George M. Perzel
02-28-2007, 7:39 AM
Hi Gang;
On another post, someone mentioned that scrollsaw magazines typically have restrictions which limit the number of photocopies (10) which can be made. As I understand it, scroll sawyers typically will make copies of a design and glue them to wood and then scrollsaw, sometimes gangsawing multiple pieces.
1. Obviously, from a practical viewpoint such a restriction is unenforceable so what is it's purpose? Can each viewer of the magazine make 10 copies? Can I only make 10 of what the design represents?
2. Do I have the right to scan such a design and use the digital information instead of a photocopy to make a product? How many times can I use it?
3. Most woodworking magazines do not have such use restrictions. Obviously copying a design from a magazine and selling copies as your own violates copyright laws and is a no-no, but am I free to use the design to manufacture multiple items for sale?
4. Upon further research, I ran across a scrollsaw book which had the following restriction on the flyleaf:
" It is not permitted to make the designs contained herein by laser, water jet, CNC routers, engravers, or any other forms of high volume production equipment."
I really question whether such a restriction is legal and binding. I believe it exceeds the limits of copyright law and really begs the question of what constitutes "high volume production equipment".
There is no question that the copying of designs, music, videos, software, etc. has become pandemic in our society. Our government has essentially stepped back and said it's up to the courts to resolve most issues on the basis of civil law- not easy to get resolution unless you are a major corporation willing to spend the legal bucks. To fight back, it appears that some folks have chosen (probably on the advice of lawyers) to include statements in their published works such as those above to plant seeds of doubt and keep the doors open for possible liabilities. It does nothing more than create more confusion in a world where black and white has ceased to exist.
On another post, someone mentioned that scrollsaw magazines typically have restrictions which limit the number of photocopies (10) which can be made. As I understand it, scroll sawyers typically will make copies of a design and glue them to wood and then scrollsaw, sometimes gangsawing multiple pieces.
1. Obviously, from a practical viewpoint such a restriction is unenforceable so what is it's purpose? Can each viewer of the magazine make 10 copies? Can I only make 10 of what the design represents?
2. Do I have the right to scan such a design and use the digital information instead of a photocopy to make a product? How many times can I use it?
3. Most woodworking magazines do not have such use restrictions. Obviously copying a design from a magazine and selling copies as your own violates copyright laws and is a no-no, but am I free to use the design to manufacture multiple items for sale?
4. Upon further research, I ran across a scrollsaw book which had the following restriction on the flyleaf:
" It is not permitted to make the designs contained herein by laser, water jet, CNC routers, engravers, or any other forms of high volume production equipment."
I really question whether such a restriction is legal and binding. I believe it exceeds the limits of copyright law and really begs the question of what constitutes "high volume production equipment".
There is no question that the copying of designs, music, videos, software, etc. has become pandemic in our society. Our government has essentially stepped back and said it's up to the courts to resolve most issues on the basis of civil law- not easy to get resolution unless you are a major corporation willing to spend the legal bucks. To fight back, it appears that some folks have chosen (probably on the advice of lawyers) to include statements in their published works such as those above to plant seeds of doubt and keep the doors open for possible liabilities. It does nothing more than create more confusion in a world where black and white has ceased to exist.