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puppetmakerThere are a number of different e-mailing lists I belong to. Some are puppetry related, some are doll related, some are about costuming, a couple of tightcircles for groups I have belonged to at one time or another. All these generate e-mail or digests that I read when I get a chance. I usually use the early morning or late evening to read through my e-mail at my various e-mail address. This weekend has brought a funky kind of synergy to the lists.
Most of it has to do with intellectual property and fair use. On one of the doll lists, the question of when does a pattern become an original pattern came up yet again. This question which leads to a debate or an argument depending on the season and the moods of the participants comes around about every 3 months. There is no consensus in the group on this topic and probably never will be. This leads to how many dolls can you make from a pattern and sell which no one agrees on then the stories about how people’s patterns and ideas have been stolen by people and the industry at large. This all dies down and the list settles back into an exchange of information about doll making with a little bit about the lives of the participants. I think we have 3 new grandmothers and 4 new mothers for the month of June.
Now on one of the puppetry list, information is much more freely given because the list is invite only and you only get in through another puppeteer who knows you and your work. We have been discussing the history of marionettes in America since one of the participants is working on a Ph.D. which is using this sort of information. This lead to a discussion of the different kinds of controls which lead to a discussion about some of the patents that have been given over the years for puppet stuff most of it movie related. The one time we had a problem about theft of intellectual property, it was real obvious who was in the right and who was in the wrong and the person in the wrong left the list in a huff.
On one of the costuming lists which I think has the most participants of any list I belong to, the moderator had to step up on her soap box and put her foot down hard as to what was allowed and not allowed on the list. She sent out an e-mail explaining why the list was the way it was and why it was not going to change. She reiterated all points one was suppose to read before joining including no soliciting or sell of costumes and no flaming even if the person was not on the list. No making pleas for a seamstress (see soliciting) to help you with your costume. This list was made to help people make their own costumes and there are plenty of other lists you can use to find someone to make you a costume. Again it had to do with intellectual property rights especially since this is a recreation site and news group. Recently patterns have been showing up on E-Bay that contain chunks of information from the web site including all the typos and grammar errors. The web site is out of pocket for the list owner so she is not making a dime on this project at all in fact she is losing money in the venture. I think this goes beyond fair use of materials available on the internet. You can make an original pattern for a costume, puppet or doll on your own if you are so inclined. You can make things from patterns that you find over time, but trying to pass it off as your own just doesn’t seem right. But it is possible for two people to come up with just about the same idea around the same time. And there is the rub in all these discussions.
Most of it has to do with intellectual property and fair use. On one of the doll lists, the question of when does a pattern become an original pattern came up yet again. This question which leads to a debate or an argument depending on the season and the moods of the participants comes around about every 3 months. There is no consensus in the group on this topic and probably never will be. This leads to how many dolls can you make from a pattern and sell which no one agrees on then the stories about how people’s patterns and ideas have been stolen by people and the industry at large. This all dies down and the list settles back into an exchange of information about doll making with a little bit about the lives of the participants. I think we have 3 new grandmothers and 4 new mothers for the month of June.
Now on one of the puppetry list, information is much more freely given because the list is invite only and you only get in through another puppeteer who knows you and your work. We have been discussing the history of marionettes in America since one of the participants is working on a Ph.D. which is using this sort of information. This lead to a discussion of the different kinds of controls which lead to a discussion about some of the patents that have been given over the years for puppet stuff most of it movie related. The one time we had a problem about theft of intellectual property, it was real obvious who was in the right and who was in the wrong and the person in the wrong left the list in a huff.
On one of the costuming lists which I think has the most participants of any list I belong to, the moderator had to step up on her soap box and put her foot down hard as to what was allowed and not allowed on the list. She sent out an e-mail explaining why the list was the way it was and why it was not going to change. She reiterated all points one was suppose to read before joining including no soliciting or sell of costumes and no flaming even if the person was not on the list. No making pleas for a seamstress (see soliciting) to help you with your costume. This list was made to help people make their own costumes and there are plenty of other lists you can use to find someone to make you a costume. Again it had to do with intellectual property rights especially since this is a recreation site and news group. Recently patterns have been showing up on E-Bay that contain chunks of information from the web site including all the typos and grammar errors. The web site is out of pocket for the list owner so she is not making a dime on this project at all in fact she is losing money in the venture. I think this goes beyond fair use of materials available on the internet. You can make an original pattern for a costume, puppet or doll on your own if you are so inclined. You can make things from patterns that you find over time, but trying to pass it off as your own just doesn’t seem right. But it is possible for two people to come up with just about the same idea around the same time. And there is the rub in all these discussions.
