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Since I still see sellers making copies of simplicity patterns for sale on ebay I wrote to simplicity and asked them what their policy on this was. Here is what I received in an email back from them:
Thank you for your recent inquiry concerning acquiring our patterns for commercial use.
Patterns are considered printed matter and are covered under copyright laws. On most envelope backs we mention "To be used for individual private home use only and not for commercial or manufacturing purposes". Treat them just like you would books or videos---you can share them with anyone but once you start making copies, and especially if you are selling those copies, you are clearly violating the rights of the author/designer.
If you are sewing as a seamstress, the legal interpretation is that the customer requesting the garment owns the pattern and you are only selling your work or skills as a seamstress.
If you are sewing clothes in mass production, for the retail or wholesale market, no matter how small the volume, you are selling the design-which in this case belongs to Simplicity. You would therefore be in violation of the copyright laws.
We hope this explains our standing in this situation. Thank you for taking the time to contact us, and we appreciate your inquiry.
Sue Fleck,
Consumer Relations Manager (Simplicity, New Look) Simplicity Pattern Company Consumer Relations Dept.
901 Wayne Street
Niles MI 49121
Toll free line 888-588-2700
I hope that this clarifies the use of simplicity patterns and the all who shop on ebay will honor copyrights. Even though the patterns may have been made some 50 years ago Simplicity has maintained their copyright on their patterns.
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