A reader asks

I have been selling on eBay for six years now. I have a couple simply questions. What's the big stink on DM blog about who was first at what? Or better yet, what constitutes copying? I have seen many designers over the years claim TM rights to designs that were made from mass produced, retail patterns. They go as far to tisk-tisk others who might "draw inspiration" from "their designs". So what's it going to be? A free democracy based eBay boutique world, or a I saw it first, it's my sandbox, so get lost dictatorship?