This is such a sticky situation. Is it then illegal for us to have a sewing room "sale" at a quilt guild meeting to offer patterns we no longer use? And, if it's illegal to copy an idea, what about Pinterest? I totally understand not to purchase a pattern, make copies and then sell them as my own and for my own gain but beyond that, it seems it gets to be interpretation of the law. If I'm going to copy the pattern and charge or distribute that, I understand it is illegal. But, if I'm going to use the pattern to make a personal project, is that a problem? Seems, if it's in a magazine, it's already pretty much available for anyone to use. Who owns the copyright in that instance--the designer or the magazine?