Knitted Daleks vs the BBC

The BBC hates it fans. It does. You can look at its creations, but never, never touch them. You're scum. That's not for the likes of you. Thinking of making a Cyberman jumper? They've got goons to duff you up for even thinking about it buster. Want to knit a cuddly Dalek to keep you warm at night? Best do it under the covers and never let on to your dirty little crime.

Do not, whatever you do, publish the knitting pattern on the internet because then you will be in hot water. For this is what has happened to Who fan Mazzmatazz who's creations like the rather cute Ood, pictured, were just too good to keep to herself. She wasn't grubbing round for money like some tedious, oily spiv - she was just freesharing the love, and doing it specifically under the Creative Commons licence.

Mazz was bullied by the corporation into taking her designs down but the fight is not over and, supported by the Open Rights Group, Mazz hopes that the killjoys will relent once they realise their error. That will only come about if the "public service" BBC come to understand that one enthusiast with a very strange hobby is not about to bring down the "brand" but is actually adding to its value.

The irony of the whole story is that Dr Who itself, and its ever more appalling epigones, plagiarises its storylines like nobody's business. Not a scene goes by without a rehash of some old show or a stolen plot line. But let's kick the knitting lady, she's pinching our market! She sees a show she loves, they see a big bucket of swill they can shove their fat snouts in to.

What's next - abolishing online scrabble?