[Woodcarver] Copyrights

[Byron]

There's also the practical side of any intellectual property, (patents or copyrights).   Intellectual property laws give the holder the right to sue. If you tried to mass market something that came close to looking like Mickey Mouse, you'd be in trouble.  Disney has the money and clout to enforce, sometimes just by intimidation.  You carve only one, they probably wouldn't bother except to maybe try the intimidation if they found out.
Another thing, all laws are determined applicable on a case by case basis, that's what the courts do.  There is always two questions asked, the obvious, is this entity guilty of violating the law?  The other, not so obvious but there just the same, is the law applicable in this case?  
My point is that it's best to attempt to take the high road and not directly copy, even then it could appear that there was a copyright infringement.  However, creating one caving from a picture is so far under the radar that the chances of the courts needing to determine the applicability of the law are almost non existent.  

(I'm ducking, cause the flames are gonna be coming my way)

Byron Kinnaman
abkinnaman at earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~abkinnaman



----- Original Message ----- 
From: Bonnie Schroeder 
To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
Sent: 11/4/2005 9:24:21 PM 
Subject: [Woodcarver] Copyrights


Does anyone have info regarding copyright laws?  I know that when you purchase carving patterns, you are then licenced to use the pattern and sell your work.  But what about if you use someone's painting or photograph as inspiration for a relief carving?  
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/woodcarver/attachments/20051105/246a8182/attachment.html