Copyright for Crafters

1. You Made It — But Do You Own It?
If you make things and sell them, you've probably wondered — do I actually own this? Turns out, copyright kicks in the moment you create something original. No paperwork, no fees, no © symbol required. But there's a big difference between owning the thing you made and owning the design. This is the first post in a series breaking down copyright questions every crafter runs into — in plain talk, not lawyer-speak Read more...
2. I Bought the Die — Can I Sell What I Make With It?
You bought the die. You paid for the stamp. You downloaded the SVG. So you can sell whatever you make with it, right? Not so fast. Buying the tool and buying the right to sell what you make with it are two different things — and the answer is almost always hiding in the license. This post breaks down personal use, commercial use, angel policies, and the fine print every crafter should read before listing anything for sale. Read more...
3. The “Change It 10% and You’re Fine” Myth
Just change it 10% and it's yours." You've heard it in crafting groups, in comment sections, maybe even from a friend. The problem? This rule doesn't exist — not in copyright law, not in any court ruling, not anywhere. What courts actually look at is whether an ordinary person would recognize one work came from the other. That's it. No percentages, no magic number. This post breaks down what "substantial similarity" really means and how to tell the difference between genuine inspiration and copying with extra steps. Read more...
4. Fair Use — It Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means
"It's fair use!" might be the most confidently wrong thing said in crafting groups. Fair use is a real legal concept — but it's a courtroom defense, not a permission slip. It was designed to protect things like education, commentary, and parody, not selling handmade items that use someone else's designs. This post walks through the four factors courts actually look at and why they almost always point the wrong direction for crafters who are selling. Read more...
5. Fonts, Free Images, and the “Free to Use” Trap
You found the perfect font on a free site. You grabbed some clipart that was just sitting there. You downloaded a stock photo. All free — all fair game, right? Not so fast. "Free" almost never means "free to do whatever you want." It usually means free for personal use, and the moment you put it on something you sell, you've crossed a line you didn't know was there. This post breaks down the traps hiding in free fonts, free images, and free clipart — and where to find stuff... Read more...
6. Someone Copied My Work — Now What?
COPYRIGHT FOR CRAFTERS — POST 6 6.  Someone Copied My Work — Now What? What to do (and what not to do) when you find your designs showing up where they shouldn't. By Penny | April 23, 2026 | 8 min read Previous: Fonts, Free Images, and the "Free to Use" Trap   Picture this: you're scrolling through a marketplace — maybe Etsy, maybe a Facebook craft group — and something catches your eye. The layout looks familiar. The colors, the composition, the style. And then it hits you. That's... Read more...
7. AI and Copyright — What Crafters Need to Know
AI is everywhere right now — in our phones, our apps, and increasingly in our craft rooms. Whether you've used AI tools to generate images or you've never touched the stuff, the copyright rules around it affect every crafter. Right now, purely AI-generated work can't be copyrighted — but if you use AI as one tool in a larger creative process and add significant human creativity, your contributions can be protected. This post breaks down what the Copyright Office has said, what the courts have ruled, and what it all... Read more...
8. The Copyright Checklist Every Crafter Needs
You've covered a lot of ground — copyright basics, licensing, the 10% myth, fair use, font traps, what to do when someone copies you, and how AI fits into all of it. That's a lot to hold in your head. So this final post boils the entire series down into one practical checklist you can keep handy — a cheat sheet for every question you'll run into as a crafter who sells. Check the license. Check the angel policy. Protect your own work. And when in doubt, read the fine... Read more...