[Jewelry making - Article 01471] - Re: [Orchid] Ethics of Learning & Teaching

[marlin]

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    This is a discussion I thought I could steer clear of, but no. I can
    see many facets of the issue. In the larger world of mass produced
    fashion (for example dresses, shoes, and handbags), as soon as a
    major designer produces an item, knock offs are available from
    discounters. The same is true with TV shows, music styles - you name
    it. Some folks buy the cache of the name, some folks buy the knock
    off to pass as an original and some buy the knock off because they
    like the design, and some simply buy utility at WalMart. 

    Our discussion is, I suspect not about mass production, but about a
    much more personal issue. We are our product. We become identified
    with a design or technique and when it is appropriated by someone
    else we suffer from something akin to identity theft. Someone is
    impersonating us through a design or technique. We suffer a visceral
    reaction to the threat to our identity and in some cases to our
    livelihood. We have held ourselves out there through our pieces,
    publications and trainings as exemplars of our craft. People desire
    us - they buy our products. We are in effect so good that people have
    the audacity to then copy us - imitate us and to some extent
    impersonate us, and when that first happens we feel violated in a
    very real way. I understand, but I also wish to be so good that this
    happens to me. 


    The next question is how to deal with the issue. As a general rule,
    legal options are a dead end - too expensive and efemoral, although
    one could perhaps use the DMCA to pull knock offs off the web. In a
    community as tight as the Art Jewelry world, I would hope to have
    some self regulation like the diamond trade where reputation is
    everything (I still remember picking up my first 3 caret diamond with
    just a memo, scary!). 

    On the other hand I also see the argument that if I pay for a class,
    I should be able to use the information. If I see a piece or a
    technique, and I morph it to become mine, then I should be able to
    use it to the extent of the law. I would hope however that
    respectable galleries, publications and colleagues would shut me down
    for blatant appropriation of someone else's identity. 

    Or maybe the 18th consecutive day of 90 degree F plus heat is getting
    to my brain. Marlin - hot Denver
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