Character dolls and copying

I don't see how it would a drama-fest for having the same sculpt being the same character.
Everybody has different tastes and different interpretations of that character. So even if it's the same sculpt/same character, all the dolls are going to look different from each other in some way.

 

I have mixed feelings about it. I know that I have no right to stop anyone if they copied my dolls exactly (and I hate to admit but I'd still be miffed) but I know that I keep them in character and I have gone as far as doing character analysis and figuring out their MBTI types and etc because they are complex. I also know a lot about kitsuke and I work really hard to make their clothes as accurate as possible and if they're wearing non cannon clothes that it would be something they would actually wear. The only thing that really annoys me is the fandom and OOCness I usually see these characters in but then I would just ignore it. So I guess personally, I don't care if someone else's doll looks like mine which looks like the character yet *isn't* the character and if someone puts in as much work into the doll too, then I won't have to worry about seeing it OOC.

 

Oh, don't underestimate the allure of drama for some. The least little thing will set them off.

This is true. Even if they had the same face up, clothes, wig, etc., they will still have some differences because of the handmade nature of these dolls. Besides it's bound to happen two or more people will hit on the idea that "x sculpt" would be perfect for "x character," especially if it's a popular sculpt. There must be a million Saints out there and maybe there's another Kain Highwind besides mine. I just haven't gone looking. . . making the absurd leap that any idea of mine would be worth copying, that is.

If I was concerned about anyone copying aspects of personality, etc., then I would just keep a few key details to myself. Not everything has to be shared.

To address the Minimee question, whether or not people wanted to limit them it was ultimately DiM that set limits on the number that could be ordered. If anyone really wanted to keep a sculpt for themselves they could make an individual order.

 

I don't think I'd mind much if someone else chose to do the same characters I have, using the same sculpts I've used, but with the way doll sculpts look (aside from MNM sculpts), I think there's enough variation in interpretation that people will frequently make different choices for the same character, and none of those choices are necessarily better or worse than others. Similarly, there's different choices in eyes and wigs, different choices of aestheticians (or doing the faceup yourself!), different scales, different levels of workmanship in the clothing... there's really so many variables, it's hard to say at what point it would change from being two people doing the same character in a similar style, and at what point it does in fact become "copying."

I do know for a fact that other versions of one of the characters I've done exist, but each one I know of has used a different head sculpt; for another, I've seen one other, but at a completely different scale (and therefore different sculpt out of necessity). My only referencing of these dolls has been to see how certain aspects were approached by other doll owners, but not to copy them. Had I meant to do that, I would have used the same sculpts, after all! But that's of course not my intent; I like the characters enough to create dolls of them, and naturally want to see how others have gone about the same process.

If someone else were doing one of the same characters as me, and wanted to know, for instance, where I got the wig, or what the sculpt was, I wouldn't mind telling them, too, since as I said before, all interpretations will be different! Not to mention, in the case of some characters, finding the "just right" pieces to assemble them can be quite a challenge. For me, that's part of the fun of putting these characters together, but it might be frustrating for someone else, and I think it's better for them to be enjoying themselves in the hobby than frustrated over it, and in such a case, I won't be worrying about "copying" when it's already a fandom character.

 

HOLD THE DAMN PHONE. You have a KAIN HIGHWIND doll? PICTURES. PLEASE. I BEG YOU. /horribly transparent FFIV fangirl

Anyway.

I don't see where copying is even a Thing when it comes to character dolls. I once had a doll based on a Bleach character; I knew someone else who had the same character and the same mold for said character. That was (and is) no big deal because the dolls looked only somewhat similar, and our interpretations of the character were different to boot. Even if someone decided that an Elfdoll Wu would make a fantastic Cecil Harvey (what was that I was saying about being a FFIV fangirl...?), it wouldn't look exactly like MY Cecil because the two dolls would not be created by the same hand from the same viewpoint. Since I didn't create the characters, I don't even have the final say in whether or not my interpretations are wholly in-character; that's fine with me, I don't care. I'm just in this to have fun.

Even if they choose the same Elfdoll boys, nobody will be able to totally recreate my Kiyo, Dave, and Cecil. They just won't be quite the same, because they'll be seen through another person's eyes. And that is part of the beauty of the doll hobby; we all look at things a little differently, and our interpretations are as varied as our experiences. I just don't see a reason to obsess over this.

 

I would understand if the character in question was an OC, but people getting mad over fandom character dolls? Cry me a river.

 

I can PM you. He's not as finished as I would like. *would very much like to see more of your Cecil*

My take is, if I want a perfectly unique version of any character I'd have to sculpt him and sew all his clothes. Otherwise I'll just have to live with the possibility (however remote) somebody, somewhere, might want to make the same character out of the same sculpt.

 

Oh god I would love you for it. I really don't have too many pics of Cecil, unfortunately (this is called 'what happens when your camera busts and you haven't gotten a new one yet') but I shall DEFINITELY take more. (I always liked Kain but I blame Dissidia 012 for turning him into computer-animated sex on legs. Mmmm, Liam O'Brien.)

I agree. Uniqueness would require much more effort than I feel like putting into it (and more talent than I have). I figure that my viewpoint is unique, and that works for me.

 

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery wouldn't you be happy in some way if you created an original doll character so good that other people wanted to have one too? My Xavier is such an under used sculpt he was happy just to see another one and when we found someone who was very similar he wanted to be friends.

 

Actually, I wouldn't know how I'd respond.
If it's based on, say a game character, I don't think people could complain if their dolls look alike.
I can imagine some people copying a faceup, but I presume it's because they like it so much.
But to me a doll goes beyond the way they look. They assume a certain character, something that makes them unique.
What you feel and think of your doll cannot be copied. (S)He is who you want her/him to be and no-one can take that away .

 

This. I have a minifee shushu on order to make into an Elsa from Frozen. There are quite a few minifee Elsas here. I'm considering turning my Sarang head into an Anna. It makes no sense to get frustrated to the point of seriousness over seeing other Elsas and Annas. If anything I'm more eager for mine to get here so I can get to work!

 

People need to get smart about copying!

There are real issues-- like re-casts. That totally affects the price of your dolls (people worried about buying recasts might hesitate to buy your dolls).

And there are copyright problems, like people using photos taken by others for their own paid-for projects.

That's enough to watch out for and try to stop without getting all worried about any other kind of "copying" that is legal and doesn't hurt anyone (even though some people might get sore about it). People need to relax about all the legal copying. Most of the time it is just in one or two person's opinion--and they are allowed to think whatever they want. They might think just about anything is copying. But we shouldn't get all bent out of shape about it. We need to concentrate on the BIG copying problems!

 

This is my view, too. I honestly don't see why this would be an issue at all.

 

My personal view on it is if it's a character from a movie, tv show, book, game, etc, then your doll of it is really fan art. You don't own the character, and anybody has just as much of a right to create that character as you do. The only person who has any real right, IMO, to complain is the creator of the character. If two people bought the same eyes for their Tom Hiddleston, maybe it's not copying, maybe it's because that's what Tom Hiddleston's eyes look like! When 25 people are using a minimee for the same well known character, there are going to be similarities and use of the same eyes/wig/clothes, if it's not a OOAK piece or handmade personally. Anything sold regularly by a company is going to have multiple people buying it. The only way to guarantee your character doll is 100% unique is to sculpt it yourself, make the eyes and wig, do your own faceup, sew your own clothes.....you get the point.

On an OC, it's totally different. Once again, nothing is 100% unique, and dolls, just like real people, will share some traits and backgrounds, but when everything starts mysteriously coming up the same from someone you know, it gets a little uncomfortable. But that's a totally different story!

 

I could see it being an issue if you're making an exact replica of someone's doll, down to the tiniest detail*, but at the same time, like others have said, if it's a fandom related doll, it's almost like cosplay. Three people can cosplay as Summoner Yuna, but unless one person makes all three cosplays, they're not going to be exactly the same. [I do plan on making Juliet into Summoner Yuna, as an excuse to practice embroidery lol].

*and I mean asking the original person what they used and everything. It's one thing if you tell the person "Hey I love how you did [character] can you tell me what you did? and another thing to just blatantly copy it then get defensive when someone calls you out on it.

 

I have had a doll of mine copied, one whose entire character and look is a very near and dear to my heart original character. And it was annoying, but really what could I do beyond scoff at the copycat and think their doll was about 1000x less attractive and interesting than mine? It was a copy of the original, so it didn't have any of the real spark and life of the character. That's something they would never be able to reproduce.

As for character dolls, the only time I could see anyone being legitimately annoyed is when they do all of the legwork and someone comes along and pesters them and expects others to do all of the figuring out for them and then copies everything. It's not so much a "you copied my character or sculpt" issue as it is a "You were too lazy to do the research yourself" issue. I own one of the aforementioned Tom Hiddleston Minimees, and I think mine looks different from all of the others because of a difference in faceup, body choice, eye choices, wig decisions, etc etc. So there's really no copying going on in that thread.

So in regards to character dolls, of course it's ok to use the same sculpt. Just don't be an asshole about it.

 

If it's a cosplay character then I'd say anyone can do it, and it's not copying. A lot of work goes into an accurate cosplay, and most of the outfit has to be custom made, so two dolls are never entirely alike.
As far as OC go, I agree with many in this post, that the owner of the OC has a right to feel annoyed if someone copies them, but there is no copyright on that sort of thing, so anyone could really do it. My opinion is that if you must copy an OC don't post pictures of it, and don't act like it is your own original idea.

 

I gotta ask though, what does it matter even if they did look the same? This isn't an originality contest, nor are we making money off of our dolls (like an artist protecting their designs for their livelihood). These are just dolls that we keep in our homes and admire/play with. Who cares if someone else in the world has a doll that looks the same? The "issue" is similar to buying a fullset doll and keeping it in fullset, but then I don't see people complaining about that much

 

I really don't see any problem with 'copying' anime/fan dolls or even OCs, I know 2 great popular people in flickr (I will call them #1 and #2) whose dolls are very much loved #2 got inspired by the face up of #1 (but the face up was almost the same) and the sculpts are the same, however, both dolls are completely different because I believe dolls are the representation of the owner and each owner is different, so in the end, even if you copy the face up and whatnot, the dolls will not be the same.

Also, in my case, these dolls have a life on their own. I plan for a certain color of eyes, wig and even a name but when they come here, they don't want those eyes, wigs and I have to think of another name ^^;; I admit that I have thought of a certain look for a certain doll but then I come upon another doll, same sculpt and same idea as mine...I get sad and end up not buying the doll just because I feel my doll will not be unique in my eyes since there is another doll with my idea already and I'd be the copy cat 'cause I came 2nd place...this has happened twice but it is how I feel about it...however, if someone else has no problem with it, I'm no one to say that they are wrong.

oooh like the post above me said, what about fullsets or default face ups and outfits? they might have same face ups and same outfits but look and feel different, hence the doll being a representation of the owner.