This is a copy of an email I received from McCalls regarding the copyright on the patterns that they produce. Please be aware that when you purchase a photocopy of a pattern  and not an orginal copy of a McCalls that their patterns are not public domain and may not be reproduced.

Thank you for your e-mail. ALL McCall's patterns, regardless of when they were produced, are protected under copyright. It is illegal to sell photocopies of our patterns and to use our patterns to make items for subsequent resale. If you sell photocopies or make and sell items from a licensed pattern you would not only be violating McCall's copyright, but would also be in violation of the licensed designer's copyright.

A seamstress or dressmaker may use a McCall pattern to make a dress for a client and charge fees, however it has to be made for a specific client and a new McCall's pattern must be used each time. A person CAN NOT use a McCall's pattern to produce garments or items intended for subsequent resale. For example, if a woman wanted to start her own business of making Prom Gowns, she could make them for individuals that approached her, using a brand new pattern each time. However she COULD NOT make several dresses ahead of time and then take them to a boutique, or anywhere, to sell. All of McCall's patterns are intended for "Home Use Only", which means they can be used to make something for yourself or as a gift for someone else. Permission to use copyrights for home businesses is never granted and can not be obtained.

 Regarding the rights to a design, they belong to either the pattern company or the designer but not with the purchaser. We sometimes use outside designers that we have licensing agreements with. The designs of the licensed patterns belong to the designers. Copyright laws are complicated and have changed quite a few times over the years. While a pattern may appear to be no more than a few sheets of tissue paper and newsprint in an envelope, it actually contains the creativity and expertise of more than 100 people including designers, patternmakers, diagram artists, technical writers, and others-all of whom work hard to bring McCall's customers more than 300 new designs every year.
We hope this information is helpful.
Meg Carter
McCall's Consumer Service