i'm just saying
I know it's the prerogative of the creator of the copyrighted thing, but I would hope that knitbloggers--including designers--are all considerate of each other about sharing. I mean, a whole lot of blogging about knitting involves sharing pictures of things we want to make. And a whole lot of online pattern selling business probably comes from this blog-driven traffic and sharing. If we can't show pics of patterns, all this inspiration (and commerce) gets a bit impossible.
I'm the coauthor of a pretty successful business book, and about once a month or once a quarter I deal with people posting large chunks of my book, including entire chapters, on their website.
It can feel strange when that happens, but I always think 2 things. 1) If you have a product out in the world, and on the Internet, hey it's gonna happen. It means people are using my book (woo hoo!), and it can be easily remedied. 2) I think about what the person is trying to achieve. My book helps nonprofits raise money. If a person is trying to help nonprofits by sharing my book (but it's clear they're not trying to make money for themselves or pass my book off as their own work), then M or I will contact them and ask them to do 2 things. We ask them to cut way down on the amount of content they quote (if it's a whole chapter), or ask them to link to the free chapter on our website, and we ask them to put very visible links to our grant writing website at the top and bottom of all pages.
Now, before y'all flame me, I don't send out or copy or post copyrighted patterns. I do plenty that's wrong in this life, but not that.
Howevr, from my perspective as an author I do want to sell sell sell the book. I don't see any point in getting upset and banning people from the pool party.
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