Ok, lets think about this for a moment. Garmin (or any entity) can't claim copyright over something that doesn't belong to them. They didn't write the patcher, and posting the patcher isn't posting ANY Garmin material. Posting any Garmin map (modified via patching) is not allow because the map posted is originally own by them (that is why this forum conformed to that request.) But posting a tool to do something should not violates any law governing what you use the tool to do. It's like saying you can't post a wrench because it can open a bolt on a Toyota because Toyota own the car with that bolt. Utter rubbish.
Garmin (or any entity) has the right to protect their work. However, they do NOT have the right to force everything their way to protect it. The tool isn't modifying their work, the person using that tool is. So Garmin can try to enforce their copyright on the people using the tool not the person giving the tool. That is the "lawfully" way to do it..
Still don't understand? If you follow the way Garmin wants (and think) then you can't provide any answer/solution to any of their "defective" products because you are not allow to "modified" from it's original problematic state. Which means a Garmin forum group would really consisting of only announcement of their products (assuming that they don't own the copyright on that) which makes your forum a Garmin advertising site. Garmin should focus on fixing problem with their updater and less concern with people trying to unlock maps. Their commercial products are dying. Perhaps they should change the way they sell their products (always with lifetime map so not to worry about people "stealing" it)