Sometimes the icky feeling of finding a copy starts with just a little crumb of discomfort, like seeing a how-to of one of your favorite maker's wares. Except there's a style difference and everything seems innocent enough, the author is straightforward and somewhat apologetic about the whole approach.
But it seems like if the creator doesn't actively pursue branding and ownership of a unique style, it ultimately becomes something of a trend popping up elsewhere.
How much branding should the maker do to protect themselves? Is it fair to expect a lengthy amount of time to be invested in creative ownership of design?
