I'm not sure, but judging by what I once read in the entry rules for a design competion, to call a design your own each and every part must be your original design -- so arranging existing designs in a different way, or changing an existing design, would not make them yours, and the copyright would still lie with the original designer/designers. If you did design something from scratched but it is based on a licensed character, like Mickey mouse or Tatty Teddy, again the copyright belongs to the designer of the original image.
I'm open to correction here, but that's the state of things as far as I know -- hope it helps!

Mabel is absolutely correct. Just because you have rearranged the designs and combined with other designs the original copyright is still owned by the design. you must start from scratch for it to be your pattern.

I can't tell you how helpful this thread is, especially for a newbie who is attempting to branch out from standard kits.

I have some ideas of my own (which do include copyright images) that I want to stitch into a design but I've made the design myself from scratch. I'm only making a one off gift and won't be distributing the design or finished product in any way. From what I've read, I shouldn't be treading on anybody elses toes

Happy days.

Thankyou from someone who is very VERY passionate about this topic. I've come across quite a few cross stitch groups that didn't respect copyright and it made me sick... I've seen first hand how this stops my favourite artists and designers from sharing their work... so THANKYOU guys for being onto this and sharing my views!

Zeb, copyright issues are about the only broad area where we at CSF become positively fierce. There's much to debate on the subject, of course, but in our little corner of the world, if designers keep getting ripped off, they will stop designing, and then where would we be. Disaster, all so someone who feels 'entitled' can save a few quid or bucks. No, ma'am. We get cross here about that. Not to mention, if it were seen that we turned a blind eye to this illegal behaviour, we would get shut down, and I, for one, couldn't stand that because I'd miss (among other things too numerous to mention) Angel's wedding photos!

So what I do all the time is illegal? I buy a pattern, scan it in, print it out, put the original one away and start marking on the copy. When I made a huge mistake that is hard to find your way back in, I again print out the copy and start marking again.

So actually I need to mark on the original one, and when I'm wrong, buy a new one?

No not at all you are allowed to make a WORKING copy that is said by just about every designer. What you can not do is make a copy and then give the copy away or keep the copy and give the original away.

I just wanted to share this blog entry... it's making me SO MAD and sad at the same time

http://mymarkdesigns.wordpress.com/2010/07/26/do-the-math-2/

Hi, since i've recently come back to stitching i was wondering if anyone knows where we stand on this..

for example - if i took a photograph of my dog, paid a website company who turn our photographs into charts, does that company now own the copyright to that pattern/chart even tho the subject of the pattern was an original photo i took of my dog? i'm asking this because i want a photo of my dog and cat turned into a cross stitch chart but since it is expensive it would be nice to know where we stand regards these type of charts, until i read this copyright section didn't give it much thought, i could buy the software and do it myself however i think a proffessional service would do a better job he he,

If you send a picture to a company to get a chart made they can only make a chart for you as per your request. If they wanted to mass produce the picture they would have to get your permission to do so as you have the copy right to that picture.

Hi,

I have a picture that I found randomly on the internet that I love and have created a chart from it, I do not know who the artist is so cannot ask for permission, I was wondering what the general consensus on this is? I will probably still stitch it....it's not a x-stitch kit I've found for sale anywhere else, and I have no intention to sell it, but would it be ok to set up a SAL on it or would that infringe copyrights and have an adverse effect on the forum (which of course would be the LAST thing I would want to do)?

As long as you are not putting the chart up and all you are showing is the work that you have done there should not be any problem. This is for yourself and not for profit then I don see that the forum will be in an trouble.

wow these are really muddy waters sometimes but I only ever make a working copy and dispose of it when i am done so i guess I am okay. I have never stitched for money but have often made gifts for others so it appears I am okay again and I do not think I have ever used the same design twice for a gift.

I hope designers get their due! Seems like this board really tries to keep their best interests at heart while allowing us all to have some fun!

Thank you for all the valuable info!!!