bob493 Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 I've seen some cool ideas around. Is it taboo to use someone elses design, or is it generally accepted? I'd of course ask permission, but sometimes that doesnt seem tenable. Are designs trademarked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 1 minute ago, Mike. said: Its cool until you sell your project. Then it is gray. But using someone else's design for your own enjoyment is totally kosher. With that said, if it is an original design, asking permission goes a long way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 All of mine are trade marked in most countries except China and Columbia but you are welcome to use them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 2 minutes ago, Mike. said: Sure its a nice thing to do but even if the guy says "no", if you are building for your own use with no intent of selling it you have nothing to worry about. I am going to stay out of this convo because 1) I am going through a couple legal battles of my own right now I am sick of lawyers and 2) I can promise you no one on this board is an IP attorney, so anything legal sounding is total conjecture. But at most this would be a civil, not criminal, offense so its not like the cops are going to come knocking. Not a lawyer at all but I'm a professional human. If someone asked me, I think I'd be pretty honored. Goodwill begets goodwill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 1 minute ago, Mike. said: Sure its a nice thing to do but even if the guy says "no", if you are building for your own use with no intent of selling it you have nothing to worry about. I am going to stay out of this convo because 1) I am going through a couple legal battles of my own right now I am sick of lawyers and 2) I can promise you no one on this board is an IP attorney, so anything legal sounding is total conjecture. But at most this would be a civil, not criminal, offense so its not like the cops are going to come knocking. My condolences on having to speak with lawyers on a frequent basis. It depends on the nature of borrowed and if the design was covered under a filed copyright. Odds are in furniture you're going to be borrowing someone's design one way or another. The whole freedom of speech can go a long way if you just call it art they won't have too much of a leg to stand on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 Totally depends on if you're making them for profit. There's also a difference between making a copy and imitating a style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 I don't bother asking, I just build it. If I had plans to sell something it would be a totally different story. I'm not an IP attorney, but I absolutely guarantee you run no risk by copying someone else's project for your own personal use in your own home. That would be like getting sued for playing the intro to Stairway to Heaven in your living room in your underwear. No one is looking, no one will know, no one will care. Build. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 If you are just inspired by a design and do not try to duplicate it you should be fine. If you alter the dimensions to suit your needs that's even less likely to cause any trouble. Selling the piece or plans will get you in trouble. I wouldn't even give the plans away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxerjoe04 Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 Of course you're talking about furniture and nice stuff like that, and I just make craft show crap to sell mainly haha, but some a-hole online was using a picture I took of something I made and was in my house and trying to sell it online. Now, the item wasn't something nice or expensive, still pissed me off someone would just use a picture they didn't take or make and try to sell it to people as their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dknapp34 Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 1 hour ago, Mike. said: doesn't help that I am married to one. I'm also married to a lawyer...and so is my wife. We're the first to admit that lawyers are pretty terrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ..Kev Posted May 11, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 6 minutes ago, Dknapp34 said: I'm also married to a lawyer...and so is my wife. We're the first to admit that lawyers are pretty terrible. Heard it was so cold in your area this week that you guys had your hands in your own pockets? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted May 12, 2016 Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 2 hours ago, Mike. said: doesn't help that I am married to one. Does she win every argument 2 fold then? 43 minutes ago, Dknapp34 said: I'm also married to a lawyer...and so is my wife. We're the first to admit that lawyers are pretty terrible. Meh it's probably good that your kind sticks together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted May 12, 2016 Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 1 hour ago, Dknapp34 said: I'm also married to a lawyer...and so is my wife. We're the first to admit that lawyers are pretty terrible. I'd about pay to see the dinner table arguments in that house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddclippinger Posted May 12, 2016 Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 There are lots of sources selling rehashed versions of Arts & Crafts, Greene & Greene, Maloof sculpted, Mid Century Modern, and Shaker furniture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dknapp34 Posted May 12, 2016 Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 I'm also married to a lawyer...and so is my wife. We're the first to admit that lawyers are pretty terrible. I'd about pay to see the dinner table arguments in that house. That will be $300 an hour and I require a retainer. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted May 12, 2016 Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 1 minute ago, Dknapp34 said: That will be $300 an hour and I require a retainer. Sign me up and book my flight! I see a new reality TV series coming 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted May 12, 2016 Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 1 hour ago, Dknapp34 said: That will be $300 an hour and I require a retainer. Two lawyers for $300/hour sounds like a great deal. $6-800 an hour is about median I've heard of. A client of mine is a civil trial lawyer, I like what he makes but could never afford him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaneAndDestroy Posted May 13, 2016 Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 My dad and I ran a business building poptop campervans. One of the larger companies (PleasureWay) took one of our vans from somewhere, brought it into their shop and took direct molds of our fiberglass roof parts and came out with their own model. We talked to a lawyer about it, and he said it would cost us way over 6 figures, and we might not even ever see anything from it. Bottom line is its really hard to defend a design/shape. Expensive. Don't be a dick and you'll probably be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dknapp34 Posted May 13, 2016 Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 12 hours ago, Mike. said: I need to hire you!. The cheaper of the two lawyers I looked at is $580 an hour (the other guy was $750). I hired the $580 guy and he already used up his retainer 12 hours ago, Brendon_t said: Two lawyers for $300/hour sounds like a great deal. $6-800 an hour is about median I've heard of. A client of mine is a civil trial lawyer, I like what he makes but could never afford him. It all depends on where you are. When I was working at a big firm in NYC fresh out of law school, my rate was $500+. Nearly 10 years of experience later, my rate is only $300, because I'm in a smaller market. If I had stayed in NYC, my rate would probably be in the $700-800 range by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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