These links are to a series of two articles (so far) by InfoWorld columnist Ed Foster regarding the Embroidery Software Protection Coalition (ESPC) and their actions against EBay, embroidery design purchasers, and sellers who have violated trademark and copyright law.
In the first, dated Sept. 11, he describes some of the ESPC actions as an apparent "Shakedown Scheme", and takes issue with both their methods and their legal basis. But in reading this, remember that he is NOT a lawyer.