Originally Posted by
nhweaver
I think that there are 2 distinct questions that I have - and I am not a lawyer - but, I have always thought that a design has to formally copyrighted (and then has the right to use the copyright symbol) to dictate exclusive ownership. Is this Right?
No, the copyright protection is effective as soon as your 'idea' becomes tangible (written, photographed, blogged, etc). You do not have to register it, nor do you have to use the copyright symbol or make any statement that the item is copyright protected (though you can do both without registering if you choose to). You cannot, however, prosecute someone for copyright infringement unless you have registered that copyright, an easy and inexpensive procedure.
In other words, if someone duplicates your pattern directions word for word, they have violated your copyright, but you only have legal recourse if you registered it. The law was broken either way.