Copyright Aid

Hi, I am an artist, and I use patterned fabric instead of a canvas to bring my paintings to life. I try and incorporate the pattern into the fabric of clothing that my subject is wearing etc. Would I need to ask permission from the fabric designers?

Hi Briony,

If I understand you correctly, you use fabric which you have acquired to form an element of what sounds like part collage, part appliqué, in which the fabric is used to portray the clothing of figures in the picture.

If this is correct then you don't need permission because you aren't copying anything, merely using the fabric to make something, much as a dressmaker might make some clothing. However if your work involves copying the design of the fabric (maybe at a different scale) within your pictures, this might amount to using a substantial part of the fabric design, and so need would permission. That said I doubt if this would be a major problem.

Thank you! Much appreciated

Best wishes

Briony