Casting figs to englarge dioramas (1 Viewer)

[Martin Tabony]

I've been following this thread with some interest. This is my take on the question of copyrighting figures...

Let's say 10 different sculptors create a WWII GI, standing, firing.. A common enough pose.. and each sculptor uses the same list of equipment, clothing, etc. to put on the figure. You will get 10 different sculpts.. they will be similar as they are all standing, firing, WWII US GIs with the same equipment, etc. But they will vary (my guess is widely) in terms of style, level of detail, size, etc. They have each created a unique figure... Each of them own the copyright to their own sculpt.. If I come along and pick one the sculpts and make a casting of that exact sculpt to make a bunch of figures - then I have infringed on that particular sculptor's copyright.

Regardless of whether or not that sculptor chooses to pursue legal action, you have illegally copied his or her work.

Additionally, if I choose to sculpt my own WWII US GI with same equipment, then it's no problem. It's my own creation, so I have not infringed upon anyone's copyright.

That's my understanding...

Regards,

Jim

Exactly right, it's that simple. Also if you pay another person to do the sculpting, as long as it is an original, then you are buying the rights to reproduce at will.

Martin

 

[TomB]

Tom ,

From what i am reading from you , i think you misunderstand what is being said...If say for example you wanted to create a WW2 British Soldier...You can create a sculpt & mold & it is your creation...Nobody has a copyright over creating/sculpting a British WW2 soldier...What is being said is that you cannot take some other manufactors figure & DIRECTLY copy it...You said you used to make ALH in school as a kid , if somebody say stole your sculpt & manufactored them , they would being stealing your work...
I must say Tom , before i started reading your posts i never paid much attention to sculpting or casting...You are causing alot of interest in sculpting & casting threads as of late...
I geuss what my question to you is...You have been sculpting since you were a kid & as i said before you are quite good at it...IMO sculpting is the hardest part of the creation process , not that i have ever sculpted or casted before...I think you should try casting with some advice from some of the members who cast on this site such as Brad who has already been offering you advise you should not have a problem/...

Joe

Jag..... Thanks mate.. I am confused....my .original post must read like an instruction on how to use a DVD player....the bloke who wrote it can understand it...but no-one else can.....I tried to suggest that the average collector who does not sculpt...but...can cast..... and would like to bulk up their diorama with a certain figure....have that figure made for them...nothing fancy....the figure is theirs and they can made as many copies as they wish.....I did not say have Brand X copied.....somehow,,, from one quarter....,copywrite,...pirating figure's and stealing idea's is all the rage ... ....I have been misread that a certain Firm pinched someone's else's idea....it was read out of context....did they not notice the ???.......the good bit of it all is the gentlemen who have offered advice and help...I thank them...and yourself........TomB

 

[Mitch]

The average collector IMO does not sculpt, nor cast, to bulk up or, hunt out sculptors who can make them figures. The average collector just collects and, if they can afford they buy multiples. People who sculpt, paint, design are not the norm. I still have not met any in the mat field who want to sculpt themselves or want others to do it in order to bulk up their collection. I actually had two figures sculpted for myself and made however, as keen on the dio, paint etc side of the hobby I never got around to getting them made. I know a few casters who work in the business and, some who do it for fun and like building and painting their own stuff they are in the minority. there may be more in the glossy and similar hobbies the toy soldier aspect but, in the mat hobby I would say they are like hens teeth.

as for padding out a dio I can't see how this works for WWII as much as say Nap or LAH dio's and what would a single sculpted figure cost? then multiply it by the number of poses to make the dio look interesting and, all the materials and space in ones home needed to cast safely is probably why many don't want to do it.

I look forward to seeing the prototypes and any casts you make from them in the future. As for the anti Christ stuff its not even remotely controversial your thread for that type of comment
Mitch

 

[The Military Workshop]

Brett.....I did not mention.... by name.... WETS or Craig,,I have a tremendous respect for Craig.....and UN-intentionally have dragged him into it... .I used the ALH because of the number of people who have produced and sold ALH....I was not picking on K&C.....K&C are just the most recent firm producing ALH ....someone suggested that if you make a figure...any fig to bulk up a diorama ...you are stealing someones Else's idea.....I used the ALH as a counter ....other people were using other people's idea's...were they stealing them ???? .......the whole thing has been blown out of proportion.....I can understand you defending Andy...and rightly so.....I was not having a go at Andy...he has done the ALH proud....(though I do like Craigs ALH better).....hope this clears up any misunderstandings that I am having a go at K&C or any other firm... ...sometimes some people seem to think the whole of WW11 is copywritted and if you make a WW!! figure...you are infringing someone's copywrite....or stealing idea's......I am confused...TomB

No problem Tom. However it would have been obvious to many on this forum you were referring to WETS/Craig.
All the best,
Brett

 

[TomB]

No problem Tom. However it would have been obvious to many on this forum you were referring to WETS/Craig.
All the best,
Brett

Thanks...it is wonderful ...now... to know that WETS and the true gentleman who owned and ran the small firm ...single handed....is so well known and appreciate...and I am truely sorry to have drag him into such a stupid discussion....TomB.

 

[theBaron]

WWII is not copyrighted...

Not yet, but almost, sort of.

A couple of years ago, there was quite a stir in the scale modeling community, because the descendant companies of American aircraft manufacturers in WWII wanted to copyright the names of their aircraft, and use this to cash in on sales of kits, and on sales of other memorabilia. So for example, Lockheed-Martin would copyright "B-24 Liberator", and Revell-Monogram would have to cough up a royalty on every B-24 kit sold, going forward. The cases were struck down, as far as I can recall, but discussions at the time ranged far enough to include discussions of whether Porsche could copyright "Tiger Tank", and so forth.

Anything for a buck!

Prost!
Brad

 

[TomB]

Not yet, but almost, sort of.

A couple of years ago, there was quite a stir in the scale modeling community, because the descendant companies of American aircraft manufacturers in WWII wanted to copyright the names of their aircraft, and use this to cash in on sales of kits, and on sales of other memorabilia. So for example, Lockheed-Martin would copyright "B-24 Liberator", and Revell-Monogram would have to cough up a royalty on every B-24 kit sold, going forward. The cases were struck down, as far as I can recall, but discussions at the time ranged far enough to include discussions of whether Porsche could copyright "Tiger Tank", and so forth.

Anything for a buck!

Prost!
Brad

thank you for your post.....can imagine the stir...if..some cash broke...euro country...wanted to raise a few buck and decieded theirs uniforms..wpn..tanks etc from WW11... were their exclusive domain ,,,,TomB