Fashion Wesites 'Stealing' Knitting Patterns?

[pippistrelle]

I'm currently knitting a cardigan using a Debbie Bliss pattern and some ruinously expensive Debbie Bliss yarn. I was surprised, therefore, in an advert in the sidebar of Mumsnet to recognise a copy of the exact same photograph that appears on my pattern. It linked to a website selling the cardigan for about £20. This is a mass produced in China fashion website and they appear to have a number of items which look very much like they're from hand knitting patterns, with photo-shopped colour options. How can this be? Have they basically nicked the patterns and are reproducing cheap acrylic knock-off machine-knitted versions?

Fashion WeBsites

Yes they do that. People pay money and websites disappear and nothing arrives....

That's awful. The photo appears to be following me round the internet. Some of the patterns they're stealing look really nice: I'd like to know where they're from.

Also wish, and the like, steal photos and then send a loose approximation of the picture, mass produced in shitty quality.