[Woodcarver] copyright laws (not just beating a dead horse)

[Joe Dillett]

Great discussion on copyrights. Another benefit to this type of discussion 
is to keep us mindful of copyrights and giving credit where credit is due. 
So I feel that we're not just beating a dead horse. Wonder if that image has 
been copyrighted? LOL

One thing I hardly see in the carving world is when someone signs their 
work, taken from another person's pattern, they don't credit the originator 
of the design, like if I did one of Ivan's patterns I would sign 'Joe 
Dillett after Ivan Whillock'. Maybe we need to think about doing that as a 
way to recognize the originator for their creativity and talent? This is a 
common practice in drawing and painting.

We should look from the other side of the fence, not the side worried about 
if we're in violation but from the side to use copyrights to our advantage, 
even as a marketable item to sell. A copyright costs almost nothing and can 
be sold for more then the original piece. I have done it several times. I 
know a carver/pattern maker who got a whole new building for his shop from 
one copyright. I feel that putting a value on the copyright is giving our 
work the respect it deserves.

I think it was Saint Francis who said that a laborer works with is hands, a 
craftsman works with is brain and an artist works from their heart. Maybe 
I'm wrong on who's said it, because most of the time I am, but it puts 
things in perspective of what we are trying to achieve.

Everything around us is inspiration, including the work from other artists 
and especially the work from our Master Creator. An artist uses this 
inspiration to speak what's in the heart. With the artist speaking their own 
voice they are never straddling the fence over copyright violation.

Thanks for the great discussion.

Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552

(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.net [business web site]
http://www.carvingmagazine.com ['Ask Joe' column]
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