I agree Patrice, that is a wonderful article - and not TOO confusing either! I vaguely remember reading it in QNM, but I'm glad to have the refresher.
The Southern Calif. Council of Quilt Guilds had a program on this a few years back, when Kelly Gallagher-Abbott was our President. After getting to actually meet someone who makes their living from their quilt patterns, it made me think twice about copying someone's pattern. In my guild, if we have an "in-house" workshop using a commercial pattern, we require the attending members to buy their own pattern. And I found out when I taught one (Pagodas, by Debbie Bowles), if you ask, you usually can get a discount!
sue