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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>In reading the emails I've come to two firm
conclusions: "Everything is original" and "Nothing is
original."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>Some people define original as "different" and argue
that no two things are ever alike, even if you try to make them so,
thus, EVERYTHING is original. We've had several writers express that
point of view.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>On the other hand, God was the originator of
everything, and therefore everything is a copy of something and
therefore NOTHING is original. We've had several email writers
express that view.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>It proves one of the curiosities of language:
you can frame issues to "prove" opposites.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>Yes, but . . . </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>Trouble is, the "everything is original" argument
doesn't work as a defense when Disney threatens a lawsuit over your carving
of Mickey Mouse. Hobbyists might do fine with the everything is
original philosophy--until they try to sell. Then they
should know that there are rules that don't accept that
concept.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>Nor does the "nothing is original" argument work when
artists are trying to protect their right to make a living on their
work. "Disney copied God's creation of a mouse, therefore I'm justified in
copying Disney." "Every artist copies something" won't work in
court either, nor in art shows that demand "original work." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000> New sellers need a
workable understanding of the concept of "original
work" that would respect the creations of others and would
not get carvers into legal trouble for copying.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>A workable definition of "originality" for artists
has to lie somewhere between the "nothing is original" and the "everything is
original" arguments.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>Ivan Whillock Studio<BR>122 NE 1st
Avenue<BR>Faribault, MN 55021<BR>Visit my website at<BR><A
title="http://www.whillock.com CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="http://www.whillock.com">http://www.whillock.com</A><BR>Visit my Picture
Trail album at<BR><A
title="http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=ivancarve CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=ivancarve">http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=ivancarve</A></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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