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

When people talk about copying characters I always imagine they mean the whole picture. Sure there are many French aristocrats from the 18th century, but the chance to find two of those with the complete same history, loved ones, character traits, fears, hobbies, motivations, problems, perception of the world, etc. etc. is highly unlikely.

In all the books in all the world there aren't two characters entirely the same. Similar perhaps, but not the same.

So I can understand how someone might be angry or sad when she has spent many hours thinking of this character and the world he lives in, only to discover somebody else has copy/pasted that story. I know I would be. But only if more than a few things are the same.
One or two traits won't make your doll unique, the complete picture will.

 

Yes, I understand and appreciate that, I was offering a little silly perspective And as I said - I personally don't care if someone copypastes my character, but I do see why someone else might be. Just because I don't think it's worth worrying myself over doesn't mean everyone else shares my view. But I have seen people get pissy over someone with the same mould sharing that vague of a background (like: HO NOES! SOMEONE ELSE BOUGHT A VERA AND MADE IT A FRENCH ARISTOCRAT! OMGZ! COPIER! THIEF!!) and I think it's very childish So I was being very literal in my interpretation of the situation The only time I'd get mad about it is if someone planned on making money from it. Like publishing a book or something with my characters in it. That would annoy me >_< But making a doll with the same character? Pshh That's just funny, because to me that's like them saying "I'm stupid and have no imagination of my own"

 

Well I really don't know what to think or say >.< because I'm not the first one to dress a doll as a punky girl, a bit elegant, pretty and such but MOODY ..... well that's her character to be like that.

I didn't took inspiration from others doll nor whatever either. She grows up all day long. And was like that before to come home.

Now if suddenly a Stella pop out, dressed like mine, same eyes, same all, I would feel odd and uncomfortable I guess. And I would fear that the new owner who dress Stella as mine just scream : you, you copy my doll ...... honestly I would feel very bad because I know I copy no one doll, I may take inspiration for my own doll but not copying.

Now I don't think I would accuse the owner either, I think I would just change Stella's ( Amber) clothes and eyes and there if the second Stella follow mine ... I would maybe let a simple comment to the owner ... but no envy to enter a no end war .....

 

There is an aphorism I find appropriate for this topic:
You catch more flies with honey than vinegar

The only thing stopping anyone from 'copying' your ideas (once you've released them into a public arena) is politeness. You can yell and scream and curse at someone all you like, but you cannot stop them making a doll that looks like yours, or that has the same name, or the same back-story. You can act as snotty and elitist as you want, getting your friends to shun or insult them, and making catty comments about their 'creativity', but you will not be able to stop them enjoying and showing off their doll if they want to. And no number of snotty FAQs or Q&As will prevent someone from selling 'mimics' of your dolls if there are people willing to buy (and what stops people from buying 'mimics' will generally be politeness as well - they want to support you, not the 'mimic'. If they see you acting like a jerk, these same buyers are less likely to support you, and more likely to buy from whoever is cheaper).

If I posted a doll design, and someone PMd me politely, saying that my doll was uncomfortabley similar to theirs, I would be polite back. I would ask them what feature was most 'theirs', and try to change my 'version' of that (style/colour of wig, make-up technique, back-story details, etc). I wouldn't necessarily change everything completely, but I would try to compromise. I would bend over backwards to find the sweet spot between my vision and their comfort. I would want to, because they contacted me politely.

If I posted a doll design, and someone PMd me rudely, demanding I redesign my doll because THEY did X and Y first and HOW DARE I copy them? I would tell them that I can do whatever I want with my property, and that they can't bloody stop me. I'd then ignore every PM and every comment from them, and enjoy my doll exactly the way I'd originally planned it. If they continued the harrassment, I might even make my doll more similar to theirs, because I can't stand unmerited entitlement. I wouldn't compromise, or even consider compromising. I wouldn't want to, because they contacted me rudely.

The same theory goes for crediting:
I will always credit a polite person I am inspired by, even for vague, tiny things (a pose, a lighting effect, etc). I actively enjoy crediting people who are nice and who inspire me. I want others to see how nice they are. I feel that they deserve the credit, as a reward for being polite and kind people.

I will never credit a rude person, for anything. Not even if I use all the same poses, or the same setting, or the same outfit for my doll. Not even if Iknow that I was inspired by them. I don't feel that they deserve the credit, as I don't want to reward them for being rude.

... Then again, I suspect that I have a fairly... extreme view on the matter, due to my views on 'intellectual property' in general I doubt many other people in the dolly community will agree with me. But ah well - this is how I feel, and I don't believe that I am wrong about it.

 

I personally wouldn't Accuse anyone but I've been takinng the title of this thread with a grain of salt.

Personally if someone seemed to be copying one of my dolls my first move would be what I said I think other people should do. Go look at posts with the copy in question. Look at the dates and be realistic about it. Is it possible I got inspired by something they did with their doll and forgot their doll but retained the idea?
If it turned out/seemed 90% likely they were copying my doll? I would go out and accuse them.
I'd PM them, I'd say something like "Wow you doll so-and-so seems a lot like my doll so-and-so. What's his back story?" Why? Because I'd like to have more details before I even say they seem like one of us could be copying the other.
Now if everything was exactly the same and all my posts had come first and they got their doll after I got mine and ect and I asked if they were copying my doll, what would I hope to get out of it?
Well I'm not gonna say "ZOMG YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOU DOLL" but some of the history, change something. I'd hope they would. Would I be bothered if they didn't? Yeah. Could I do much about it? Not unless I went to a mod with my proof and they agreed with me that the doll was a copy of mine. And then it's up to them how to handle that situation or if there's anything that could be done.
But that's part of why I think you have to be an adult about it. If it comes to the point where you wanna involve an outside party to reviw the information and try to help, in the case of this forum a mod, you don't wanna have acted like a child and been a little brat about it because if you are in the "right" and you are being ripped off who would want to help you or even deal with you?

I should also probably add I'm not really one of those people who support dolls based on books and movies and what not. I'm not gonna tell those people to stop but I write, I wouldn't want my work copied, obviously. I have no issue with cosplay because it's a short term kind of thing but a misrepresentation of my work, my charater, my art isn't really something that appeals to me. At all. It down right bugs me. So I guess my point of view on copying is pretty clear from just that, lol.

 

i know my amusing okja Squish has inspired a few other dolls that look rather similar to her. (hilarious as she changes all the time) but FAR from being upset or offended I think its down right AWSOME. I think even if someone were to start out trying to copy a doll it would only be a matter of time before the two would distinctly seperate. There have been How many Sephiroth dolls? and while some of the basics may be shared as one person comes up with a really great idea. And others use it as well... Still eventually they drift away in to different styles, because their owners are often so different.

 

Well I had a fellow user (Who I have had some friendly comments with on the board) tell me today she loved my doll and that he inspired her doll. I was hugely flattered!
I would never have guessed as they both look so different to me but it was such a lovely feeling to know a doll I've 'designed' (?) inspired someone else and she must love her guy as much as I love mine. It's a great honor in some ways to see different interpretations of similar 'themes'. I think there is a huge difference between 'inspiration' and 'copying'.

 

I think considering that a lot of people get default faceups, there's going to be some overlap somewhere. For example, my Maddock is (at least currently, until I have more money for a wig) a default-as-hell Ducan: default faceup, default wig, often in default pants. Does that make me love him less or him have any less of a personality? No, but it does mean he looks like about 40 other dolls on the board.

And if I ran across an H.Ducan named Maddock that looked like him? I'd probably feel weird about it, but ...let's face it, Celtic/Welsh names are not the most unusual in this group.

On the other hand, if I'd put hundreds of dollars into faceups and tattoos and modded wigs and handmade clothing for a particular doll and stumbled upon one that looked just like hir, then I might be a bit miffed, yeah, because that would take some effort.

I do think hearing things like "I love your doll, it inspired me to get one" or "I was inspired to try and make a cyberpunk/do a fantasy faceup/etc after seeing yours" would make that a lot less disturbing to me. I won't lie, there are incredibly inspiring characters/concepts/art works on this board and I've gone, "Hmm, I wonder if I could string siamese twins [the answer is no, just from my experience with stringing a regular doll, lol]" or "Wow, I should try out a really sinister looking doll or a really cute, floofy one" after seeing some. I'd be honored to think mine had the same effect, but I'd like to know about it.

 

I keep waiting for someone to go Oh Harry Potter as I tell more details of Hajime's past. Heck, even I said "Whoa! No Potter!" as I was writing it... but ah well I like the concept of being born with power up the wazoo

 

When is it alright to 'accuse....?' Never! If one feels that someone is truly 'copying' your doll/s, take it up with that person. I'm honored if someone liked one of my dolls enough to want to duplicate it in their own way. I probably have sort of copied ideas and styles from dolly owners whose dolls I admire. After all, we can all buy the same doll, the same wigs, the same eyes, the same clothing and have the same artist paint the doll. Not that any of us really 'do' that.. it can be done.

 

I don't think it's nice to accuse somebody of copying a doll if they don't own the original doll, because like others say coincidences happens, so if it was by chance to have the same doll, then they would be getting all these messages, and the 'original' owner might not even mind.
Also it would have to be a very good reason why to accuse someone of copying because from what I've read, there are many people who don't want to share their pics and dolls just in case they might be accused of copying, and to me that takes away some of the fun out of the hobby.
If it's a good idea, then chances are it's already been done especially when people have started this hobby years ago.

 

Nope, you are right, most of the time a smile can fix everything, polite debate will fix the most .... as soon people argue rudely, run away, it's a no end war that is starting. And it will result in a contest : who scream the loudest and who is right lol

 

Coincidences do certainly happen, but if they end up looking the same and having the same name and character...and even are shown with very similar pictures down the road...then it could be considered copying. Someone shouldn't get 'angry' over it though. Owner's should always be mature over those types of things.

A doll that I am planning on buying will probably look similar to others out there, but it is my original character, name, personality, etc. My characters have been with me for YEARS, and I am only just now putting them into doll form. I would actually be very offended if someone accused me of copying.

If anyone wants to have the same doll (as in looks, character, name, personality, dress) as someone, they should ask the owner; the owner doesn't technically OWN the character (as far as copyright goes), but it would still be very considerate to still ask. I saw someone further back describing accusation as 'childish' and that is probably the best it can be described.

It's not like they physically stole your actual doll from your hands, so why should you be worried?

So after all my rambling, my answer is, it's not ok to accuse someone. Only if they take your pictures and say it's their doll and they took the pictures, but I don't think that's what the question was asking

 

If its childish to "accuse" someone (sorry, I really am taking this word with a grain of salt here) then isn't is childish to be offended by this accusation? I mean. If they don't "own" everything thats exactly the same down to the character that was copied why should you be offended by being "accused?" Why should anyone ask then either?

Devils advocate. Can't help it.

Granted, I keep refering back to accusing = bad, talking about it with someone = good. Hence my taking the accusing part with a grain of salt.

 

If I found someone who had an AOD MiMi sculpt, with the exact same skin tone, with a face-up very similar to the custom one I did for her, the exact same outfit from Amelie Taylor, the exact same wig, the same color eyes, the same personality and habbits such as childspeak and misspronunciation, with the same little tiny Gameboy Advanced-- of course I would talk to the owner about it. Not publicly, through PMs...but no doubt about it, I would confront them. Probably, yes, 'accuse' them.

If it was only a few things that matched, I probably wouldn't care. But most/all of them? No. I would have to have a talk with that owner.

Maybe it's just the artist in me speaking, but I strongly believe that there is a fine line between referencing something, and flat-out copying it.

 

I need a little help over here
Well, I already have in mind the mold I will use to make my own Shinku from Rozen Maiden, but last week accidently I found out that this girl from the latinoamerican forum wants to make herself a Shinku too with the exactly same mold I want! (which is a very popular one) I got so worried, I know it's just a coincidence and my friends told me not to care about it, cause my Shinku will be absolutly different from the other one, cause I'm gonna be the one who's gonna make her face up and clothes.

So, my question is: Is it allright to go on with the same idea? If she got her before me, am I gonna be the one who copied her doll? or am I just gonna use the same so popular mold to customize it as the same so popular anime -manga character?

The other thing is I already have seen this mold cosplaying Shinku and I saw one that actually was her, but it was the sleeping version of this mold, but, believe it or not, that wasn't where I got the idea from. I saw and saw so many pics to find the right mold and suddenly it was like a revelation, just got to be her!

I'm really confused. I know if someone copied one of my dolls I'd be upset

I really apreciate your thoughts about it...

 

Stratolily: Of course you should go on with the same idea! There was no copying it was just sheer coincidence thus there's no need to worry.

I saw another person on this forum had a doll with the same name as one of my own, Donovan Grey. At first I was kind of shocked but realized it was pure coincidence. The dolls are two different molds and both have different faceups.

 

I totally agree. Granted, I'm not one for character dolls at all but it's the same idea had by two people. The mold fits, you like it. If you're very worried about it, there is always the option to contact the other person and say "Hey, just so you know I'm not copying you we just have the same idea and I didn't want to offend you"
The person may just not care at all and shrug off the information as un needed but if it makes you feel a little better and prevents any possible issues then it wont harm anything.

 

Stratolily: Well, you're both copying someone else's design already, so it's not like either of your dolls is going to be original from anything else-you're both going to use the same eye colors, wigs, and clothing styles anyways. If it was an original character it would be different, but you're using someone else's ideas and character, so of course there is going to be overlap.

 

Thank you guys for your comments, I feel much better now!
So, I will go on with my idea, in fact I already started saving for my new girl, I'm so excited!!