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Mother Earth and Her Children
Copyright Responsibility
Mother Earth and Her Children, Sieglinde Schoen Smith's best-of-show quilt, was the center of attention at the 2006 International Quilt Festival/Houston. Read more about Sieglinde and her quilt in the interview that appears in the November 2007 issue of QN. If the November 2007 issue is no longer available in your local quilt shop, order a copy online at www.VillageQuiltShoppe.com.
Sieglinde Schoen Smith decided to reproduce the whimsical illustrations from her favorite childhood book on a quilt, never imagining the quilt would earn such acclaim. When Breckling Press approached her about publishing an English translation of the 100-year-old German tale, using close-up photos of her quilt as the illustrations, she was overjoyed.
But what about copyrights? Did they have the legal right to publish such a book?
Written and illustrated by Sybille von Olfers, the original book was published in 1906. "At the time of Sybille's death in 1916, German law stated that copyrights were good for 70 years beyond the passing of the author," explains Anne Knudsen of Breckling Press. "The copyright expired in 1986." Anne goes on to explain that the new edition carries three 2007 copyrights in the U.S. The first belongs to Jack Zipes for translation of the original German text into English rhyming verse. The second belongs to Sieglinde for her rendering in cloth and thread the story's illustrations. The third belongs to Breckling Press for its original book design––the unique combination of typesetting and layout used to present the words and illustrations.
In the U.S., the same guideline regarding the life of a copyright applies: copyrights are good for the duration of the originator's life plus 70 years. However, Sieglinde and Breckling Press were careful to check that the German laws and the U.S. laws were in sync. "Some countries have different rules about whether or not heirs of the author can file paperwork to have the copyright extended," Anne says. And, according to the U.S. Copyright Office's website, "There is no such thing as 'international copyright' that will automatically protect an author's writings throughout the entire world. Protection against unauthorized use in a particular country depends, basically, on the national laws of that country."
As with copyright law regarding quilt designs and patterns, it's best to read up, ask lots of questions, seek legal counsel, and proceed carefully, as did the team that brought us this new, gorgeous edition of Mother Earth and Her Children: A Quilted Fairy Tale.
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