Copyright laws are enacted to protect the original creator's rights to benefit economically from their work, and to receive due recognition for their creativity. The law states that another may not infringe on their right to PUBLISH the work. Many times you will see the phrase that the item (a pattern) can be photocopied, enlarged, modified, etc. for the purchaser's own use, but not multiplied with the intention of sharing it with the entire group of quilters, or subscribers to your website, etc. Sometimes it is techniques that are subject to copyright or patent.