I want to bring this to everyones attention

Last night I got an email it was as follows:

Hi,

I found your website and have seen your puppets they look great. My son is a fan of the Noggin Jack's Big Music show. The problem I have is that they only sell DVD's and not any puppets. My son really wants a puppet I am aware that the puppets are copyrighted material. But, I was hoping you could make one very similar but not exact.

Thanks

My opinion:
I would like to start with I know many people here build muppet replicas for themselves and that is completely cool with me. I don't like the idea though that customers think it is ok to rip some one off if you change the color so it isn't exact. I know I would be pretty bummed if one of my puppets was being made and sold with out my permission. I have heard some people talk about "well it's ok I am just filling a need" well that is BS. My main reason for posting this is that it protects us all if we don't do these jobs of copying other peoples work. I hope you guys all turn down jobs like the one above as well and try and talk people in to purchasing an original design. I would love to here others input on this and whether or not anyone else gets asked to do work like this.

Thanks,
Jon

I have turned all jobs down like that myself. I only ever made one copy but it was for a friend of mine and not an actual commission. I feel the same way...

I'm the same. I had a similar email a while ago from someone who wanted a Big Jack's puppet.

I usually don't say outright that it's wrong to buy a replica. I know it's bad, because I don't agree with buying them. But I figure people aren't going to listen anyway; I just suggest to ask a puppet maker first, and to expect puppet makers to say no.

I think it depends: some people want out-and-out copies. Others say, "well, I've seen this and I like the look and want something similar". There's a huge difference between similar and exactly the same - after all, people like the look of Elmo, but that doesn't mean all muppet monsters look exactly like Elmo.

I see nothing wrong with making one similar to the original. We are singular puppet makers, not manufacturing companies. I even think it would be fun trying to recreate a Masters creation. In art class they push a student to be creative and assertive. They do encourage replicating famous works and they do encourace freeform creativity. I'm sure one puppet isnt going to bring the house down...if you feel that bad about it, donate a percentage to a childrens charity. I did a Noggins puppet, it was more of a chore than a fun time, didnt like it, probably wont do it again, but with the money I received I sponsored an Orphan at Christmas with some of that cash.

Dont make it a habit, thats were you cross the line and disrupt the copyright infringements.

Otherwise I love my ideas better than anyone, (everyone should feel this way) and thats how it should be. Your mind, your creation

We've had this discussion here a few times before, and it's always worth revisiting. As you can see here different people have different opinions, and when all is said and done you probably aren't going to get a knock on your door at midnight from the puppet police.

Having said that, I think that it would be appropriate to put the ball in the client's court, and explain to them that you don't feel comfortable reproducing the copyrighted or trademarked work of other artists, but that if the client is able to get permission, (a license), from the copyright holder in writing, with a way for you to verify its authenticity, then you would be glad to quote them an estimated price to reproduce the puppet.

I personally don't care for people who make unathorized, if exact (or even inexact), Muppet clones and sell them on eBay or their personal web sites. I do think that privately reproducing other artists' work is a legitimate means of learning your craft - that's how Michelangelo and Leonardo did it, (the artists, not the Ninja Turtles). It's a starting point for mastering your tools and materials.

When I lived in France a million years ago, after studying art in high school, I visited the local free, municipal art school. The drawing master there had me start out by copying plaster casts of classical statuary. When I went to university after that and studied art and design, my life drawing teacher, (a full-time professional artist and part-time art instructor), had us start out by copying Old Masters' drawings and drawing every bone in the human skeleton that was hanging in the corner of the studio.

You have to learn to walk before you can run, and copying the work of established artists doesn't really hurt your ability to develop your own original style later in your career - if you have any creative talent in the first place.

My 2¢

Ron G.

I think Ron and Sonny make very good points but Ron the difference in copying for ones study is very different then getting paid to make a reproduction. Is it that far of a cry doing that than those artists who get paid thousands to forge replicas of famous paintings. The main thing is we are not trying to say "this" is a muppet made puppet or whatever but where is the imaginary line I wonder.

Ron the difference in copying for ones study is very different then getting paid to make a reproduction. Is it that far of a cry doing that than those artists who get paid thousands to forge replicas of famous paintings. The main thing is we are not trying to say "this" is a muppet made puppet or whatever but where is the imaginary line I wonder.

Yeah... that was my point exactly, Jay. I wasn't referencing forgers, or even people who made acknowledged copies of works in the public domain for collectors. That's why I made the distinction between "private" copies for an artist's own edification, and making unlicensed, unauthorized clones for sale. Thanks for reiterating the differences though.

 

Ron G.

No problem I just thought you had brought up a good point.

No problem I just thought you had brought up a good point.

Thanks again.

 

Ron G.

 
I agree.I think that anyone who profits from someone else's creations shold be ashamed,if it were revesed the would NOT be too happy!!