There are some companies that allow you to use their characters to make some money as long as you follow their guidelines. The company that makes Genshin Impact and the one that makes Minecraft are 2 examples. Go on their websites and you can see the guidlines.
10 Likes
I have read that it is illegal. I guess people do it because the companies are less likely to be bothered by a pattern, because it’s not gunna affect their sellings, but if it is a physical item, it can be a problem. And I guess many people simply don’t know it, if you see everyone doing something, you automatically think it’s normal.
8 Likes
I agree. I think the majority just don’t know.
7 Likes
Call it lil blob or baby blob
5 Likes
It bears repeating. Whether it’s free or paid, or renamed or whatever it is still infringement and still illegal. Either get official permission and get an official license from the owner or don’t use the idea or image AT ALL. PERIOD
11 Likes
Hi! So I was wondering about this too for my Totoro patterns. I did a bit of research about copyright, but because I know a lot of people on Ribblr use patterns for gifts or personal use (not just for selling), I still wanted to make the Totoro patterns available for that purpose only. So I also left notes about that on the patterns. But now I’m wondering if I should still take them down. It probably would be better if I did, right?
9 Likes
I am interested in this topic too because a lot of patterns that I have created is because someone has asked me to make this character for them such as Ang, Zuko, Goku … and I am like these are licensed characters so I dont feel like I can share or sell these patterns I have created because they are a licensed character, even if I rename them, its obvious who they are.
7 Likes
I would research Ghibli’s usage rights and respect them.
I can tell you this particular company is quite strict!
They have some very popular characters but they might not even allow imitation of them.
I know I said “free is safest” before, but always check out the company’s “Usage Rights”, and understand their rules.
When I was younger, I had a listing for a Ghibli character keychain taken down from my Etsy shop I had at the time.
I saw everyone else put up their credits to the original creators and I did the same.
So be sure to be careful, and respectful, guys
10 Likes
Disney is notorious for aggressively defending their intellectual property rights. A lot of their work is not only copyrighted but trademarked as well
Trademarks have to be aggressively protected by their owners or they risk losing them
I have an associates of arts degree in paralegal studies (I don’t work as a paralegal presently, when I did it was in worker’s compensation, the attorneys who fight for employees injured on the job).
6 Likes
A crochet designer I admire greatly and have followed online for years has written an article about copyright
12 Likes
I know that some people have, understandably, looked into using classic characters that are public domain as an alternative to potentially make a profit.
Bear in mind, however, that just because they are public domain does not always mean that the character design/interpretation you see is a freebie for you to use as you please.
Speaking of bears:
“The original Winnie-the-Pooh book from 1926 is in the public domain . However, Disney still owns copyrights over later works, and trademark rights for “Winnie the Pooh” on a variety of products. ” That’s from Duke Law who run Public Domain Day.
Basically, it’s Pooh the character (think classic book Pooh) that went public domain.
Not the yellow bear with the red shirt.
Disney still owns that.
TM words can still count as infringement, and I wouldn’t risk alternative wording.
That’s still very risky.
4 Likes
Great article. Interestingly though, they’ve made this statement about free patterns:
“Patterns of trademarked characters can be given away for free or listed on a site without advertising. If you give away a pattern for a trademarked character, the best policy is to include a clause regarding the existing trademark and the danger of selling the item.”
I still wouldn’t feel comfortable publishing a free pattern of a trademarked character, because you can’t guarantee that other people won’t use it to try to make a profit. The holder of the trademark might not be willing to take that risk (especially if they think it will impact their merchandise sales), and send a cease and desist letter or worse.
Either way, any pattern based on a distinctive character would be infringing on copyright.
5 Likes
Huh. Yeah, that does make sense as to why a company may still take issue with it, even if you yourself aren’t profiting from it
4 Likes
I would understand a designer’s disappointment at not only seeing their patterns stolen and also seeing the copies be very bad imitations of their work. This would reflect badly on the original designer s reputation.
Plus Ribblr has rules
7 Likes
So, i am making a winnie the pooh for a client, but i am free handing it, not writing a pattern and depending if she wants me to post it or not i will, but is this a bad thing? Wi i get introuble?
4 Likes
Do not post any pattern on this. You can crochet Winnie from freehand but do not write up a pattern for anyone
As to copyright, Pooh is now in the public domain as of 2022 Tigger was in early 2024
But Disney still owns the trademark rights
6 Likes
That’s what I was worried about. Disney is pretty strict.
I love how your device is at 100%, that made my OCD self so happy 
4 Likes
There is a great Youtube video done by the Crochetprenuer (Pam). She actually as a copyright lawyer on that episode answering questions about crochet and copyright. I highly recommend watching it, it clarified a lot of stuff for me!!
As far as I understand it, avoid anything that isn’t your own creation. Just changing the name is NOT enough to avoid getting sued. You can be sued for the likeness of the product to the original design. You also can’t make any money on any copyrighted thing. That’s why so many designers do free patterns for personal use only (gifting or keeping for themselves). It’s still super risky! Ribblr is also at risk for allowing sales of copyrighted things. That is also why Etsy is taking listings down, they don’t want to get sued. It’s better to be creative and design your own stuff, rather than taking someone’s work that might be popular!
As a designer myself I wouldn’t want people stealing my designs. I worked hard to make them, and think big companies feel the same way. They have every right to protect their work just like we do!
You can use things that are public domain but you have to be extra careful about which version you are making. For example: Winnie the Pooh, you can make the book version (no red shirt) but NOT Disney’s version or any other version that is not part of the book that is public domain.
7 Likes
Hiya! I’m a bit late for the party, but I just wanted to tell my story. No, I didn’t get in trouble or anything, but last year, I took down all of my patterns and plushies based on video game characters. This is because it was putting my business at risk for copyright infringement. I should never have sold these kinds of items.
Unfortunately, all I got since then was people asking me where they were and if they could get the patterns as a custom order, and I kept having to say no! Sometimes, I feel like they don’t seem to notice my original artwork I created.
People may say that my items that were taken down is unfortunate, but honestly, I still did the right thing and I don’t regret my decision. I’m no longer at risk for getting sued by big companies. I’d stay away from copyrighted characters–it’s just not worth the risk.
6 Likes