I am one who tries to take the time to understand all sides before passing judgement. There are a couple of observations I have seen here that I believe are worth mentioning:
1. Designers, magazines, and book publishers don't make the copyright laws. If you don't like the laws, work to change them, rather than blame others for them (who also must abide by them, btw).
2. Loosely paraphrased here, repeatedly it has been mentioned that "if designers/magazines/books don't want people to use their patterns . . . ". Who says they don't? Of course they do. Their desire to share patterns doesn't contradict with the law stating they have ownership of their designs and are to be given due credit.
3. The consumer does share in the responsibility of knowing ones legal rights and responsibilities. Even if they don't like what the law states.
Seems to me like a lot of folks are barking up the wrong tree.