt to place these restrictions on their customers think they're achieving, other than really irking everyone. So please do use my patterns to make items to sell if you want to and good luck to you! Of course, if someone asks about the pattern it would be really nice if you'd point them in this direction...

Happy Knitting!

* Because dragons can't hold copyrights. They tend to set them on fire.