The UK government’s Intellectual Property Office have issued a new copyright notice explaining copyright law for knitting patterns, “aimed at individuals and small businesses who may wish to use or create knitting, sewing and related patterns”.
It isn’t a revision of existing laws, merely a guide to current practice in the UK. With the increase of independent designers publishing PDF patterns, so much online pattern-swapping, and so many sellers making illegal reprints of knitting and sewing patterns that are still very much in copyright, this is a timely reminder of where we all stand when making or using knitting patterns.
Copyright Notice Number: 4/2015 on Knitting And Sewing Patterns can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Thank you to Kay Lacey who brought this to our attention.