Difference between revisions of "Information about recast BJDs"

Revision as of 12:37, 20 November 2016

What is a recast?

A recast is a copy of a doll (or doll part) made from moulds of existing dolls. When done without the express permission of the original artist or company, this is a violation of the original artist's or company's exclusive right to control the reproduction of their own intellectual property. These recasts are a violation of the artist's or company's exclusive rights whether they are made for personal use or for sale.

What does it mean to be ___?

• Recast: An unauthorized copy of a doll or doll part made from an existing part without the express permission of the original artist or company. This is a violation of the artist's or company's exclusive right to control the reproduction of their own intellectual property. Synonyms: counterfeit, bootleg.

• Legitimate: An original doll or doll part made and approved by the original artist or company. Synonym: legit.

• Recast Friendly: A stance that is for recasts or actively looks for and purchases recasts. Synonym: Pro-recast.

• Recast Neutral: A stance that accepts recasts without openly supporting them. In practice, it is similar to being recast friendly.

• Pro-Artist: A stance that is against recasts. Supports the original artist or company by purchasing a doll directly through them, their approved vendors, or through research on the second hand market. Synonym: Anti-recast.

How to Spot a Recast

Ebay, Facebook, Tumblr and other sites are filled with recasts. Some people label them as recasts, but others do not – they may just not think about it, or they may try to purposefully lie and say that their recast doll is legit.

Here are some things that may be an indication of a recast doll. Most recasts, especially newer ones, will not have every one of these traits.

Color: A doll may be a recast if it is offered in a color that is unavailable from the original company. For example, if the original company only sold dolls in white or normal skin, then blue or purple dolls may be recasts. If a used legit doll has been dyed, this will usually be noted in the description, and there is usually some unevenness to the coloring.

Markings: Some dolls have stamps or engraving on the inside of the head or headcap, or right/left indications inside arms and legs. Legit dolls' markings are usually deeper and cleaner. Markings inside a recast doll may be missing or look faint.

Connectors: Recasts may have resin hooks or metal s-hooks where the legit company usually uses magnetic parts, for example in hands or feet.

Price: Recasts are often – but not always – much cheaper than legit dolls.

Seller: Only official dealers have the authority to sell a company's doll as a 'new' item. Research sellers to make sure they are official dealers for the dolls they sell. If you are buying a used doll, ask if the seller has feedback on DoA or another site.

Rarity: If a doll has been sold out for years on a company website, be wary about buying from a seller that has ‘new’ dolls in stock or available to order, especially if the price is too good to be true.

Quality: Most recent recasts are of average quality. However, the quality of older recast dolls may be noticeably lower than legit dolls, with rough edges, large seams and extra resin in abnormal areas. In a few instances where a legit company was having trouble with quality control, a recast may be better quality than the original, but this is rare.

Shrinkage: The process of recasting can result in dolls that are smaller than the original. If a doll is significantly smaller than a known legit version, it could be a recast. This issue is less frequent on newer recasts.

Channels: Sometimes the channels for elastic inside doll parts may be smaller or larger than those on a legit doll, or have extra resin inside, or noticeable seams inside the parts. This issue is less frequent on newer recasts.

Headplates: Some companies attach plates on the back of dolls’ heads to mark that they are legit. Recasts may be missing the headplates, but be aware that headplates can be copied. A replicated headplate may be made of a different material, be a slightly different color, shape, or size, and any text may look blurry or fuzzy. If there is a serial number, it might be random or might be the number for a different doll. However, some do have the correct number and appear similar to an authentic one.

Note that many dolls – especially older ones – do not have headplates. Sometimes headplates come unglued and fall off, so if you are buying a used doll with a missing headplate, check for other clues to determine whether it is legit.

Certificates of authenticity: If a doll is sold as new without a certificate of authenticity, it may be a recast. Older dolls may not have come with CoAs, but most newer ones do. However, CoAs may be copied. Some recasters do a good job of copying CoAs, but here are some things to look for when comparing an unknown CoA with a legit one: • lower quality with blurry text or incorrect colors • the wrong font for stamped serial numbers or dates • paper that is too thick or too thin • serial numbers that are random or for the wrong doll

Identifying recasts on Ebay

Here are some things to look out for on Ebay listings:

Generic listing titles: Some Ebay recast sellers use generic listing titles like '1/3 BJD SD head' and never say anything about the company or sculpt name.

Long title using multiple company/sculpt names: Some recast sellers mix up multiple companies' proprietary names and sizes in their listing titles, like '1/3 SD Uncle’. Some use multiple company or sculpt names in the same title 'Volks DOD Soom,' or 'SD fairyland littlefee reni mio shue soom.'

No official dealership: Some recast sellers offer a wide range of sculpts from a wide variety of companies, many of which do not have official dealers. Official dealers (such as Doll'sSinging/jeeryama) will mention it in their listings.

Doll doesn't come like the photo: Some recast sellers show photos stolen from company websites to advertise their recasts. They will frequently offer 'free faceup+eyes,' but the faceup will not look like the photo. They may even say something like 'the faceup will only be 75% similar to the photo.' The wig/outfit/shoes shown in the photo are normally not available either; recasts are sold without clothes.

What BJD makers say about recasts

Click the company name to read their statement.

• Batchix Dolls

  1. I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said. It's disheartening and it's frustrating and depressing. I've actually backed off on doll making to concentrate on my day job. It takes so much work and time and money to develop and produce a doll. People whine on about how they don't recast artist dolls, but it's evident they do if they get popular enough. To think that if I make a doll that appeals to a larger audience than my current one would open me up to people ripping me off makes the whole process feel completely pointless. I like to share my work with other people and I try to make sure to keep my costs down so I can sell at a reasonable price. It seems pointless to keep creating if I can't share it for fear someone will decide to recast my work.

     I can't imagine how desperate and helpless the artists who have been ripped off must feel. How do you come back from something like that emotionally? How do you come back from something like that financially? Especially knowing how little is left over after the cost of production.

• Depths Dolls

  1. I'm afraid of being recasted one day, it's always in my mind. So I have to think about protecting my creations all the time. Basically, the recasting for me it's more stress and more expenses >_<

• Dollmore

  1. Dear Dollmore customers and guests~

     WWW.DOLLMORE.NET is an official Dollmore website in English for Dollmore brand ball jointed dolls and related accessories.

     It has been brought to our attention that there are recasts or imitations of the Dollmore brand already on the market or currently in the works.

     Please note that as an Official seller, We are selling based on Dollmore's integrity and patent, supporting the preservation of Dollmore product.

     If you purchase your Dollmore BJDs directly from Dollmore site or Ebay(ID: lemonday) or Fabric Friends & Dolls, we wholly guarantee the authenticity of the product(s) you will be receiving.

• Dreamhigh Studio

  1. As a Doll artist, I know that recaster are our worst enemies.

     Let me talk about designing, doll sculpting, concept building of a characters we originally made. This is a very long process that may take MONTHS of hard work.

     While recaster only need 1 day to make silicone molds and 15 minutes to cast 1 doll.

     If recaster keep doing this, BJD art itself will extinct. Imagine that one day BJD is not a form of art anymore but just another mass produced toys.

     The soul, passion, and artists works deserves appreciation. Fighting recaster is the best way to supports artists.

• FairyLand

  1. We regret having to notify our customers with grim news.

     Recently, we have been informed by number of our customers about possible sales of illegally recasted FairyLand dolls on some dubious websites. We now confirm that this is indeed true and further to this, our shopping mall photographs and brand name have been used for promotion of these dolls without our consent.

     We believe that "FairyLand dolls" sold on this particular website were indeed illegal recast dolls. Further, a particular website has automatically blocked all accesses being made from Korean IP which delayed our acknowledgement of the issue but we were able to get around it thanks to friendly help of those who have reported the case to us. There are now several of these websites that are selling unauthorised and illegal recast of FairyLand dolls. We won't be disclosing website addresses of these shopping malls in question not to encourage their promotion. However, we would like to take this opportunity to well inform and warn our customers regarding the issue.

     Whilst we will be trying our best to prevent sales of illegally recasted dolls, we ask potential customers, seeking to buy FairyLand dolls to be extra cautious as these website will be selling not only recasted dolls but also be using our name and photographs. Our shopping mall photographs are exclusive copyright properties of FairyLand which cannot be reproduced or published for financial gain other than those authorised by FairyLand which includes our authorised FairyLand dealers and few other exceptional cases mostly for non-profit charity causes.

     Use of our official photographs to gain profits, especially to sell illegal recasted dolls may cause misunderstanding and we believe the particular act should be heavily criticised for deliberately misleading customers and we will do all in our power to put an end to this.

     Please note that other than our shopping mall website and list of our authorised dealers listed at our website, we do not provide any FairyLand products including dolls and services for re-sale. Further, we do not offer product under a category of 'Second graded/quality dolls' for sale behind the curtain or administer them for companies believed to be selling illegal recasted dolls. All products including returned and cancelled orders that does not meet the quality check are simply discarded. Most importantly, FairyLand cannot be held responsible for any financial loss or trouble from customers purchasing illegally recasted dolls and kindly ask our customers to be extra cautious. The most effective method is to be on guard at all times and we urge you again to be cautious. List of our authorised dealers can be always found at our shopping mall website (http://dollfairyland.com/infodesk/banner.php?number=53).

     If you have any questions regarding the issue, please do not hesitate to contact us via c/s board. Thank you.

• FreakStyleBJD

  1. This is a pretty crowded market. It’s hard enough to ‘make it’; unless you’re a big name, most of the time you’ll only sell up to 20 copies of your doll. The last thing we need is unfair competition of a recast. Recasting is stealing. It’s waiting to see what doll is popular, spend two days making a mold and then casting it. No wonder they sell for so much less than the original: 2 days of work vs. 8 months to 2 years.

     My company is very small due to issues in my personal life. Luckily, I’ve never had to deal with recasters myself, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t affect me. The threat is there. What should be a good thing: One of my sculpts becoming popular, so that I’m able to make enough money to get by, has become a threat. I know that when a sculpt gets popular, it will be recasted. Could I survive that, financially? I’m not sure.

     It is one of the reasons why I changed my business format. I only make OOAK’s, and sculptures anymore. They are less likely to get copied.

     Recasting has affected our community in other, more indirect, ways too. Everything has to be cheaper. People have told me that my dolls are too expensive, so could I please make a custom one for them for 100 dollars. Others say that I’m a thief, because Recasting Company A is selling dolls for much less. Recasts are being used to compare prices, and thus create a falls sense of value.

     Recasters are a threat, not only to the artists, but to the community as a whole.

• Iplehouse

  1. Today we want to ask you a favor.

     Recently we received information from some of our clients that fake Iplehouse doll is being distributed in the market. Real Iplehouse dolls are only sold on Iplehouse site. So please be aware of this and do not buy Iplehouse dolls from other sites.

     Especially please don’t buy recast dolls. If you find some sites which sells our dolls cheaper than our site, you can assume that it is a fake.

     If you continue to buy these bootleg dolls, it will affect our creativity and eventually it will affect our company fundamentally.

     A lot of doll manufacturing companies are facing hard time because of these illegal products. And Iplehouse is not an exception.

     Iplehouse is organized by few artistes. Most of our staffs engage in creative work and we appreciate our clients love for our dolls. We give careful attention to our client’s need. Also from the planning stage to the end we try our best to make an adorable doll which will be loved by our customers. All of our dolls are made of our effort, toil and passion. Please don’t fill criminal’s pocket with money by buying fake products.

     We need your support and help to keep on developing new dolls. Developing a new doll consumes a lot of time and money. Please understand this and once again we sincerely ask you not to purchase those illegal products.

     And please prevent other friends around from purchasing bootleg items. We are planning to conduct a campaign against illegal items. Please join us with this campaign.

     We need your love and support. Please give us strength.

     Thank you for your time and support.

     We will do our utmost to develop new products and design to give satisfaction and joy to our clients.

     Iplehouse will make your dreams come true.

• K-doll

  1. We have heard that there is a site selling dolls of K-doll.

     the dolls of K-doll are sold officially in k-doll.com only.

     (the heads up to 2009 were completely discontinued saling.)

     Please be careful If you choose any other site to buy, you could get pirated doll or can’t get anything because it would be a phishing site.

     I would appreciate if you contact [email protected] when you discover a suspicious site.

• Light Limner

  1. I think it's thievery.

     Recasting is steal doll maker's idea, work.

     If the illegal recasting is going on, small bjd companies are gonna be closed eventually.

     And most of companies are really small.

• LUTS

  1. Thank you for loving our dolls always. Today we make announcement about sale of recast dolls and products. Recently, we discovered some Chinese and Thailand sellers sell our recast dolls using our logos and official photos.

     We are afraid that innocent customers who buy dolls from them would receive fake dolls.

     They may receive bad quality dolls and products because they believed our name and logo. Also it is impossible to offer A/S or further event support about the recast doll buyers.

     We do not want to see more victims.

• Maskcatdoll

  1. I think recasting is utilitarian.Only steal the creatures from the artists without soul.And just selling it because nobody can really ensures the copyright of the artists.

     Also i think recasting doll is easy to misdirect some new people in the BJD hobby,to makes them building up a wrong values about BJDs.

     I understand why there're so many recasting doll around the world but also i really hate it.

     That's killing BJDs in some ways.

• SOOM

  1. Hello SOOM lovers, we always thank you very much for your interest in and loving our BJDs. <p>There are tons of SOOM BJD reproductions / recasts manufactured and distributed by illegal market channels and recently, a number of these illegal activities are getting higher than ever. This is indeed black marketing that jeopardizes the whole BJD industry including SOOM. <p> • Please do not use online stores selling the illegal reproductions / recasts
     • The illegal online stores close their sites once you make payments or deliver dolls other than what you expect, not original SOOM BJD(s)
     • Please cancel your order(s) / request refund immediately once you have ordered
     • Please check our regular prices. If prices are much cheaper than our regular ones, it is suspicious and can be fraud
     • Original SOOM BJDs are available only at our online store www.dollsoom.com and Vodaless Japan
     • We do not guarantee the warranty and do not provide customer care service for SOOM BJD(s) from other online stores

     
     

     How to authorize your SOOM BJD 1. Go to our web site and click on
     2. Your BJD will be authorized if all the information is correspondent with Purchaser, Date of Purchase, and your BJD
     3. Must check the serial number and warranty first when you purchase used SOOM BJD