Being inspired by others

I think the best way to approach this is not from a BJD perspective, but from an art perspective. If someone's made something that then inspires you to make a derivative work, or something noticeably similar, then it seems like it would just be common courtesy (and perhaps a nod to the massive grey area that is copyright ownership and intellectual property) to make sure that you state clearly where your inspiration came from, and direct people to where they can view the original artist's work. At least, that's what I'd do- and what I'd hope that people would do if they borrowed something off me (not likely, but hey.)

You should also be prepared for the fact that there will be about a million opinions on whether or not that is enough, or acceptable or what-have-you, and in that case, I'd say that so long as you aren't trying to pass off someone else's work as your own (and it doesn't sound like you'd be doing that) then I don't think it's necessarily wrong to just point people towards what inspired you as a nod to the originator. I think I'm just trying to warn you that there might be some flack anyway.

To wrap up my rambling, I'd say, don't sell anything that you've made based on someone else's design- whether the original artist is selling pieces or not, as that's a whole separate issue- it's not worth the headache, and I think it's probably not okay to be honest. Don't talk sales, don't make sales, and maybe don't even trade stuff like that. If you just want to share pictures of your work though, it's probably fine.

Right- I hope that's been even marginally helpful!

 

The rule of thumb that I follow is how much of it did I create on my own. If I looked at a picture but made the pattern and sewed it all myself then I feel its ok to show it off as your own work...now if you used a pattern then you should reference your work

 

I think the only time you need to worry about that is if you're trying to copy something exactly. If you're simply inspired by other things and want to create something with a similar feeling or look, that's just part of the creative process!

 

I think that everything humanity has ever created on this earth has been inspired by or built on something that came before it. As long as what you make is not an outright copy intended for sale, then I would not fret about it or allow others to bully you into withdrawing your work from public view or the marketplace. Who can honestly prove that they had the idea for something first? That borders on conceit to me. If you do make a copy of something solely for your personal enjoyment and want to share a photo of it, then I think it would be a nice gesture to mention who / what inspired you. Credit where credit is due.

 

I agree with all of the above, but particularly with Gothico.

I'm an artist and am sensitive to copyrights, but I also know that we are all visual people and are always influenced by what we see. Being inspired by others is a wonderful thing! And it's pretty much unavoidable. If someone claims they are not influenced or inspired by anyone else, then they must live in a dark cave somewhere and have never seen anything else! Or heard anything else. Or felt anything else!!!

If you are drawing a LOT from someone else's work that is very recognizable (like maybe a DollHeart Fer--which IS derivative, in itself, but also has a distinct look, or a specific t-shirt design)--that is different from just making a similar design on a t-shirt or a dress that has tons of frills on the skirt. If something obviously looks like a Fer or like a certain logo, then it might be nice to say, "this was influenced by DollHeart's Fer" ... mostly because a ton of others will be thinking that anyway and you might as well acknowledge it! But it's not necessary.

Taking apart a Fer and re-creating it exactly--THAT is not being INSPIRED, That is COPYING. There is a difference. If you change things, that is inspired but not copying. And this has nothing to do with copyright laws, since that doesn't apply to fashion, but just because it isn't illegal, doesn't make it right to do, I think. People who do not try and at least put a little of their own creativity into something make me a little sad, because anyone can, even if they don't think they are creative. Just a little effort and they can be inspired by something and make it different. It doesn't have to be a big change. Maybe raise the waistline or put sleeves on, or make sleeveless. How hard is that? I think copying exactly is just laziness. But, oh, well. People can be lazy. They can also do worse things...

 

My inspiration comes from all sorts of sources, including things others have made. What I usually do though is take the "spirit" of their creation & make my own design. The only time I copy something exactly is when I'm going from human clothes to doll ones. And even then it's not exact as the same techniques don't apply. I can't even seem to follow patterns exactly, always something feels like it needs changed.

That said, I agree with what everyone else has said, if it's a copy with even a minor change then credit should be given to the originator. But I don't agree that you shouldn't sell or trade such items. As long as credit is given where credit is due, then I would take that as a form of flattery (ie: that someone liked something I did so much that they wanted their own & I hate to do multiples) rather than a rip off.

Also there are often what I call "floating ideas." Like for a while everyone will be doing Alice things then pirate things become popular & let's face it, there are only so many ways one can interpret those ideas so some overlap is almost inevitable. And no one really owns the rights to those as they've been in public domain for so long. So unless you're copying someone else's exact design & even then it can be hard to tell who came up with the idea first (a friend & I ended up doing almost exactly the same thing for a competition & neither of us had talked about it beforehand), so, a "floating idea." There's often a very thin line between outright copying & being simply inspired by another's idea.