OK, to summarize, a bit late perhaps:
1. A quilt pattern is NOT a registered trademark, brand name product or patented item and the laws concerning trademarks, brand names or patented inventions do not apply.
2. Copyright means that an individual is forbidden to reproduce the words and images that constitute the contents of the pattern, without express permission of the copyright holder. The copyright holder has no authority over the product that is the result of the buyer's execution of the pattern-maker's instructions.
3. Additional remarks by copyright holders limiting the use buyers may make of the finished results of the buyers' labors are abusive and have no legal standing.
4. It is polite and intellectually honest to quote the name or source of the pattern creator when known.
5. Actually making a quilt following someone's instructions is not plagiarism or stealing. The pattern-maker received the benefit of their work when they received monetary compensation as a result of selling their pattern.
6. If you don't want someone to apply your technique for their own intellectual or material benefit, don't teach it to them. An actual technique cannot be copyrighted in its own right; only the words and images used to convey the technique can be copyrighted.
I'm a bit late in the discussion, but this whole topic has been driving me crazy for weeks. The references to actual case law, government legislation websites and differences in national poliiey are enlightening and should dispel all the confusion, rumours and fear that seems to be surrounding this issue.