My sentiments exactly. Get real with this copyright biz. I’ve been
knocked off and I’ve done the same. I do not apologize.
My customers want what they want, and I am in the biz to make a
living - not to be the copyright police. This is a tough biz especially when
dealing with the retail public.
They don’t care where the “inspiration” comes from. All they
want is something to wear. Many times I use the cust. metal and stones.
They often have an idea they want done. It’s my job to do what they want
not to be their conscience, which by the way, many do not have or care.
I do not get into the “cosmic” stuff of jewelry design with them, either.
I do the job, get paid and move on to the next. I have met too many
"starving artists" and have no intention of joining their ranks
intentionally. The copyright nazis can do their work, but until they come
knocking on my door, it’s business as usual. I have probably offended some
of you, and will not apologize. I have spent the major portion of my life
in the jewelry biz at the bench and have learned that one doesn’t always
have the luxury of doing what one wants. I hate chain repair, but I do
it. I hate to size rings, but I do it. All the mundane crap that comes
with the territory must be done by someone. If I don’t make the customer
happy, someone else will. Why not put their money in my account? I don’t
lie to my customers, and I don’t steal from them. Neither do I preach to
them. Beyond my doing my very best for them, what more do they expect.
The only thing I will apologize for is my rambling on. I have had it
with discussions of asthetics of jewelry design being “purely inspirational”.
To quote, “we don’t live in a vacuum, and we can’t work in one”. If an
idea of someone else’s spills into something I do, so what?
“That’s my oppinion - I could be wrong” - Dennis Miller
I don’t believe that it is necessary to be the conscience for someone
else. Each one of us has our own conscience and can use it. We all
decide what our personal values and professional standards will be and
follow them the best way we can. Almost every artist has seen their work
appropriated, and knows how it feels. I spend a lot of time on my
designs, and I am affronted when asked to copy another artist’s work. I
have turned down many jobs when asked to copy a picture from a magazine or
brochure. I do from time to time offer to use someone else’s design as a
starting point for a new design. If my customer likes the new design I am
happy to make it. If they insist on the original design, I thank them for
thinking about me and explain why I can’t duplicate the piece they want.
I lose a small amount of business this way, but I believe that those
customers will remember me, and when they need a jeweler they can trust,
will come back. –
In the UK Copyright is applied automatically to any artistic or written20
work on paper or whatever medium is used. Not to manufactured goods
which20 come under patents. It’s the original design which is copyright.
It’s a
good idea to use the copyright symbol A9 on all your designs so there
is no20 argument.
I have some that I believe will be helpful for those
interested in protecting designs from infringement and unauthorized
exploitation. Remember though, to fully protect your rights, you must be
willing to litigate or marry a lawyer! I was given this from
an international and reputable jewelry artist who’s seen and experienced a
lot in her day–she does not copyright her designs. Don’t quote me in
court on this, but she explained that once you have sold your designs to
the public, they are automatically protected. Your invoice,exhibit
or drawing book(dated) are forms of identifying the date you
officially distrubuted or comsumated your idea. The final opinion or word
is the judge’s.
Step I:
The US Copyright Office, housed at the Library of Congress in Washington,
DC, has a 24-hour a day Forms and Publications Hotline, 202/ 707-9100.
Request a copyright info. packet and Form VA to register jewelry designs
and other 2-D and 3-D pictorial, graphic, sculptural and architectural
works. It’s $20 filing fee per application to register a design.
You can also write to : Publication Section, LM-455, Copyright Office,
Library of Congress, Washington DC 20559-6000. Applications can be
obtained thru L.O.C web site at lcweb.loc.gov, or connect through the home
page of Copyright Office at lcwev.loc.gov/copyright. The Copyright Office
will answer questions pertainign to how to file a claim, yet does not
provide legal assistance.
The Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Founded in 1969 to provide artisans
and arts organizations with legal assistance, offer seminars, conferences,
newsletters, and advice pro bono (free, minus filing fees). Offices have
spead to many cities throughout the country. New York office is
212-319-2787.
check out the Craft Report back issues and index. there may be
something on line. There have been numerous discussions on
copyright as well as actual case discussions in it. As well
several in JCK and AJM magazine. I’d be interested in seeing a
copy of your paper when you are done, you should also consider
submitting it to Metalsmith magazine…
Try the same question on the Artmetal list and on
rec.crafts.metalworking.
best
Charles
This email contains a list of URLs for you to explore.
I hope you like our tips page at Ganoksin. We have over 500 pages of
on jewelry and business/photography there for you
to download free. Many items are extracts from Brain Press books. The
address is:
Michael Mathews shots of his masters pieces for the Jewelers of America
Bench Tests, a really nice chance to see what kinds of pieces you have to
make for this certification.
http://www.penton.com/md/bde/rvcadtoc.html
A really good introduction to CADCAM in industry, hardware and software
requirements and lots on joining and planning for industrial production in
the rest of this extensive site.
http://www.marchenoir.com/
A funky jewlery company’s catalog site. A friend of mine makes the models.
Interesting.
Metal working http://www.silversmithing.com/
The Society of American Silversmiths (SAS), great metals sources info,
artisan gallery, links, workshops, items for sale, l articles.
An essential visit for metals folks.
http://www.amm.com/ref/PROFILES.HTM
A very large page with capsule histories of each metal, what it is used
for, how it is obtained and its economic importance. Interesting stuff.
Gemmology http://www.deepcove.com/cig/
Gemmology World-a superb site for gem now has a discussion
bulletin board.
http://www.diamonds.net/cgi-bin/places
A really huge set of comercial and educational links for diamonds, the
jewelery trade and more, check out the rest of the site too.
http://www.gia.org/
The Gemological Institute of America site-very comercial but interesting.
http://www.wehug.com/diamondalert1.html
An interesting page on new US guidelines that allow jewelers to sell laser
drilled and filled diamonds to customers without informing them of the
treatment. Wow. See the rest of the site.
http://www.vipxlnet.com/lapilia/accueila.htm
A very nice gemstones site including innovative facetted gem designs and
instructions for cutting them. identification indicator tables and pictures
of examples (for sale).
http://www.agt-gems.com/AGTbook.html
Lots of about gemstones and their ‘planetory gemology’ and
astrological meanings. Check out the ‘Modern Gemology’ section.
http://www.gemmary.com/rcb/Gembooks1.html
A very long list of common and hard to find gemology, jewelry history and
techniques, minerology books for sale, prices vary from a few dollars to
the thousands for a rare one.
http://www.fedworld.gov/
Despite the name this is an incredible set of US government resources for
business, health, safety, free publications and tons more.
http://artoftravel.com/
Hmm, a non-metals one crept in, this is 25 chapters, 100,000 words online
talking about what you need to know to travel, both hiking style and
otherwise. Very interesting.
http://bull.got.kth.se/~annat/
Anna’s LARP craft link page. All the skills involved in SFX prop stuff,
making swords, kegs, tons more.
http://www.zip.com.au/~koroba/index.html
Walraven van Heeckeren’s site, Sells a CDROM of his work, his site has nice
text links from the object descriptions explaining materials, tools,
processes used in the making of his objects.
http://www.abrasha.com/home.html
Abrasha’s page, contemporary jeweler. Excellent, innovative work. Check out
the Picasso confession on it.
http://www.sciplus.com
American Science and Surplus. These folks have a great print catalog as
well, amazing selection of cool stuff, from tank periscopes to rectifiers
to sable brushes.
http://www.riogrande.com/
Rio Grande tool company site. Extensive tips and descriptions section (and
yes they are trying to sell you tools)
http://www.gessweinco.com
Gesswein Tool Company site, techncial tips, catalog, remaindered jewelry
tools for sale.
http://www.mfginfo.com/
A new and used machinery links site, industrially oriented by interesting-a
machinery newsgroup too.
http://www.craftassoc.com/index.shtml
‘National Craft Association’ site, a very interesting site for crafts media
folks. They also sell supplier compilations.
http://www.guild.com/home.htm
The Guild home page, art/crafts source books, comercial services.
I buy the ‘Gallery’ editions to see whats happening in the field.
Safety (for a large list of safety sites email us and ask for a copy).
http://www.chem.uky.edu/resources/msds.html
A list of MSDS sites with the number of MSDS sheets compiled in each site.
A really excellent safety site with a ton of good links.
http://www.osha.gov/
OSHA’s site. Lots of and tons of connections. Very good
available in sections on solvents
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html
National Institute for safety and Health (NIOSH) page, Great, huge links
list, international safety cards and more.
http://203.63.129.138/worksafe/
Australia’s very excellent gateway to on occupational hazards.
A very nice system. See their great search engine, home page and index.
Hi Lydia, Try “Benedict.com” its a copyright web page! It’s called the
Copyright web site! I stumbled on it a while ago when I had to answer
some questions about copyrights. gl