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

I try to include the doll's stats when I post photos (model, wig, eyes, etc), in case someone is interested.

That said:

I don't buy standard models; all my dolls are either old discontinued models or rare limiteds. I don't buy standard-issue eyes; they're all handmade glass. I prefer limited wigs over anything off-the-shelf. Everyone has custom faceups/blushing and unique hand-sewn clothes (intricate embroidery and/or hand-beading).

Go ahead. Try to copy.

I didn't get upset over people telling me they wanted a red-haired Volks Cynthia because of mine. I didn't get upset if someone else wanted to paint their dolls weird colours because we didn't have coloured resin back in the day. If someone really wants to spend three weeks of their life copying Maris' beaded outfit, more power to them; I've had most of the (discontinued) beads for years so it won't be an exact copy anyway.

 

Well I don't tell everything about my characters here and I make my own clothes so if someone had the exact same stories as me and the same clothes that would be pretty odd. It wouldn't be copying because they wouldn't know everything about my dolls so it would be a very big coincidence.

I will say that if someone took the character of one of my dolls I would be pretty upset, one of the reasons I don't tell everything about them here. I write stories about them and a few of them are going into a bigger work of my own. Most of them are involved in stories I write with friends. To take their backstories (I put ton of research into my character's life stories) if they were posted here or known would be outright theft. Sadly without a copyright I think it would be hard to prove.

Now copying their wigs and eyes and general style would be fine. I have seen a few dolls out there who look like my character Amadeo (in different clothes) and I don't find that strange at all. He has a pretty "generic" look that suits lots of different character concepts. I would find it odd if someone had a doll that looked just like my characters Skye or Lucie because their looks are so unique, but I certainly wouldn't be mad. More popular sculpts are going to have dolls that look alike I think just because the odds of two people saying gee this wig looks great and so do these eyes I bet they would look good with this sculpt are pretty good.

In any case I don't know what good it would do to publicly accuse someone of "stealing" your ideas. People come up with original ideas that are similar sometimes and in a community of artists like most of the people in this hobby seem to be, such accusations are pretty hard to hear and pretty hard to disprove. Saying something like that could ruin someone's reputation and cause all sorts of unnecessary drama. At the end of the day if you love your doll to me that is all that should matter.

 

This is an interesting topic.

I recently found a sculpt I like, decided on a wig for her, and found an outfit from a certain company that I thought was perfect for her. To my dismay, when I checked the discussion thread here on DoA, someone had already bought that sculpt, put her in a wig very similar to the one I had chosen, and dressed her in that exact outfit.

Now, imagine for a second I hadn't seen that post and had bought my doll and put her together with that outfit and that wig and shared my photos like a proud dolly owner. Would people have grumbled about me, or accused me of stealing that first person's ideas? Even if I had been totally innocent and had come up with that style on my own?

The point is that sometimes great minds think alike. Just because you've done your doll up a certain way doesn't mean you were the first with that idea; you might just be the first to execute it in public. I felt really awkward and disappointed when I saw that that post. (Heck, I'm the kind of person who feels awkward when someone else has used a name for their doll that I was planning to use )But then I thought - why should I feel bad? And why should that stop me? I'm not copying anyone! That's just the way, if I bought that doll, I'd want her to look. I'm not saying I will do it, but I definitely have the right to.

And it works the other way around - if I see someone has the same doll as me in a similar wig and outfit, I have no right to accuse them of anything. Maybe they saw my doll and liked it and wanted something similar, in which case I'm flattered. Or maybe they never even saw my doll and it's a complete coincidence.

Unless someone is copying something very specific, there is no basis for stirring up drama.

 

Err...in this world, there such things as coincidences. I certainly wouldn't be quick to assume someone was deliberately copying me unless everything I used was something I custom made myself or had commissioned and based on my own character.

But if I were using things straight from a store, I'd keep in mind that while not extremely likely it is possible someone decided to dress a doll the same way I chose to. With as many people as there are on this planet I'd bet someone would, even if I never meet/see them.

Besides- if I did ever see something like that, how would I know I was first? Post dates maybe but not everyone uploads something when its taken. I know I don't. Heck, how would I even know if they thought of it first, but I just got to actually putting it together before them? Things like that.
With that all said, the only time I'd accuse someone is if they were copying one of my characters with things I made myself/commissioned. And only then because didn't ask permission, as some of my characters are used for more than just personal endeavors there could be potential problems. But that's why we invented words, so we can communicate. Not take the proverbial stick and go to town on them.

 

Never. Why? Cause there's so many BJD's and BJD owners worldwide that there are unintentional twins bound to happen. Heck I was talking on another forum about making an outfit for one of my girls and I talked to someone who had the same name for their doll as mine. I thought it was cool. Personally I like seeing comparisons, seeing y'know if there was differences...

But I would never accuse someone of copying me or anyone else's.

If people did that there'd be a flame war over all the Sherlock's, The Doctor Who characters and the tons of RDJ Downey Mini-Me doll owners.

 

I believe legit cases of copying are rare but many people are inspired by others, particularly when it comes to faceups. I think simply having the same sculpt and same wig on a doll, especially if the wig and doll come from a company... tbh what makes people think they invented that style... like girl sit down.

Unless a person is publicly declaring that their doll is original and you know the person is perhaps stalking you and they bought the exact same sculpt, wig, clothes and had the same faceup than I wouldn't just accuse some of copying... if someone has a doll that resembles your own than why is your first thought "They copied me", I would really like to know...?

Sounds kind of cocky and presumptuous. I'd actually be intrigued if I saw another doll that was a doppelganger of one of my 7 dolls.

 

oops double

 

with everybody buying full set dolls Im suprised that people are so sensetive with having an original.

and Like Neko.kun says, you dont own a style. If I want one of my girls to be rockabily than no one can tell me I cant because their doll also has that style.
I never copied someone and try to be original but I would not be surpised if someone also came up with the same idea's as I did.

what I do find unforgiving is harrasing someone because you think someone stole an idea. there is no way of telling that that person copied te idea or that that person came with the same great idea.
and like I said in the beginning, with all the fullsets that are being sold I think its silly to be mad at someone for wanting the same doll (but that is just my opinion )

 

It's a slippery slope accusing someone from copying your face up or styling... I'm not crafty so I wouldn't be able to copy a face up or outfit nor would I want to. But I saw someone accuse another BJD owner of copying after using blood red lips and a dark smokey eye on her doll... This is a classic makeup style, I even used it on me, so I was amazed that people are so quick to accuse someone.

Different people can come up with the same idea, that doesn't mean that the person who did it last copied anyone or is even aware of the other person.

 

I don't think it's ever okay to outright accuse someone of copying. However I learned the hard way in life that someone copying you is a compliment (still have a hard time with it though). Maybe I'd talk to them about it, but even so, all dolls are unique in their own way. Maybe I'd make friends with them and talk about clothes and stuff if they like what I do so much. I think I would turn it into a positive situation, it's probably the best turn out.

 

First of all, if the person keeps asking where you get your clothes and wigs and eyes and shoes then they go out and buy them all, I feel like that is way too overboard.
If you really really like the shirt a doll has on, that's fine in my eyes.

But it's when the person starts to buy EVERYTHING that your or another doll has on, that's a bit creepy and rude tbh.

 

i don't think copying is ok, but if you like the doll, clothes or wig and ask about it that's ok, as long as you make your doll different from the other persons.

You can use others dolls and stories as inspiration for your own collection.

 

Honestly I don't understand why some people get so aggressive when they think someone is copying them. It's just a doll, just a hobby. It's not like they're copying your personal sewing patterns, making the items, and selling them, as one example. I might even take it as a form of flattery if my doll was so beautiful that someone else wanted a doll that looked like it!

 

I don't think 'accusing' is ever okay. Talking to them about it is a lot better than outright accusing them right away. I am new to the hobby so perhaps my opinion isn't fully developed or valid, but I'd say that even then you should do so for every similarity.

The only cases I can think of where it would definitely be okay to be wondering if they're copying you in the first place would be:
- If after they saw your doll, they copy the wig, outfit, faceup, etc specifically to make their doll look like yours (which even then I'd see as a compliment rather than an insult)
- If they copied the backstory / character idea of the doll rather than the appearance

If a doll has a similar outfit, the same wig, eyes, etc though, that isn't necessarily copying in the first place. Especially for new people in the hobby (I mean really, how worse of a welcome can you get than to be accused of copying right away?) finding your 'aesthetic' can be difficult. On top of that, there are people that can only get company faceups, and/or can't make their own clothes. If you have the same outfit from the same company, well, what do you expect? Some people only buy from one company, and that company may have limited choices for that size.

Overall I just think that some people are far too quick to jump to conclusions without discussing it at all or thinking it through. I keep worrying that when I get my doll and post pictures, someone will accuse me of copying in some way. It is a really scary thought; I ordered my doll before even gaining access to Den of Angels, and I'd feel intimidated if that's the first reaction I got.

 

if your work does get copied it should be a good thing, that obviously means your work is amazing in someone else's eyes and they want YOUR doll

very true guys ^^

 

I wouldn't care if someone's doll looked like mine, especially as I have a fullset or two. Most of my other dolls are also fairly generic, so I wouldn't be surprised at all to see at least one or more that look exactly like mine. I would just assume great minds think alike and all that.

This doesn't seem to be a hobby where it would be easy to be completely unique anyway as supplies and inspiration all seem to come from the same places.

 

If someone is really copying you for malicious reasons (to devalue what you're trying to sell, or to turn your character against your wishes to bully you, etc) and is not responding to your calm, respectful requests that they desist or develop the idea beyond comparison to yours.. I would recommend getting a moderator or mediator involved. Block them from seeing your content, and block yourself from seeing theirs (the latter to alleviate your own stress level and bloodlust that drama breeds.)

If they seem to be copying you because they like what they see you doing, they probably just don't know better than to do that without saying "Thanks for the inspiration, I just had to try it for myself!" The solution for this problem is communication! Try to see it as a chance to connect with someone who has similar tastes. Say "Hey, I noticed you, have you noticed me? What all inspired you to style your doll / photos this way? What is your doll's personality or significance to you all about? Can you tell me about how you hope to develop from here? We have similar interests, so I'd be interested to follow your progress!"

This solves two problems. They will no longer think they're invisible or under-valued (which could have subconsciously led to the copying in the first place) and they will now know that someone whose taste they admire has taken notice of them and is looking on expectantly. It is their turn to impress or inspire you.
Or wear themselves out trying. It can be exhausting for both, in that case.

Share the sites and resources that inspired you to style your doll the way you did, and encourage the person to continue developing their own tastes. They might start picking out different trends from the same magazine or blog you found inspiration from. They'll diverge off on their own eventually (or maybe you will be the one to flow onward, and they truly love the look they copied from you so much they never will.. who knows..)

If you're the soul who happens to start a big trend, it's a burden to know that your grand, unique idea and workmanship is being copied with varying degrees of care by many, and that where it goes from here is out of your control. But there's nothing that can be done, you've sparked inspiration and energy in a whole lot of people, and just have to let that knowledge be enough. The first person to painstakingly craft up a centaur doll had to deal with it, the first person to dress their doll in pastel goth fashion had to deal with it, as did the first to accessorize their doll with bumps and bruises. These trends are something that should be celebrated by the community as a chance for creativity to bloom from a central idea which a lot of people enjoy. The challenge is to make the expression of the idea in your own unique way.

 

I have a character with rather specific scars. If someone got the same hybrid doll as him and painted it with the same scars and gave it the same color eyes and hair, THEN I'd start side-eying them. otherwise, nope.

 

@MissyMagoo I totally agree with your words!

@MadMisery That's not nice at all and the other hand you should at least give the person some credit who have been taking their time and helping you by giving the information where she/he got the clothing, eyes, wigs from to show some respect back.

But like this case, if the person only does it to copy the doll right off, take the character behind the owners work and claim that it's their own. Well that's very rude.