Copyright questions

I'll wade in to what seems dangerous and sticky territory, and I'm sure Boban will find reason to scuttle my input!
I had a feeling it was OK to use someone's design, or elements of, if you acknowledged the source, like referencing a quote. To say you've made a "Rietveld zigzag chair" is to unequivocally admit the design is someone elses, and you're not pretending to take credit for such. Rocker's trouble with permission from Maloof probably sinks that theory!
I know with quoting/copying text from books and journals for academic purposes, there is a limit of something like 10% per chapter, with suitable referencing. So maybe a similar proportion of the design can be used, again with acknowledgment:D!
Maybe the problem lies in the intent of the reproduction...to make money, to enhance a career, versus being made for your own use, or simply to research technique.
Cheers!

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Originally Posted by

I think Outback had a hand in this. :D It also explains why I can't understand my daughter at times, she is training to be a patent attorny.

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I aspire to attain this level of plain speak. :D

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Originally Posted by Andy Mac

scuttle my input!

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Nice pirate touch there Andy!

Cheers,

P

From my very limited dealings in this area, the reality is that whoever has the most money wins. It doesn't matter who is right or wrong, it comes down to who is prepared to devote the most resources to winning. So when it comes to an argument, unless you are prepared to mortgage your house to prove you are right, then don't bother.

I would back away from anything that even looks like it might be an issue because there's always someone (or someone's solicitor) out there who has more money than you do.

We recently had a 'dispute' with a client over ownership of 'intellectual property'. They demanded we hand it over or see them in court. We simply don't have the resources to fight an action in court, whereas the client is a large organisation that permanently employs three mouth-pieces, so it was handed over. There was even a contract signed to the effect that it belongs to us - it wasn't worth the paper it was printed on. It doesn't prove that the IP belonged to them, it just proves that money talks.

Don't get involved with anything that you suspect someone else might have a claim on. It's not worth it and there's plenty of other things you can do that involve less stress. Life is too short to get involved with lawyers (sorry Boban).

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It also explains why I can't understand my daughter at times, she is training to be a patent attorny.

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Sorry to hear that . If one of my kids comes home and says they want to be a lawyer, I'll disown them. A politician, a real estate agent... anything but that!! Yes, even an architect... ;)

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Originally Posted by silentC

Yes, even an architect... ;)

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:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Noooooo anything but that!!! Send them off on the high seas!!!

Arrrrrrr...

P
:D

I'd say "make 'em walk the plank" but architects seem to have forgotten the humble plank. It would probably be a sheet of toughened safety glass supported by stainless steel cables. And there would definitely be no parallel lines involved.

SilentC,

I think you are right. It would probably be too risky to sell a Rietveld-style chair, at least until 2034, when I shall certainly be pushing up the daisies. I think I could safely risk an article, though, if my chair turns out to be attractive.

Rocker

Didn't someone have a signature that read "my mum thinks I'm a piano player in a brothel" in preference to the truth of being a ......

While I dont agree with your assumptions about money buying the result, it gets you to a point were you can win. I can list plenty of cases were the little guy wins.

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Originally Posted by silentC

Life is too short to get involved with lawyers (sorry Boban).

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Arr, I couldn't agree more. Don't apologise.

To quote Tom Hanks in the movie Philadelphia,
"What do you call a thousand lawyers at the bottom of the sea?
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a good start."

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While I dont agree with your assumptions about money buying the result, it gets you to a point were you can win. I can list plenty of cases were the little guy wins.

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I agree but the little guy had to sell his house and died from a stress-related illness three months later ;)

I'll tell anyone that will listen to me. Court is a miserable place to end up. Generally, all you find is people at their worst.

Also the stress is not just on the parties. I know plenty of lawyers to live and breath their cases. I'm sorry to hear about that little guy.