I guess my first real posting should be about the paper model I'm making, but I've never been one to shy away from thorny issues.... this is prompted by Michael Dazzo's post and a model I've seen on here (more on that later)
To be clear, I'm talking about models which designers intend to sell, and the question is, how many times are we breaking International Law by using images and/or designs that are owned by someone else? I say international, as I'm referring largely to download models, which by their nature are globally accessible, and by the same token, as designers we are able to access almost the entire Planets' store of information/images.
Many years ago I tried unsuccessfully to set up in business selling my models, and found out that here is a minefield for the unwary. I was steered away from a Sopwith Camel I wanted to do, as the family of the WWI Ace who flew it had sole use of anything to do with him, including images of his machine (which a paper model would've been) No 'named' or 'branded' anything at all, either, which included at that time such things as the good old British telephone box (design owned by the Post Office) and you wouldn't believe the palaver involved in producing a saleable paper model of a public building in 'legal' form.
As to the model on here I mentioned, kudos to the designer for a splendid job, but it is of a famous UK road hauliers vehicle, and that operator jealously guards its name and image, or so I understand. We could argue that the likelihood of getting into any bother is slim, which is probably what that chap in Columbia thought....
So, where do we, if we intend to sell anything we make, stand regarding all this? You only have to pick up any sort of product to see the TM or C-in-a-circle logo to realise how fraught this could be. Even words have been copyrighted as part of company promo. For sure, if you're offering something for free, then it's a free plug to the company involved, but as I said, I'm talking about paper models that are being sold, and I'm not sure that some folk would take too kindly to their logo/livery/product being used for personal gain. And I'm not even sure if there is any 'age related' get-out clause either, for instance Airfix have reissued their big Bentley kit (sorry to mention p*a*t*c!) but not with the racing numbers of the original 1970's kit, as that vehicle is now owned by 'A Famous Person' and all use of anything to do with what is now his car is subject to paying him for the privilege to do so.
But what do I know??? :) Your thoughts would be welcome, and apologies if I've kicked the hornets' nest.... and don't even get me started on the "children should be supervised, cutting tools are sharp, glue is lethal" legal wording....
Plumdragon
To be clear, I'm talking about models which designers intend to sell, and the question is, how many times are we breaking International Law by using images and/or designs that are owned by someone else? I say international, as I'm referring largely to download models, which by their nature are globally accessible, and by the same token, as designers we are able to access almost the entire Planets' store of information/images.
Many years ago I tried unsuccessfully to set up in business selling my models, and found out that here is a minefield for the unwary. I was steered away from a Sopwith Camel I wanted to do, as the family of the WWI Ace who flew it had sole use of anything to do with him, including images of his machine (which a paper model would've been) No 'named' or 'branded' anything at all, either, which included at that time such things as the good old British telephone box (design owned by the Post Office) and you wouldn't believe the palaver involved in producing a saleable paper model of a public building in 'legal' form.
As to the model on here I mentioned, kudos to the designer for a splendid job, but it is of a famous UK road hauliers vehicle, and that operator jealously guards its name and image, or so I understand. We could argue that the likelihood of getting into any bother is slim, which is probably what that chap in Columbia thought....
So, where do we, if we intend to sell anything we make, stand regarding all this? You only have to pick up any sort of product to see the TM or C-in-a-circle logo to realise how fraught this could be. Even words have been copyrighted as part of company promo. For sure, if you're offering something for free, then it's a free plug to the company involved, but as I said, I'm talking about paper models that are being sold, and I'm not sure that some folk would take too kindly to their logo/livery/product being used for personal gain. And I'm not even sure if there is any 'age related' get-out clause either, for instance Airfix have reissued their big Bentley kit (sorry to mention p*a*t*c!) but not with the racing numbers of the original 1970's kit, as that vehicle is now owned by 'A Famous Person' and all use of anything to do with what is now his car is subject to paying him for the privilege to do so.
But what do I know??? :) Your thoughts would be welcome, and apologies if I've kicked the hornets' nest.... and don't even get me started on the "children should be supervised, cutting tools are sharp, glue is lethal" legal wording....
Plumdragon
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