Hi, Can someone please explain Copyright. I have purchased some designs from Etsy.com they say that I can use them on items for resale,but I have also seen the same designs, eg Mickey mouse, Frozen etc on other sites that say they are copyright. They designs are identical so how can one be OK to use and sell and the other (which is the same) be copyright. I'm confused.

This is a link to a post in another section of the Cute Community. You should read that post, and go to the link that crafter has given in her post. Disney is finally going after illegal Etsy sites and eBay sites selling their designs. Etsy sites are closing down suddenly, presumably by the site owners, before they get caught. Jrob has given you good information. The Brother D machine is the only one authorized to sew out Disney designs purchased legally, and the designs may never ever be used on items to be sold. Please protect yourself, because there are a great many illegal designs out there, and not just Disney. Figure it this way: if it's famous, on TV or movies or sports teams and the like, and your kids or grandkids want it like crazy, it's most likely copyright material and you'd better either purchase it legally and pay a high price for it, or take the consequences, which could mean even having your sewing machines confiscated and paying fines. Is it worth taking that chance? Up to you, but I sure never would. Kids can learn the meaning of the word "no", and why. It's good for them. Best of luck, Marji

I'm so sorry. They have not told you the truth. Ibroidery.com is the only place that is authorized to sell Disney Designs and you must put in the Brother machine that you own to purchase them.
This is a very rudimentary explanation, but a digitizer can take a line drawing and digitize it. That doesn't mean it is legal nor does it mean that it is well done. They may look identical, but once you become used to stitching really well digitized designs, there's no comparison.

Please read. Hope the link works.

Any designs from Disney are copyrighted and that means that only Disney can legally sell them. Anyone else selling Disney designs is doing so illegally. Should you own a Brother D embroidery machine you can sew the designs out as many times as you like BUT you are not permitted to sell anything with the design on. There was information very recently here about using illeagal designs and buying, copying etc. Interesting reading. Put copyright into google and see what comes up. Earlier this evening I was looking on ebay and saw a Disney design sewn out at the copyright logo was on the towel. It was obviously not sewn out by a authorised Disney source and the sewing was appalling too

I think all Disney designs are copyrighted. I would be careful on purchasing.