Intellectual property and selling for profit

[EssenceRose]

I was looking at the thread about the crochet bookmark. I thought it was gorgeous so I decided to make one for myself. As I was browsing a local online auction site for the crochet thread to make it with, I happened to come across somebody selling these exact bookmarks for profit. As far as I know, the profit is for personal use and not for any charity (at least it says nothing about charity anywhere in the auction).

I know that the person who has the pattern listed on her blog specifically asks that they are not sold for personal profit, and I think it's morally wrong that somebody would do that. Technically, the pattern is protected under intellectual property laws, isn't it?

I've left a comment to the person who owns the blog (and presumably the pattern) that gives them a link to the page where the person is selling them for profit. If it were me that owned the pattern, I'd be pretty annoyed if somebody did that. It's bound to happen, I guess - seeing as how it's posted on the internet. But still... I just think it's wrong.

I'm just venting, I guess... Things like that annoy me.

[larudden]

I run into this same thing alot with glass artists. Everyone uses the same techniques and tools but the important thing is to make it your own.

As for the bookmark in question, it sounds like the seller is "breaking the rules" but, I have to tell you, it happens all the time. Many people just don't care about the "morally wrong issue."

I always give credit where credit is due and I always email the originator of an "idea" for permission to use it for my stuff which, for the most part, is always a charitable thing. It's amazing how something as small as an email makes a big difference.

I would try to let go of the anger and annoyance over this because, chances are, you're going to run into this again and again and again. It's inevitable..................... You'll make yourself crazy.....................

It sucks, though, huh?