DMCA Vs. The Sewing Underground

Roundeye writes "So the folks at monsterpatterns.com dumpster-dive to get envelopes containing discontinued sewing patterns and sell the envelopes via their website. The sewing pattern company McCall invoked the DMCA to get the site shut down. Monsterpatterns is now suing to protect their 'fair use rights' to advertise and sell the discarded patterns. You might recall that this isn't the first time the sewing industry has cracked down on bootlegging grandmas and their suppliers."

Comments

Okay, let's get the story RIGHT, shall we?

[M. Silver]

Ah ha. Doing a little more homework...

McCall's isn't saying the patterns can't be sold. Wait. Let me say that a little louder.

MCCALL'S ISN'T SAYING THE PATTERNS CAN'T BE SOLD.

Their gripe is with Monsterpatterns putting pictures of the patterns on the website. You know: reproducing (as in making a COPY of) the copyrighted art/photographs on the cover of the patterns.

It's still a bit underhanded, but it makes a certain sort of sense, far more than "you can't resell the physical pattern."

Here's the forum message where the rep (owner?) says "Today The Mccall pattern company through their attorneys have told our web host company that we are 'infringing on their copyrights' by displaying pictures of patterns that we own."