Another forum debates copying

[Ingridh]

Those of us in the Pac NW are looking for a site for a retreat. I decided to contact my old buds in the NPCG for site recommendations...I think it is worth noticing that they have been dealing with a lot of the same issues we have for some time but their bloom was in the early 90's with the publication of Nan Roche's book. The attraction of polymer clay was ...as I used to teach.....ANYONE CAN DO THIS!......and they did! Lampworking is in it's bloom primarily, imho, due to ebay...heck that is how I decided to "NOW" get into it. Anyway.....let's see where was I?

I came across this article on their site and since it is a hot button issue for us as well, I thought it might be a good reference.

ethics and copying

And if you are in the Pac NW and would like to join us for a retreat ...probably in Jan or Feb let me know...we also have an msn group discussing possible locations. We have a group of at least 30 people from WC who live in Oregon, Washington or BC and we get together when the mood hits us and gather when we can...We are still researching a site...I am trying to get info from the NPCG about their retreats since they did theirs at ravensdale...but not anymore... February is very wet and dreary here ...a great time to huddle over torches with friends...

[PamDugger]

Hi, Ingrid. Thanks for posting that. It is interesting that every artform seems to run into the same problems.
Pam

[robert]

Silly little smart ass me. I thought it was only the bead makers who favored this.

[Vince]

The only problem with the article is that is specifically focuses on "techniques". The Federal statutes are clear: Techniques are specifically excluded from protection under the Copyright law. It is possible to gain protection under other Intellectual Property laws such as Patents or Trade Secret law, but not Copyright. This is where artists tend to get confused, and it is understandable. But, the facts are, techniques are generally open and free for all to use and no one has exclusive rights to them or grounds to complain if someone else uses them. The results of the techniques might be protected under Copyright, but that would be true even if a different technique was used to achieve the identical result. The essence of the law is that it is the "Work" that is protected, not the techniques used to create it.

Vince

[Elise]

Ingrid,
I would have sent this to you via email, but your address is not in your profile.

The Ravensdale conferences were not put on by NPCG, they were put on by the Pacific Northwest guild (NWPCG), which I believe is linked off the National Guild's site. The first conference was at Ravensdale campgrounds, the next at Evergreen state college, the third I missed as I was quite pregnant at the time.

I believe Karen Murphy ran the first (or at least was instrumental in putting it on). Meredith Arnold may be able to answer your questions. Other folks to try are Maggie Maggio and Shelly Crossen, two of the most organized, together ladies I've ever met (they've been involved in both NW and national guild conferences). If you can't find their contact info, email me and I'll get it to you. I'm sure one of them can get you the info you want or put you in touch with whoever can.
Aloha,
Elise