When is it alright to accuse someone of copying your doll/someone else's doll?

Because of this I wonder: "Is it okay to accuse someone of copying a doll?"
I don't think the the fear of showing your doll which will result into someone accusing you of copying while all you did was happen to like a certain combination of things that look good is adding to your enjoyment of the hobby.

Like in the example MadamMauMau gives: great minds think alike?
Sometimes I get the feeling that originality is a bit too overrated as if your doll isn't special anymore if there is something (remotely) similar elsewhere. Don't forget you made your doll look good! There's nothing elsewhere that will undo that fact.

 

Imitation is the highest form of flattery.

I don't think "copying" someone else is okay, but it's kind of silly for people to get all huffy when the person copying them isn't actually gaining monetary profit from the design. I think that's when it goes into STEALING, which IS a problem -- like someone ripping off sculpts and selling them as their own, or outfits.

 

I personally would want my doll to be a little different (even if I loved the original) and I could get "a copy". I'm not sure why people want identical copies especially if the original is so unique that it is obvious that it is a copy. I guess there is nothing that can be done about it (other than not showing your doll in any public arena). Even if you accuse someone of copying your doll, what would that prove. I can see people getting upset if their "original" doll is copied but the fact is because the parts are mass produced (the sculpt, the eyes, the wig) -- so unless you were to get a "one of a kind" sculpt or some component that wasn't easily duplicated, you will always be at risk.

 

My doll is very typical- Brown hair, blue eyes, average girl that wears dresses sort of thing. She's a typical "pretty doll". In order for someone to call her a copy, they would have to first lay claim to the definition of 'average', so.. good luck with that

If I saw another SD13 Megu on a Dollfie Dream version 1 body with the same exact wig, the same exact eyes, the same exact faceup and it was obvious they were trying to copy my doll.. I'd ask why they settled for such a mediocre look My doll is as she is because of limited resources and coincidences. She's special in her own way since I cut her wig myself, her eyes change color in different lights (had no idea of this when I got the eyes) and she came with her faceup, with which she was previously a boy xD

I didn't really plan her to come together in any specific way, I just bought pieces I liked and they seemed to fit nicely. I sometimes see owners who will search the globe for the perfect wig or perfect eyes or perfect whatever to create the ultimate image for their dolls, and I respect them entirely for their persistance and vision, but I guess I'm just not like that

I can definately see how someone could get miffed if they put extensive work and time into creating a unique image for their doll and saw someone else emulate it, either exactly or close enough with possibly cheaper 'pieces', without having nearly the same 'passion' about the look that they did. Usually when someone puts alot of time into a unique look, they have a really extensive background of why and how it came together, whereas emulators just say "look how pretty it is!". In this sense, its fairly easy to tell the 'genuine' ones from the 'copy' ones, so ultimately they can never copy your enthusiasm and reasoning, and that will always be unique

 

Wow! Does anybody else "not care"? We're taking dolls created by someone else and adding some individuality to them. All of our dolls have so many similarities, you know we all get ideas from looking at everyone's dolls. Copying is the highest form of flattery. If someone really loves your doll, why would you care if they copied to achieve the same look? How is it hurting you at all? I just don't get this. I don't think 5million people came up with mohair wigs on their own, or scars, tattoos, Alice in Wonderland themes, etc. We all got the ideas from looking at other dolls. We share techniques here and everything. Thank goodness the people who came up with ways to individualize our dolls had the human decency to share with us and didn't hoard the ideas to themselves, just so everyone could envy THEIR dolls and not have one like it for their own.

It should be about ENJOYING our dolls and sharing them with others who care about the hobby. Not "hey everyone, look at my doll and drool! But you can't have one like it!" That's so pre-school!

Unless you've made the entire doll from scratch, with a completely unique concept and got a copyright for it. THEN you may have something to complain about!

 

Interesting thread, being new to all this I'd hate to think people would purposely exactly copy each others dolls but I would also hate the idea of people going around making accusations against each other.

 

Well, how's this for weird? I've been staring at the Bory sculpt for a while now with plans to get a girl and give her white hair and red eyes. Haha, I'd never heard of your plans. Mine is completely different aside from the hair/eye color, but it's still ironic considering the thread topic.

I really do agree with the posters who've pointed out that 'originality' is nearly impossible where this hobby is concerned. We're fishing in what is still a small pond as far as hobbies go. The same ideas do occur to people, as has been well illustrated by this thread.

 

Funny, I had someone write to me to tell me that they wanted to do up their ShuShu like mine....or at least the pics I put up. Same hair and eyes. I was flattered ( I am kind of a newbie). It actually did not occur to me to be bothered by it because...well...My girl is a mold shared by many. I imagine we often think of similar ideas when looking at our molds.

 

I think I would be more flattered then annoyed. But if I was annoyed I know I wouldn't say anything to them. Why start the drama??! I hate drama!

 

*bows* Drama is something that thrives on the internets. It makes me happy when other people try to avoid it.

BUT debate topics as for mature levels of stirring the pot! lol

I feel like you get into irritating and actual copies when a back story and a name that may mean the exact same thing (I take forever to pick out names and put some effort into it) is copied.

It however, does bug me if you say. PM person A going "The eyes in your DZ boy are great! What are they, thats just what I've been looking for!" and get back something about how they wont tell you because they don't want their look stolen.


It's a set of eyes that were more likely purchsed then hand made (though if you did, props!). If a company makes them then other people can have them. I'm not asking "Hey whats this utterly stupid lil detail of their history, where you got their wig, face up, clothing, shoes, eyeputty and belt" so it's not like I'm some crazy stalker out to make your doll my own. Just after a set of eyes.

People overreact. Its what we do over some things and we're allowed to protect whats ours but there comes a point where you gotta step back and say "Am I freaking out over nothing?"
Doll copying is totally one of those little things I think you should give a good thought to that question before saying or do anything.

 

This reminds me of something that happened here on DoA not that long ago. Person A customised a wig and person B asked how she did it. Person A explained and then a while later person B showed her doll with a wig that is almost exactly the way the wig person A made looked, right up to the colour.
Person A got upset, because she put a lot of work into that wig and it is part of her doll's character. Person B is very popular at this forum and person A feared that if she showed pictures of her doll with her original wig, the fans of person B would tell her she copied B and should get a life and make up her own stuff.

The resemblance between the wigs was striking. I would almost say it was the same uniquely customised wig. It would have been a different story if the wig colour (an unnatural hair colour) was different, but even that was the same. So person A asked person B to at least credit her for the idea so person A won't be accused of copying person B. Person A didn't go through the trouble of creating something of her own only to get "Oh, you just copied B. Everybody can copy."
(It is a really nice wig, though. I can imagine why person B got inspired to make the same thing in a "That's nice. I want to try that too." kind of way.)

That's why I still wonder if it even is okay to accuse someone of copying. It makes people paranoid and overprotective of their creations.

 

I think its things like that why people say it's only "okay" to say someone's copying when it goes beyond one or two aspects. Beyond a handful aspects really. Things would have to be the same all in all for it to be "okay".

I'm also using the word okay lightly here. I mean there is a chance that (however slim it may be) Doll A and Doll B could just have owners who are very similar in tastes, take their inspirations from the same music, life events, movies, books, like the same face up artists, wigmakers, seamstresses and so on.

You have to get into that like... Stalker sameness for it to really be copying IMO. Doll A is named Jake, copy doll gets named Jakey. Doll A has a scar from where the doctor dropped him when he was born in specific location Z, Doll B has same scar from location X across the street from Z.
Same birth defects, same clothing taste, same history, allergies, so on and so forth down to the same disgusting habit of licking the bottom of used shot glasses (lets not even ask where that idea came from lol) is when you can start to think about it. Check out the photoshoots and dates of posts. Who knows, you may have done similar poses after they did a shoot with their doll because you saw it looked good with doll B and didn't even think about it.
If you're gonna accuse someone, or even really nicely ask someone if they're copying you, I think you should think pretty hard about it and make sure it's not some eerily similar ideas going on. It can happen after all.

 

Agreed with every word! This isn't something I would use much energy on honestly. If someone copied my doll I wouldn't really care. I'm sure there is a similar doll to mine already(even though she has a custom face up!). No one is truly unique, but at the same time everyone is. Similarity do occur- both with dolls as well as with everything else. It's not necessarily copying, and if it is- well, why on earth would it matter?

 

I don't think it's okay to accuse someone under any circumstances, when all we're talking about is the look or style of the doll.

If you sculpt your own doll and therefor hold its copyright, then yes, you have a reason to get upset, especially if you try to sell your original sculpt. Then it could even become a legal matter.

But to get upset over a doll that has the same wig, eye, outfit or faceup? Just... no. It doesn't hurt you. Accusing people will only make you look like a jealous child.
Instead of causing drama your energy could be better spent getting over it.

 

From what I've seen people aren't just talking about an outfit, wig eyes and a faceup here.
There's a character involved. There's the work put into creating something that means a lot to some people and when that becomes your work of art, something you've put a lot of effort and work into to have someone just out and out copy every little aspect can be upsetting
To throw a fit over the same eyes and wig and things that are store bought are one thing but if everything that you put into your work is copied down to the last little bit? That's not as petty at all. If you aren't attached to your char and the effort put into the doll then thats fine. But if someone else is and it gets copied it can bother them and that's also fine. So long as you act like an adult about the situation who really cares if you ask someone if they're copying you? If you're being mature about it really it shouldn't go past PMing and maybe the involvement of a mod where it applies to this site. What offends people does not make them immature children and if a ripped off character in all of it's senses including its physical doll form offends someone that doesn't make them an immature child.

 

Good point, and basically what I was thinking but I'll be a blowhard anyway. I'm not convinced that with the wealth of visual input we get from perusing this forum that there is much "originality" to be had anymore. Case in point, I say a shiwoo in a sarong like wrap and fell in love with him. So later when I bought my Yuu I thought of that doll and also dressed him in a sarong, since I had no clothes his size. Was I copying, nah I got a little thing called inspiration, all creative folks make use of it. And actually the owner of the orginal doll PM'd me to saw how much she loved Hajime's sarong and look.

On a lighter note, boy was I surprised to find out my dragon boy in doll form was just the latest in line!

 

Yes, copying like that is bad. I think in a situation like that you are right if you are upset someone ran off with your work. But people get upset for far less than that.

I've seen people throw a fit, because they claim they were the first to dress up a certain mold differently than the majority (Supia dolls in something else than pretty, feminine dresses for example) and other people who do the same are copying. One person clearly stated that people should ask her permission first before they dress up their similar molds in the clothing style she uses to dress up her doll. Because if they don't ask for permission, the idea wouldn't hers anymore and it would feel like it was taken away from her.

Or people who stress that they are the very first with something and they are original and they thought it up, stressing those facts up to intimidation, so other people won't try to do the same regardless where those other people got their inspiration from. Even while the idea or concept was executed long before. (Claiming to be the first with engraved tattoos after the Prince Nuada Minimee heads were cast, for example.)

As been said before: we all fish in the same pond. It's not strange to catch the same species of fish. Maybe you saw something you liked and wanted it too. Maybe two people thought up the same thing independently of each other. It happens.
I find it unsettling how aggressively some people think they should "protect" their ideas, denying other people the same (or remotely related) thing, basing their rights to do so on saying very loudly they were the first (even when they are not), it is their idea and the (emotional) value of their doll will be destroyed if someone else does something (remotely) similar (emotional black mail, anyone?). It goes as far as telling people they can't buy the same mold even when those people indicate they are going to face-up en dress the dolls very differently.

I mean, wtf? Sure, copying a doll completely from looks to background story is bad, but claiming ideas like in the examples is denying other people their fun.
Luckily I see that the majority of people who responded to this thread is more mature about these matters.

 

I can see how it would be upsetting, especially in very extreme cases.
But I can also see how people can jump to conclusions.

Let me ask you, if someone appears to copying one of your dolls, what would you say to them?
What would you hope accusing them would accomplish?

 

I saw someone further up mention copying characters - if that's the case then I guess roll me up in a carpet and throw me in the lake!!

No, I haven't copied any characters But come on - my girls are both 18th Century French aristocrats - there's surely a bazillion of those around!! My MSD boy is a Chinese soldier - gotta be some more of those around! My DZ Leo is an ice faerie - I bet there are others!!

Seriously, even backstories aren't necessarily unique. There's nothing to stop two people having the same/similar ideas. I mean, if the characters are all named the same then it's probably a little more than coinkydink, but given the random nature of the human brain, and the fact that there really are finite ideas in the world (like music, and we're exhausting both) it's hardly impossible - just improbable.

I've actually a doll around that is the same mould and the same name right down to the spelling as one of my friend's planned dolls. She rarely uses the forum and made the character before she'd even been here once, so that proves it's not impossible to have the same idea without being influenced by someone else's idea first. They might have very different ideas for what they'll do to the doll, but the fact remains that the names and the sculpts are identical.


Unless the copying is extremely blatant and obvious (and even then, lol) then it's never "alright" to "accuse" anyone of copying. If you have proof, then outing them as a copycat is fine I guess (although it seems kind of petty to me, and that's coming from someone who's extremely attached to her characters - they're not going to bother changing it, but might tell you to eff off a few times ).

But if you see a doll that looks kind of similar to yours and may even have the same name or a very similar one, and a background that's also quite similar... that doesn't necessarily mean copying. Some dolls just lend themselves well to certain things - be it aristocracy, mean-ness or crossdressing. If two people have similar tastes in non-doll things, it stands to reason they might create virtually identical dolls out of the same mould, even if they've never seen each other or the other person's dolls before.


Personally, if someone hand-sews a dress exactly the same as my Paige's, hunts down an identical wig (good luck!! lemme know where ya find it!!), picks the same mould and pulls the eyelashes off the default face-up, buys the pair of cheap default acrylic eyes from DoD she's wearing, calls her Paige and makes her an 18th Century French aristocrat.... kudos to em, they've got good taste It might confuse me a little at first, but eventually I'd see the minute differences between them, and it'd be cool to get them both together to see what they're like in person

I do sort of see why it'd bother some people, particularly if they've hand-made everything, painted the face-ups and modded the doll themselves - but personally I think it's all just a little bit silly

 

You arn't alone! It looks like me and several others agree wholeheartedly! There are only so many sculpts, wigs, and eye colors. And what if someone inspires you to buy a certain doll? Are you banned from putting him or her in the same wig? And feeling anxious about something like that is an emotion you shouldn't have to feel. I understand wanting to be unique, or considering your dolls works of art, but even then all artists are inspired by their predecessors. Is it a sin to paint like Monet? I'm suuuure he'd be furious. :/ There shouldn't be this judgment, and in my opinion "stealing" is a loaded word that isn't necessary.
This is a fun hobby that we all share. We get enough hassle for liking dolls, we should be nice to one another, even when our egos get a bit rustled.