Another interesting and thoughtful post about this issue. Thanks so much for writing this all up- there is so much we all need to know!
Limiting use for fabrics continues to baffle me- how does it work if someone buys fabric from a reseller and the "user agreement" edge of the fabric has been cut off?

These posts have been so interesting. Thanks for your investigative journalism into the world of textile copyrights!

This debate has been interesting - there are so many prints out there that keeping track of them in perpetuity seems impossible. I buy fabric for work (a garment manufacturer) and there are these great print houses in LA (and I'm sure elsewhere) with massive print libraries that they can convert to any fabric, scale and color scheme. I never really wondered where they got their prints though...hmmm...

oh kim-thanks again for following up on this very interesting and important issue. I know from my experience working in commercial interior design industry that vintage rugs, fabrics, furniture designs were all fair game for "inspiration" and I think that most people would faint at what a designer copies and passes off as their own-but it's not looked down upon in the industry, which I know sounds weird. It's more like that talent is assumed (if it's there or not is not always clear) and really you are being hired for your taste. That's the bottom line. And I think that is so true for many of the fabric lines we are discussing.

anyhoo-I think the more is written about this the better. I do stand by original and first opinion that unless the fabric is available to the trade only (wholesale only) there should be no restrictions on it's use. The person paying retail for fabric should be able to do whatever they want with it. I think selling retail and trying to restrict usage is having ones cake and eating it too-and not cool.

I completely relate to your feelings about the issue. I really do like having access to all the reproduction fabrics, but I think I like that I KNOW they're reproductions and not being passed off as someone's original design. Although, that only seems to be an assumption those of us outside the industry have.

i havent read up on all of this info yet but it seems to me i wouldnt mind the amy butler situation so much if she allowed her fabric to be made into something and resold. i also think i would have loved the fabric more if i had known it was a reproduction but at this point i feel very disappointed in her and the whole situation.

Thank you for continuing the conversation Kim. I'm listening, still thinking.

Just posted a little design funny-funny myself, but with knitting:
http://ambercake.blogspot.com/2006/11/vamp-and-re-vamp-were-sitting-on-fence.html

I hope my note finds everyone well,I wanted to write in hopes of clearing up a lot of misunderstanding. Thanks for taking timeout to read my letter.

I have some positive changes on my web site faqs that I'm very happy to share! These changes have been in place for a fewweeks but I don't think a lot of folks know about it yet . First I'd like to say how thankful I am that open forums like this exist where we can all talk to each other.

I know there has been a lot of continued concern about the use of my fabrics. I've received several emails and I want you to know that I care deeply about what my studio does and how it effects other people. It's been step by step, but I feellike we have finally landed in the place we need to be. I apologize that it's not been clear cut which is the unfortunate result of our trying to figure things out. Our previous faqs were about trying to keep the fabricsspecial for niche retailers and sewers. This was not decided with the fabric companies for financial gain,in actuality, a lot less fabric was sold. We were trying to preventover-saturationin the market place amonglarger manufacturers. In the end these efforts proved to be too complicated.It's been a very significant anddifficult learning process and I'm sorry that we did not respondfaster.

I regret that our faqs have caused so much disruption and I am truly sorry for the difficulties this has caused. It was never my intention to harm anyone's business, and I mean this very sincerely. We try our best to make the right decisions, yet sometimes the best solutions remain elusive until you can see the whole picture.

Moving forward the good news is my fabrics are now completely available in any form that makes sense for you, and that includes being able to buy my fabrics wholesale for manufacturing.

I know the selvedge on my fabrics reads " for Non- Commercial Use Only " but that will be removed in future printings of my material. The " for Non Commercial Use Only "is not in effect, so it's totally ok to use those fabrics at any time. Please visit my web site www.amybutlerdesign.com to read the full faqs and if we've left any questions un-answered, please let me know, it's very important.

I also wanted to share my fabric design process and I've added a link to Quilter's Buzz so you can read all about it.
http://www.quiltersbuzz.com/2006/11/post_77.html

Please know that I want everyone to be successful and enjoy what they are doing. I'm continually flattered and humbled by the interest and enthusiasm in people working with the fabrics I design! There are no more roadblocks for any of us, and here's to moving forward in peace and doing what
we all do best.

I wish everyone the greatest joy in their creative endeavors and business! If I can answer any other questions for you, please write to me.

All My Best,
Amy

amy@amybutlerdesign.com
www.amybutlerdesign.com

Thought of this debate Saturday when I saw some Xhileration handbags at Target that included fabric knock-offs of both Denyse Schmidt and Amy Butler designs...the colors and scale were slightly off but clearly copies.