Oy vey.

I just searched Etsy for "diaper wipes case" and "diaper wipes pouch" and found *13* people using my diaper/wipes case pattern... you know, the one that very explicitly says that items are not to be made from it for resale, it's copyright, etc. etc. etc.

Argh.

I wrote them all a very kind note:

Hi! Just a request that if you're using the pattern at http://crafts.sleepingbaby.net/dipecase.html (or had purchased the pattern from an unauthorized seller elsewhere -- a couple of people were apparently selling illegal copies of the pattern from my website, which I never allow), please include a link back to the free pattern so that others can sew their own.

The pattern is copyrighted; you can see the details of the copyright by clicking on the "some rights reserved" graphic at the upper left of that page (or here: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/) which does state that it is not to be used for items to sell. I don't mind if people sell them if they've made substantive changes to the pattern (the flap is a great place to make changes), but it does bother me when I've explicitly stated that the patterns are for home use and people sell them anyway. I'm sure you understand :)

If this was done in error or you had copied the pattern from another Etsy seller, I understand; it's just that the pattern very explicitly states it and items made from it are not to be resold, and if people do it anyway, it really undermines the whole point of my free directions :) I would appreciate it if you would make the necessary changes to your finished item; it's the curvature on the sides of the flap that usually clue me in to the pattern's provenance. If you search for "diaper wipes case" on Etsy, you'll see that there are at least 8 other sellers using exactly the same pattern, and I'm sure you'll agree that's not good for anyone's business.

Regards,
Jan (sleepingbaby.net)

I don't have a lot of faith that it will do any good, but I can try, I suppose. I just don't get why people think this is okay :( If I wanted people to sell things from my patterns, I'd license them and make a dollar or two from every one they sold. I don't (because I want the patterns to be free, if not free-to-sell), and I wish people would just respect that :(