Can I teach my friends the class I took at 1 Stop?

Copyright Laws & You

You’re new to beading, and so excited about what you just learned at the local bead store. You want to teach your friends. Is it okay to do that?

The simplest answer - no.

Most stores/instructors won’t have a problem if you share your newfound knowledge with your best friend, mom, or daughter. But recently I had one of my students tell me that she
was going to teach one of my classes to her entire staff at work as part of a staff bonding/morale thing. It was then that I realized that with so many new beaders taking classes at 1 Stop,
some of them may be breaking copy- right law without realizing it. So, here’s the basic skinny to help guide your decisions.

1.A stitch or wire bend/coil is NOT copyright protected - they are in the public domain and have been used for centuries.

2.ALL written directions ARE copyright protected. It is NEVER okay to copy (by hand or on a machine) or teach from someone else’s directions unless you have their permission.

3.How the stitch/wire/etc. is put to-gether is a DESIGN and designs ARE copyright protected. It is not okay to teach someone’s design without their permission.

4.Classes taken at the local bead store support the salaries of the staff and the instructor. When you teach classes that you learned at the local bead store, you are taking money out of someone’s pocket that earns their living this way. Bottom line, when in doubt, ask the store or instructor. They will appreciate your concern for their welfare.