Many computer generated charts on the market today, mainly in auctions and freebie sites are illegal. Copyright infringement runs rapid due to cheap computer software. 

Please remember it is not just illegal to sell but illegal to buy them as well. Be sure the person you are buying from is reputable. Sending them out is also Mail Fraud.

It is fairly easy to spot an illegal chart. Anything trademarked or copyrighted without written permission is illegal. Disney, John Deere, Brats, comic book characters etc are never computer generated. Disney does not license just anyone to use their characters. 

Most artwork made in the last 80 years is copyright protected. If the Artists name is not listed then ask the seller who is the copyright holder. If they don't know then it is illegal. There must be a contract or agreement in place. If permission hasn't been granted than it is illegal.

Be sure the artwork is licensed.

• Most legal charts are easy to spot. They give the artist information in the discription. If there is question to if it is legal or not ask the seller. If they don't offer up the information then run the other way.  You would think they are all doing it by accident but they are not. Many know what they are doing is illegal and since Ebay can't police every auction it is up to us, the members, to be aware of what is going on.

Owning a print, a painting, a chart you purchaed from the designer, or finding pictures on the web does not mean it is legal to create a chart from that work. With the changes in copyright law pictures no longer need to have a © symbol to show they are copyright protected. To learn more about the copyright laws please see www.copyright.gov

Happy Stitching everyone!