new to woodworking

**quaya** · 07-10-2002, 07:22 AM

Hey Everyone! To me this is wonderful to find a womens woodworking forum... I am brand new to woodworking but it has been an itching desire for a long time. I have tools from the stone age and it takes me twice as long to complete a project. I have not done many..a doll cradle for my friends little girl, a raft, 2 small shelves in my kitchen window for plants (that was my very first project..what a mess!) I want to build some bird houses and feeders to go with my pond I am making in my yard. My dream is to build a gazebo..I have wanted one all my life. Question..I have some old woodworking magazines early 60's that have some wonderful plans in them. I want to share them with others..FOR FREE..Is it legal to put them on the web for you to see? It's from a magazine and they were someones plans..I don't know and would appreciate any comments. If it's legal, I would love to upload these "projects" to you here..Thankyou for this web page and I am looking forward to visiting daily..Quaya

**JohnP** · 07-10-2002, 12:59 PM

Quaya welcome;
The quick answer is that the plans are probably covered under a general copyright of the magazine they appear in. Somewhere in the magazine is the editors page with the info on the publisher, the copyright is probably stated there. To be truly legal you need to contact the publications (if they are still in business)for a copyright release.
Hope this helps.
JohnP

**handi** · 07-10-2002, 02:48 PM

Quaya,

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of woodworking!

The plans from the past are often wonderful, I have some older magazines too

John's answer is pretty much right on the money. If the magazine in question is no longer in business, it might be ok, but even then the rights might be owned by someone yet.

If you can't contact anyone who has the ability to give permission, I'd err on the side of caution and not reproduce them online. As a woodworking author I can well appreciate the need for enforcing copyright law

Hope this helps,

Ralph

**barbsiddiqui** · 07-11-2002, 11:48 AM

hello, Quaya- Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you are 'hooked!' I'd suggest sharing pictures with us of your projects, and crediting the magazine plans, even though old. There are ways of getting hold of old magazines, usually, and sometimes just seeing the photos can launch an intrepid woodworker off on trying to design/build something without a plan! I do many projects from ideas off magazine plans, and always try to credit the builder/publisher when I display them for anyone to see. It seems only fair, and it wasn't my original idea, after all. I hope to see your work here...we learn from everything all the others do, so jump on in! -Barb Siddiqui