I have just received an email from someone who wants to know how to make one of my shadow puppets. It's not a design I will be using anymore, however it's also not something I offer as a tutorial or pattern. I have a policy of not revealing the designs of anything I've sold as a physical puppet product, and so I am reluctant to give out details to explain how I did it; particularly when it comes to designs which are not openly given and clearly have copyright notifications attached.

Having said that, since this design is no longer going to be used, I feel a bit bad about not sharing and especially when the person has asked politely for info.

I started writing a response which gives hints as to how to do it, but I rethought it because I'm not sure if I want to give away the design as it will be used for a performance and I'd like to retain copyrights.

Should I not give any info at all, give hints, or supply a pattern and instructions (at cost?)... ? I don't know how much to keep to my chest anymore, especially as the person saw the puppet via School of Puppetry and may expect more info than I'm willing to give.

How much do you guys reveal when someone asks you how to do something that you've been making for clients or others?

Hi Na, this is a tough question and I'm not entirely sure how to respond. I think I shared with you  previously when discussing copy rights an experience I had once where I had attended an exhibition, had a person comment on how they aspired to create dolls like mine and thinking they knew nothing of creating cloth dolls or designs, gave them some support. Within a few months, they had basically pinched my designs and were reproducing half arsed replicas of my designs. For those reasons I would say no.

Having said that, were it not for available resources that people had opted to share on the net, I would not have had the guidance I needed to begin creating the puppets that are so important to me now. Perhaps the compromise that appeases both your desire to retain your rights as a designer and your desire to help educate others, is to sell the design.

Well, that was no help at all!  Sorry dude! I hope someone with more experience than I have can give you some guidance. Let us know what you decide!

I was thinking that I could provide the pattern and the instructions for a small cost, with the inclusive copyrights attached. I may do this in the future for that pattern anyway; however, it may come off as trying to make a buck where normally the advice is available for free.

At the same time, I think there is this expectation  (particularly from the general public) that every bit of info be made available for free and there's no thought to the fact that puppeteers have a right to hold certain things back.

I share practically everything and more than I probably should, without expecting people to respect copyright.

More than that, the person didn't ask for advice on a tutorial or pattern already available, they asked specifically how to make the puppet that I used to sell. They did not request a tutorial or pattern, nor state that they wanted to know a particular aspect of it; they want to know the whole or at least aspects which would entirely give away the whole. They would be recreating my work; a work which is not available for everyone to use anyway.

My feeling is that if I say 'no', I will appear as rude or unwilling to share even though I should have every right to keep 10% of my work to myself.

This feeds back into something touched on by you Lizzie, as plagiarism has plagued me too. I am reluctant to hand over info about the design for free as 'advice', because it may be misconstrued as a handover of copyright or that it's available for sharing. And yet I feel greedy for keeping hold of a design I'm not intending on using.

Hi Na,

Answering a question or helping someone out is one thing, but if you're basically "handing" them everything from start to finish, then why shouldn't you be compensated for it?


Thanks

I think I would simply respond that it is a custom design that you don't offer a pattern for and that if some time in the future you decide to offer it you'll let them know.  I see no problem with that. I have puppets that I've made for shows and while I might be willing to give a person an answer to a specific question about something like what material I used in making it I wouldn't feel obligated to give them a step by step about how I made it. Don't forget that one way that you do make money is from your designs that you do sell as patterns.

As someone who has asked for information, like "how did you attach that", I would not be offended if the reply came back, "sorry, but I can't share that because I may be selling these puppets in the future." Or, " I spent a lot of time developing that attachment and would rather not just give it away."

I would not be upset and would, probably, try to figure it out on my own. So, don't feel bad if you decide not to share this information. There is a TON of info that is shared and no one should be upset if there are a few secrets.

Cruppetman

I think what makes it a such a difficult decision is because anyone who has chosen this art has had to research, work and study to develop their craft. And we're loathe to give up the results of all of that to someone without some sort of compensation, especially when they could potentially become a competitor in a very limited marketplace. I also agree with Lizzie's comments about the willingness of others to share and how that has helped me tremendously in my growth as an artist. Certainly the WEALTH of information that I've gotten here at Puppets and Stuff gratis is an excellent example of this.

In the end I guess I would consider the example set by Pasha with Project Puppet. He offers patterns and basic instruction for a price. That way you would be compensated for your work and still feel like your sharing and helping a fellow artist. Now it IS possible that this artist could begin making the very products you've made and marketed but if they're really determined they're going to get there with or without your help.

I would have learned what I have about puppet craft without Project Puppet but Pasha's products saved me A LOT of time in that process! As a result I am a loyal customer and recommend his products at every opportunity. I also pay very close attention to everything his company puts out. I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting stuff. There will always be those who will do their best to take advantage of people and exploit what they can for their own ends but I don't think I want to base my decisions on those "bad apples". Best of luck with whatever you decide!

In the end I guess I would consider the example set by Pasha with Project Puppet. He offers patterns and basic instruction for a price. That way you would be compensated for your work and still feel like your sharing and helping a fellow artist. Now it IS possible that this artist could begin making the very products you've made and marketed but if they're really determined they're going to get there with or without your help.

I already do that, which is the point of my question: the puppet was made to sell, but the video for it was shown on School of Puppetry. A website that is 90% free info, 10% pay-per-download patterns. Unlike Project Puppet however it aims to teach people about all different kinds of puppets, and hence the likelihood that the person has an expectation of assistance with this specific puppet design (even though a pattern or tutorial is not actually available for it).

... Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I'll reply that it's a special design and not available for use. I may offer to turn it into a pattern, but at a fee.

I think you came to the right conclusion.  I have asked someone how they did something and they declined to tell me because of copyright issues, which I knew nothing about.  So no big deal.  Now I know.  This person asking you may not know about such things and now they will when you tell them.  It's okay to say "no"!

I agree Angel; but I'd rather say yes more often than no.

This site, and others like it, and the many people I've met in puppetry, have generally said yes to me. And that's the only reason I've managed to learn anything.

I like to pay it forward