I received this fabric in a package of fabric from a reputable fabric seller. As I was getting ready to cut into it I saw the writing in the selvage. "License is required for any use beyond individual consumption."
This is a fat quarter. There is no other information available to me. I have no idea of manufacturer, designer or anything. There is no way to figure out how to even ask for a license should I want to use it for a project to sell.
This is very disconcerting. I am used to seeing the rights reserved or copyright logo on things. I've always assumed that was for the design and that rightfully so, you could not reproduce the fabric or the design. I have no problem with that. But I am concerned about a manufacturer requiring a license to use their fabric when the odds are very good that you could get the fabric in a standard cut, such as a fat quarter, without the warning or as I did without any other identifying features. Is this standard on fabrics these days?
Does anyone know what this fabric is? Who made it? Who designed it? I am not going to use the fabric for anything for fear that the scraps might end up in a project for sale.
What do the rest of you think?
UPDATE: I wrote this in the comments but I think it is worth repeating here.
I respect the intellectual property of the designers. They deserve credit for their work. My concern isn't about the need to obtain a license to use the fabric, it is about the difficulty in doing so, particularly as it is clearly possible to obtain the material in a legal manner that does not have the necessary information.
Sounds like you are only allowed to eat the fabric[consumption] haha. I have never seen a warning label like this before. Very odd.
ReplyDeleteI just discovered that I have a selvage like that as well. I purchased some half yards at a quilt show. The selvage you have is probably from the selvage side that normally doesn't have writing on it. Because on the opposite half of the fabric I bought was that exact same warning. The other side of mine says Kensington Studio for Quilting Treasures. I hope this is helpful to you. I don't have your same concerns because I don't make things for sale, but I did find it curious at the time.
ReplyDeleteI don't make much for sale. There have been some stories around the blogosphere from authors who have been threatened with lawsuits for using fabric without permission. http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/2012/02/14/resolution-to-an-interesting-read/ (Clearly,there is more to the story than is available.)
DeleteI respect the intellectual property of the designers. They deserve credit for their work. My concern isn't about the need to obtain a license to use the fabric, it is about the difficulty in doing so, particularly as it is clearly possible to obtain the material in a legal manner that does not have the necessary information.
I haven't seen this on any fabric. I know you can't sell items made from Disney fabric, John Deere etc without a license. Can you imagine if it was on all fabric!
ReplyDeleteWow...I've never heard of this before but I must say, if I couldn't use it to possibly put into a piece for sale, I wouldn't buy it. Hmmmm.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I would say go for it and use however you want. In my experience working in a fabric store I have never seen anything like this printed on the selvage but admit there is always something new!
ReplyDeleteWOW. Honestly I have never seen this before, but I am not a "selvage girl". I might notice the pretty colors as I lop it off, toss it in a jar, when the jar is full, pack it up and send it to my Sister In Law. I do not currently sell anything, nor do I have plans to, but that is kind of scary, particularly if it is coming from such a commonly sold (Quilting Treasures) manufacturer. Along with the very nature of fabric sales. If you got the "wrong" side of the fat quarter you wouldn't know. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteI had come across this issue learning about it on facebook.
ReplyDeleteAccording to this link --> http://www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/folder/Selvage.shtml it isn't legal or binding
I have fabric that states "Not for reproduction or resale" so I decided to see if it is binding. According to the link above - It isn't! So take a breather and use your fabric however you choose to do so.