What do you think about another type of "theft" in BJD's: Photocopying

If its super old no longer in print patterns, like vintage doll patterns, then I don't mind when people share them, if its current, then it is not right to share it without permission. Also if someone shares a pattern they created, and asks for it not to be used for commercial gain, I think that should be respected.

 

I never really thought about this before... I have many times gone to my grandparents' and my grandma would make me copies of crochet patterns she had to take home and I am not sure if they were from a book, online, something she paid for,etc but it never occurred to me that it would matter When I think about it I feel that making a copy of a pattern is almost the same as if you were letting somebody borrow the book to begin with... which to me letting somebody borrow a book of patterns does not seem very illegal or bad to me but making copies... I am not sure how I feel about it. I'd probably be a person whom would make a copy for them and find it alright but maybe if it were a copy for like my close friend or something but not mass-producing them or anything Crossing the line though would be if you called it "yours" or if you tried to sell copies because to me that is just not right

 

@ Milk Bunny, intellectual property copyright usually protects work up to around 50 years after the original copyright owner has passed, unless there has been a passing on of those rights in the estate of the deceased. That's why you can find a lot of patterns freely available from about the 1950s / 60s and any time prior online. Hence, if by "super old" you mean prior to 1970 then you are probably safe but keep in mind that the definition of "super old" kind of varies dependant on age and experience For me, anything prior to time A.D. might be counted as "super old" For my daughter, anything prior to her birth 8 years ago is "super old"...it's all relative :P

@ Tora, I hope no one would really have too much of an issue with the age old tradition of sharing patterns among relatives or close friends. That's almost to be expected, much the same as sharing recipes or "sisterly / brotherly advice" . I know, again, technically it's a bit of a legal "grey area" and probably technically shouldn't be done but IMO it really only becomes more of an issue if, say, for example you copy a pattern you bought and distribute them to everyone at a doll meet or your school / college / university textile class - both of which legally require permission from the pattern designer to be able to do so.

 

Hmm.. I'm sure a lot of people don't think of this stuff when copying illegally... but I'm also sure a lot of them do. I really don't know how I feel about this, because really, I can not see how much or little it 'actually' effects the BJD community. People are kinda inclined to not like things that are 'stealing' and try and prove they are hurting everyone.. Well, stealing in general tends to hurt everyone. So... i dunno.

 

Agreeing with what most people have said here...
I wouldn't deny a close friend a copy of a pattern they liked.
I think it becomes an issue when it's turned around and given out for free to anyone who wants it. Or alternatively, if the person tries to make money off of someone else's work - ie selling either the pattern or finished piece and presenting it as their own.

 

So - what about selling doll patterns on the secondary market? Isn't that kinda like stealing from the person who made them, too? Cos they get no money for it? Example: Person 1 buys a pattern or pattern book. After a time, they sell it to person 2, who does the same to person 3 and person 3 sells it on to person 4. So, money is paid for that pattern book four times, yet the one who made the patterns/book only gets paid for it once.

 

I can't see that it's any different than a used bookstore and they're legal.

 

The only time I personally would EVER ask for some one to make a copy of a pattern or something was if it wasn't available. For example, if I wanted the cute little outfit showed for my Spearmint, they don't have it as an option or in the clothes on MoC. But I also would never make a direct duplicate, more of inspired by that piece of work or clothing. If I had a chance to buy the clothes from the original seller, I would without even thinking about it. I think that if you have an option to get it legitly you should always do that. People have put in a lot of time and work into these things, and it's their creative idea, they should be making the profit. To top it off, I think you should support the companies and people you like that make those things, and getting the same outfit from somewhere else isn't supporting them, it's keeping their funds away that they need for their business.

 

Yeah, but just because something's legal that doesn't mean it's fair, does it? Legal viewpoint and moral viewpoint might not necessarily be the same.

 

I don't mind resale for commercially produced books - say something like Rosemary Ioneka's "Fashions for Small Dolls". But for more specialized small scale operations, eg. gracefaerie designs (http://www.gracefaerie.com/patterns/pattern_index.html), then I agree, it doesn't seem at all right if the designer is still selling them new.

 

First off...the legal stuff:
If I remember correctly, a pattern is not under any copyright law...unless the maker is spending a lot of $$$$ to register it. It's the instruction, and the name of the pattern/pattern maker that is under copyright. I have several commercial human patterns, pattern books and bjd pattern's and not a single one of them is registered under an actually copyright law. Clothing patterns are simply just not unique enough, there is only so many ways you can make an item...
some explanation
copyright useful items

The moral issue:
As I stated I have several types of patterns, most of them are from very costly books intended for tailors. I do lend friend's patterns from them. Usually one of two patterns. I do also own pattern's made for BJD's by individual pattern makers, not large company's....I only let my friends see those patterns, so they can judge if they want to spend money on them, for those patterns are not for trade or lending. I make my own patterns, some that I choose to lend to friends....and some that I keep for my self.

This all come's down to people's comfort zone. If you feel like you are "violating" the artist right, then buy the pattern. If you don't feel that whey then trade, or borrow if from friends.

 

That's unfortunately correct to some degree. There are intellectual property rights preventing someone blatantly copying your pattern and trying to sell it as their own but unless your work is then patented in both 2 dimensional pattern and final 3 dimensional end product form then there's nothing legally to prevent someone using your pattern to produce a finished product that they then sell. Even if you did patent both 2D and 3D form of your work, you would only be able to cover your own very specific version of the finished product and not all the variations someone can potentially make of your design...using different fabrics and different details etc. Hence why there is such a roaring trade in knock offs copying the clothing designs of everything from major department store clothing brands through to major fashion houses. Not even any pattern design experience needed...just one item of clothing to cut up and re-create a pattern from. Morally objectionable but not illegal!

 

Well, I don't see anything wrong with copying. For example, a site gave out a free ebook, and their sales skyrocketed. Something like that?? Also, it benefits all people involved. Favors, friendship, patterns, new knowledge and new sources for patterns! Like a sample before you eat the food kind of thing ok that similie is bad.

 

smallricochet, no one here is saying there is anything wrong with anyone offering their own free patterns when they are all their own work ...in fact, personally it's something I love to do! There is noting quite as good as the feeling of being able to give back to a community and a hobby that has given you so much! I know for me I will be posting up a series of tutorials on working with fur fabrics (something I have been doing for about 20 years now as I used to and have recently returned to doing in my large-scale and miniature soft sculpture work) and offering one of my basic and 2 tone wig patterns for fur wigs size 5-6" to 9-10" shortly because I want to offer something up and give back to the BJD community and art doll communities I love as there are so many who have helped me over the years.

Also, send links to free patterns designers have offered up themselves that you find online all you want too...this is a great way of sharing and helps promote the work of others!

Once someone starts posting up OTHER people's patterns for free online, however, without the blessing of the pattern designer then THIS is an issue and something I'd never condone.

I know if I buy a pattern from anyone then I keep that pattern as my own personal property and never even dream of selling it on, let alone destroying the potential income of other designers and makers by offering it up for free online. Books I might sell on occasion, especially when I've had multiple copies of several, but I have craft and fashion patterns and books I've been hoarding for years and years and I feel like they are worth more than gold to me in worth because of concepts and skills they have taught me and for what I can pass on to my children and my children's children in the knowledge and experience they have taught me.