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

Sorry about the double post, I skipped this comment while reading. I totally agree with you, nocturneofsilence. I know I'd formulate an accusation despite of it, but I also know there wouldn't be of any use. Very wise comment in my opinion.

 

Oh god, quoting this for ultimate emphasis. Everything else PoeticSoul said was basically what I wanted to say but 300% better than I can.
Since I'm no longer a child, I don't care about how unique my doll would be or about copying in any case. This sort of issue just seems extremely childish to me, I can't wrap my head around it. It's the sort of mentality that I can't get, of all things to get upset about(oh noes, my unique snowflake doll got copied!! ARRRGH!!), it's just too strange to me.

 

Well, I guess it all kind of depends on the extreme detail of the dolls. If the doll is made for a very specific look or theme with specific clothing, coloring and all, things should be questioned. Regardless, there are SO many dollfie fashions it's really hard to put a name on this kind of thing.
Gosh, I really don't know.

 

(I posted that more than a year ago)

Well, at the end it turned out that this girls wasn't go to use that mold to customize Shinku, but I didn't do it either. I choose a complete different mold that I have never seen as Shinku or even sugested by some else to be her. I'll have my very own customize Shinku like I always wanted, but she will be absolutly different from all the customized Shinkus out there, she will be unique. I don't like to copy and I don't like to be copied either. Also I know I'm customizing a character that's not mine, but the idea of using this particular mold IT IS mine.
She's still in process though.

 

Ok here is the rub. You didnt design the Rozen Maiden characters and aside from the original Volks RZ Maiden releases which were very limited in number and now sell for very high premiums the only other avenue most collectors have is to customize another mold or design.
I dont think anyone can claimed to be miffed if someone else decides to customize the same mold as being the most appropriate to that character.
Myself - I am going to use the new Lieselotte as the basis of my Shinku but I'm not going get cut up if anyone decides the same thing.

 

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, yes? But sometimes people take influencing their doll's look a bit too far when they completely copy someone else's idea. I know I'd be severely angry, but I don't know if I'd come out and say something to them. Perhaps comment and say, wow! that looks so much like my doll, ______! And maybe they would get the hint? I'd probably end up getting incredibly frustrated and possibly telling them off, but I'd never do so in public. :C It may have been an accident and not on purpose, but if it was on purpose, I'd appreciate them changing a little bit of something. And if they didn't mean it to be a negative thing, then that'd be so embarrassing for them!

 

Chances are that they thought it up by themselves, and it just happens to be extremely similar to your doll. Unless they both happen to have the exact same name, look, clothes, and other physical/mental/background similarities, then the chance of them copying you isn't the highest, or a need for concern.

 

I would not be bother unless they copied everything and I mean EVERYTHING about my doll (wig, eyes, face-up, clothes, background...). It could happen that someone come up with a blond kitty-ears sweet boy or a cute cross-dresser, but a bit suspicious if the characters are the same. If it happened (not really likely) I don't know if I would say something to the owner, but I would be angry if they didn't say that they made their character after mine.

 

that would stink....

im planning my own too i hope it goes well

 

Some of the responses to this thread are really interesting... On one hand, I agree with some of the people who make the point that most characters aren't that original, so you shouldn't be bothered if one crops up a bit similar to yours--but on another, I've seen people work very hard on their dolls to create beautiful, elaborate characters. And to be honest, I myself have seen many a doll that I've thought; "How beautiful... I would love to have a doll like that~" But, of course, I would never copy the doll exactly because I wouldn't want someone to copy MY dolls.

This, I half agree with, and half don't. XD On one hand, I do think there are a lot of people who don't realize just how UNoriginal their "originality" is. there are definitely a lot of stereotype dolls in this hobby, and a lot of people with stereotypical characters who join it. Yes, there a a plethora of doll-newbs and veterans alike running around Emo Angsty Vampire Boys or Flaming Gay Shiwoos. However, that's their prerogative, you know? I agree that it's a bit silly when they come crying to the forums that they saw their mold wearing the same wig, though.
I find this especially ironic when the person is creating a doll based off of a character that's not their own. How on EARTH can you say something like; "I WANT MY SUPER KAWAII DESU CHAN TO BE ORIGINAL!" when she's already got her own franchise with 10-hundred half naked figurines? If you're making a doll based off of a character you didn't create, and you've put any thought into the mold whatsoever, someone else probably put that same amount of thought into the mold, and reached the same conclusion. Too bad, so sad! Even if you order a Minimee, there's no complete guarantee.

However, all of this really fails to take into account the countless people who have spent hours modding or working with their doll, searching down and trimming the PERFECT wig, commissioning the perfect outfit... I mean, for these dolls, wouldn't it be a bit different if someone tried to copy them? There comes a point when it can be a form of plagiarism. If you've got a doll named Rhea that was born in the magical land of Snodlesnort with 14 runes inscribed on her body and hair that fades from pink to green..
.. And someone introduces a doll named ReeRee born in Snodlesort with 14 badly drawn runes and the same type of hair, then yeah--clearly someone was copying. And if it were me, I'd be pretty frustrated. >//<
At that point, they're not just stealing the look of your doll, they're stealing your character. To me, that's the point at which you need to step up and say something~

I do realize that this line is different for everyone, though... What counts as a "a ton of thought and originality" for one person may seem completely stupid to another.

 

It's only okay if you have some kind of exact proof that someone is copying you i.e. same name, eye color, hair (maybe even wig) and mold. Other than that, don't bother harassing anyone about "copying" it becomes juvenile. The artistic world has the same problem with prints, it's very frustrating.

 

As she is right now, if someone had a doll that looked just like my Lo, I'd be a LITTLE confuzzled, but over all, it's VERY possible. All she's got is the stuff that I got with her from Angell-Studio, and sure I've had my mom and gramma help me make some more clothes for her, but they're just not as NICE looking. x3

However once I have her dressed in the clothes I designed, if I see another doll in such clothes... Ooooh they better hope I never find them. xD;;;
Unless of course I sold those clothes. Because that's totally different.

 

In essence, no one's stopping you from accusing anyone of anything.
In the business world, you could be risking libel.
In the doll world? It doesn't matter. Seriously. It's not a crime. A minor vexation at best.

 

I'm not so much concerned about someone using the same doll, eyes, wig, but rather copying the character. If I saw another KDF Cherry with the same wig and eyes and similar clothes, it wouldn't mean much to me cause my James is a pretty typical looking kid. Now, if I saw that same doll had the same history as James, I'd be miffed and a bit suspicious. It's not unreasonable to think someone else came up with the same story, but it would seem rather weird. Same thing with Ichabod, except his wig is not so common, so I might be surprised to see another like it, especially if it were on the same sculpt.

But really, if you want to own the rights to the character so badly, do something legit about it. Write a book and get it published if it means that much to you. But as far as the dollyverse goes, there's really nothing that can be done. It's not a crime, or against any rules (that I know of), to have identical dolls.

And as far as making a doll after an existing, well known character, it's kind of silly to get mad about it. Boo-hoo, two people like the same character, and made dolls of them. That's like crying because you made a cosplay, only to find a dozen others in the same costume at a convention. Yes, you may have poured hours of time and skill into it, but so did the other person/people. Since you both obviously like the same thing, you should try and make friends instead of accusations.

 

I think a perfect example of when its ok to accuse someone of copying ur doll, is the recent Leeke/Dust of Dolls issue. In leeke's photograph proving they sculpted their doll, there were print outs of pictures of dust of dolls design concepts laying in the background. They might not have recast the doll, but they did steal the design. And inadvertently proved that they had. Definately think its ok to accuse then. It might be slightly different than character-stealing, but its a good example of how you can steal a "design" of a doll.

 

Please. Enough of the leeke/ dust of dolls debate. Every time it comes up, someone disagrees, and it turns into an arguement. And people have made up their minds already, so its pointless aggression.

I'm not even sure its relevant to the tone of this thread, which seems to be mostly about copying of character designs and faceups of personal dolls by specific individuals.

 

Agree with petitefilou, please stop with Leeke - D.D.

At the beginning, I was quite sad to see some of my ideas whose copied, but finally, I don't care any more. I'm not enough smart to make awesome and totally original characters, so if I see similarities, I've no problems with. My dolls are mine and it made them already unique. (but I've some rare dolls, try to copy them, muahahaha!)

 

I agree with petitefilou. This thread seems to be more about YOUR personal doll rather than doll companies. Doll companies are inspired by each other's designs all the time and it's up to your own interpretation of what is actual copying and just actual inspiration and that discussion is probably suited better for other threads.

To stay on topic, I'd only be mad if it was super, ridiculously blatant. There happens to be another white-haired Wing-2 (and there might be more but I haven't seen them) on this board so my Rai is not some special snowflake and I refuse to act like he is. But, we style our dolls COMPLETELY different. If I went out of my way to style my doll EXACTLY like hers (and I mean exact same wig, clothes, eyes, etc) or vice versa, then I think it'd be fair to point a finger or two. There are so many dolls with the same wig color and eye color and clothes from the same place but it's what you do with all that that really makes the doll and really makes it yours.

 

I have a question, and I think this thread is the best one to place it in. I may soon be buying a doll from another user here on DoA. Is it wrong of me to ask to keep the character/personality/name/background that she has already given the doll? I ask because I like the story she already has with him, and I can't see myself having him deviate far from his current personality. However, would that be considered copying, even though I would be buying the doll in question?

 

You can always ask the old owner, or make him different while still retaining some basic personality traits. For me, the characters don't get sold with the dolls -- they're mine, and will remain mine whether or not they are in resin form. I personally wouldn't want the new owners to keep the character with the doll -- I would want them to create their own. However, this person may not care, so I would suggest asking and then going from there.