Tasmanian Quilting Guild Inc.

It is the policy of the organisers of Tasmanian Quilting Guild Inc (TQG) exhibitions to comply with Australian copyright laws. Copyright laws are designed to protect the creative skill of quilt designers as well as their right of recognition, while ensuring reasonable access to the quilts by members of the public. Therefore in the interest of the Australian quilting industry, copyright laws are to be complied with at all times during TQG exhibitions by all participants.

To assist the organisers of TQG exhibitions to present a public display of quilts, it is essential that you complete and sign the declaration section of the entry form. If this section is not signed your quilt will not be displayed.

The following terms have been adopted by TQG to define the design source for quilts entered in TQG exhibitions

Original Design applies when no other person has any claim on the design, ie you can claim copyright on the design and the design is all your own work - you have not used or been influenced by a quilt, art work, or photograph of another person

Traditional design applies when traditional blocks have been used, eg Ohio Star, Rose of Sharon, blocks that are regarded as being "in the public domain". You have however, made the choices of fabric, colour and settings for the quilt.

Version of someone else's design applies if you have folowed someone else's pattern but made your own fabric choices and perhaps made variations to the design. You must however name the designer and/or publication.

Someone else's design applies if you have followed someone else's pattern and fabric choices. You must name the designer and/or publication. This particularly applies to Block of the Month designs where fabric and pattern are provided and used.

Displaying a quilt that is a version of another person's design may be an infringement of copyright, if the original designer is not acknowledged in the public display. Quilt designers must be given the proper credit for their works otherwise it implies that the person who made the quilt on display is the author of the original work and this would be in breach of copyright laws. Making changes, even 10%, is not enough to make your quilt an original design.

If your quilt design is influenced by the artwork of a quilt you saw in an exhibition or a picture in a calendar, or anything over which another person can claim copyright you should obtain permission for your work to be exhibited. For example if you make a quilt using the design of a stained glass window from your local church you should get permission from the church to exhibit your quilt and maybe even, if appropriate, from the designer of the window. A copy of this written permission must accompany your entry form.

The name of the maker as well as the design source will be published in the catalogue and/or on display cards for all quilts exhibited at TQG exhibitions.

Be aware that trademarks and official logos cannot be reproduced in articles for public display. For example Harry Potter, Disney characters or football club logos cannot be displayed in exhibitions without written permission from the copyright holder. A copy of this written permission must accompany your entry form.

For more information check the Australian Copyright Council's website www.copyright.org.au/