[Woodcarver] copyright

[Joyce Hanna]

The advice to take your own photos sounds terrific- but, for heaven's 
sake let's not send Bonnie into the woods with a camera to study real 
wolves!   Ballerinas, yes.  But wolves.....


The fact that Degas painted ballerinas does not mean that all other 
paintings of ballerinas would infringe on his copyright or would not 
be original.  It all depends on the source.  If I studied real 
ballerinas to do my painting, it would an original.  If I used Degas' 
painting as my source that would not be.  To put it another way, If I 
use PRIMARY sources as my model--the real thing, or my own 
imagination, I am creating an original.  If I rely on a SECONDARY 
source--something that is already a work of art, then I am not. 
(Thus, Bill's advice to take your own pictures is great advice 
because that way you are using primary sources.)

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