Illegal embroidery designs are sold via email or cd, one needs to be careful when buying to ensure one is not purchasing illegal designs.

• Copyright laws make it illegal to sell pirated/copied goods. Illegal to sell copies, also illegal  to give away copies. Buying illegal; copied - pirated designs/cds deprives designers/copyright owners of an income.

Does the embroidery cd have the original/proper paperwork? Is it an original cd or is it a blank disk which contains designs someone has illegally copied? Copyright owners/designers seldom allow others to sell their designs via email (emailing the designs instead of the designs being on a cd). Because a listing contains a picture(s), it does not necessarily mean one is purchasing a legal product.

• Does the listing/description provide sufficient information, or is it  vague and you do not really know what you buying. No information in regard to the title or the name of the product/cd. The designer/copyright owner's name is not provided. Is the picture(s) of the actual item you are buying.
  

• Description states you are getting a compilation of designs - information is vague - are you getting a mixature of designs from various copyright owners/designers? - if so are those various copyright owners/designers mentioned - is it a legal product? Did the copyright owners/designers produce that cd or has the seller  illegally made the 'compilation' themself without permission from the copyright owners/designers?
  

When buying designs, is the seller a registered business, will they provide one with a proper receipt, do they provide and state their ABN (Australian Business Number)?

If a used embroidery cd is being sold, is it a legal product or is it a copy which then makes it an illegal item.

When illegal designs are being sold the sellers usually will not admit they are selling illegal designs - if in doubt best not to purchase. Copyright owners/designers get upset when illegal copies of their designs are sold.

If in doubt one could contact the copyright owners/designers and check with them if a particular seller and/or business is authorised to sell their designs.

Have a lovely day - sunflowercastle