[Woodcarver] Copyrights

[Denny Bell]

This statement makes it sound like I could make resin casts of a carving done by another artist, and as long as I change the medium, it is OK.

Doesn't sound right to me.  I also heard the 10% rule, but was also told it was hot upheld in the courts.  I guess if we look long enough we can find something to support any thing we want to support.  As far as the old masters, their copyright should have run out a long time ago...

Denny

From: scrimshaw at aptalaska.net
To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:03:51 -0800
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Copyrights










Here is an added twist....
 
What about if you see a great picture on a calendar or a 
greeting card?  I've heard from a master scrimshander that if you change 
the medium, like art from the two mentioned, to say a carving or ivory scrim, 
that you are legal.  
 
The following is what I was told by one of the country's top 
scrimshaw artists.....
"Altering something by 10% (or some figure) is enough to 
comply with copyright. When we do scrim, we change it 100%. Artists can use 
anything for a model. If you put the photo on a copier, and try to sell the copy 
as the original, then you've got  problems. I've been to some of the best 
art museums in the world, where they allow painters to make painted copies of 
masterpieces. They just can't sell them as the originals." 
 
As a scrimshaw artist and gunstock carver, I am faced with 
this all the time.  There are times when I see a great 
looking picture.  And maybe at that time I only want the 
deer, moose, etc... and then create my own background.  Not all the time 
but occasionally.  I don't think there is anything wrong with the concept 
of being inspired by a picture and then changing it.  The one thing I do 
when I sell a piece of scrim.... I include a card with the information on it 
that "This scrim was inspired by the Native art from Jack Hudson.  
Native design by Jack...scrimmed by Steve Lankerd"   
 
Any thoughts?
 
 
Best Regards,
 
Steve
 
Steve Lankerd Sr
Metlakatla, Alaska
 
http://www.stevelankerdstudio.com

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