How to Copyright Cross-Stitch Designs
The U.S. Copyright Act protects "original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression," including cross-stitch designs on paper, in books and even finished cross-stitch embroideries themselves. While copyrights exist automatically without registration, it's important to register to get the full extent of legal protection.
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Things You'll Need
- Computer
- Internet access
- $35 registration fee
- Copyright attorney (optional)
Instructions
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Online Copyright Registration
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The U.S. Copyright Act defines fixation of a work as "sufficiently permanent or stable to permit it to be perceived." This means that your design must be written on paper or saved to a computer file--it can't be just an idea or concept. Before you begin the registration process, you must fix your design in some way.
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Save a copy of your cross-stitch design for your records. Your personal copy can be on paper, or saved to a hard-drive or USB.
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Create an online profile so that you can register your copyright online at the U.S. Copyright Office website. On the bottom left-hand corner of the screen, click on the prompt "If you are a new user, click here to register."
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After you complete your login profile, the site will direct you to the Electronic Copyright Office list of services. Under "Copyright Services," click on "Register a New Claim."
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Follow the prompts to complete your application. For an instructional design or pattern, register your cross-stitch design as a "literary work." Register cross-stitch artwork displays as "visual arts work." If you have an instructional cross-stitch video, register that as an "audio-visual work."
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When prompted, pay the $35 registration fee.
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Submit an electronic copy of your work. If you hand-wrote your design, you can scan it and submit it as a .pdf file. The Copyright Office also accepts common file types like .doc and .jpg.
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Tips & Warnings
To save money on the registration fee, file multiple designs as a collection and only pay the fee once.
If you have any questions or concerns about registering your designs for copyright, contact an intellectual property attorney who specializes in copyrights.
