people - yes, i remember saying that one post was hopefully my last,
but there have been some posts the beg for answering - or i may chew
the corners off of my benchblock. while there were posts of support
from people with similar love of the art of jewelry making sticking
together & expressing desire to keep designs safe from theft as a
means to further the profession - there were those who not only
’played’ devil’s advocate, but got a kick out of throwing rocks from
the outside. to read a post calling the desire to keep for one’s own
the product of one’s efforts simply “greed” & selfishness or
pettiness - & the claim that since the design can “probably” be
credited to some obscure designer scratching in the dust centuries
ago that’s an excuse for someone ripping it off today. and thus we
get to the problem i have seen developing since i introduced the
"stolen design" thread (unless someone wants to lay claim to having
come up with that too!): people i might have liked to get to know
before they started excusing design theft as greed or selfishness -
not just excusing, but some actually accusing the designer of
stealing the design from elsewhere. and there was even a trace of
pleasure in the supreme court’s latest ruling (which did not affect
the artist’s basic copyright law). what those statements reveal about
the posters is this: they have probably never had a viably successful
design worth stealing; they probably have resentment against those
who have had such success; they do not have ‘constructive’ minds but
probably tend to look at everything from a destructionist’s
perspective. and saddest of all, they are people i would never leave
alone in a room with anything of value. shame on some of you. ive ps:
using the destructionists’ reasoning: since i had a friend with 9
children should she have been willing to overlook having a few
kidnapped?
Wy not post some pics of your designs on Orchid FTP site so we can all see
some really original work? Jerry in Kodiak
Wow!
people i might have liked to get to know
before they started excusing design theft as greed or selfishness - not just excusing, but some actually accusing the designer of stealing the design from elsewhere.
That’s a bit harsh. I don’t recollect the “excusing” and “accusing”
referred to and nor would I wish to be seduced by those litigous
interpretations.
they are people i would never leave alone in a room with anything of value. shame on some of you. ive ps: using the destructionists' reasoning: since i had a friend with 9 children should she have been willing to overlook having a few kidnapped?
There is a lot of accusatory anger in those comments. The usual
advice and spirit of friendly cooperation we enjoy as Orchid
subscribers is sadly lacking here. The lawyers are already too eager
to add to their wealth by fomenting this anger and resentment. Let’s
not let it derail our efforts.
Perhaps we should be more concerned about the effect of the Jack
Hassons of the world mentioned in Teresa Master’s timely post.
Kind regards,
Rex from Oz
destructionists' reasoning: since i had a friend with 9 children should she have been willing to overlook having a few kidnapped?
And I suppose, since these are original children, not copied from
other humans, they bear no resemblance to any other children? They
have some other means of moving than legs? Some other means of
seeing than eyes? Some other means of speaking than a voice?
JUST KIDDING! Please!
I do agree with most of what you and others have said about the need
to be completely and absolutely original. However, it is not always
absolutely possible to avoid independently creating innocent designs
that bear close resemblance to other designs that others have
created. Sometimes this is by influence, either conscious or
unconscious. Sometimes the genre dictates similarities. I am a
relative new-comer to designing and making jewelry. I have lately
been concentrating on Celtic inspired pieces. The basic designs and
visual techniques are very rigid in their appearance. I have been
attempting to create my own designs with a Celtic feel, but there are
times when I deliberately use a traditional design in a different
way. When I do this, I try to inform the eventual owner of the piece
where the design came from, and how it was originally used. I also
try to look at as much of the product of others working in this
genre, not to copy, but to avoid making items that look too similar,
even though it is quite apparent that we are both referencing the
same body of historic work. In this way, I think I am able to avoid
the intent of the term “plagiarism”. I believe that – so far – I
have been successful.
Just remember the old saying “There is nothing new under the sun!”
In this way, I think I am able to avoid the intent of the term “plagiarism”.
A saying at our college when we were preparing essays: One reference:
plagiarism, two is research!
On a more serious note; sorry, but i can not remember the reference,
but it is in a art text. The author expressed in polysyllabic words
which i translate to: a creation requires three elements: an idea, a
medium to express it in, and the skill to take the other two and make
it happen. What has this to do with copying? To me it means that no
matter how much i would want to steal the design, i will not succeed
because the idea (motivation, vision, context) will not be the same as
the originator’s idea, the medium will not be exactly the same as the
originator’s, and certainly not the level of skill! It will just
merely be a copy, and a bad one at that.
As an amateur and very much so, I am a little concerned about the
elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. As a
professional, i am an analyst, so will wear that hat for the moment.
When did this thread arise, or is it just maintaining a recurring
theme? If it is recurring, why? What caused the thread in the first
place? Why is the discussion restricted to generalities? Can we agree
on concrete examples of direct and deliberate theft of designs? Do we
know someone who was hurt as a result of a theft of a design; then who
and how? Otherwise i can only perceive a hidden (and small p,
political) agenda by those who have much influence (the in group)
attempting to discourage those who have little (the out group).
Discussions like these arise when resources become restricted. People
then try to grab whatever they can to maintain their personal
well-being. In expanding economies there is little motivation to
complain, people are just too busy. So where is the depression?
On a different what i find most discouraging of all, however, is just
how little jewellry is worn by “trend setters” in North America. And
i don’t mean necessarily wearing gems and big stuff. Why is the “look”
so minimalist? If you wondering what i am writing on about, just
glance through a recent issue of Vogue.
Finally, can anyone please tell me why i am shouting name in CAPS
when i just want nice little letters?
Hanuman’s Note:
I manualy fixed it for this posting. You shuld
configure your email program.