I totally understand the confusion there. If one person has a design and it's made by using all templates, but someone else sees it at a show or something and recreates it using a rotary cutter and no templates does it infringe because a different technique is used?? Also, how do we know when a pattern is public domain. 4-patch, 9 patch, log cabin, courthouse steps, trip around the world. Some of these patterns have been around forever, but how do we know when the copyright is up?? Is there a list somewhere??
I know I have just raised more questions and have no answers...I know I'm thinking out loud too!!