Intellectual Property - honest question

[DustinY]

Part of the answer on this depends on the design. Is it a Hudson bay pattern? Lovless style? Scagle style? Randal style? Hartsfield, Lum, Bump, Lamy, Fikes, Fogg...etc...
I could keep on going and going. There are makers doing fresh, original design works....that immediately gets copied by other makers....often using the same model name, and without prior permission. I know a maker well, who spends a lot of time on original designs, only to see another maker producing copies without attribution or permission, often within a month or so of design.

In the folding world, there are just as many unique designs. Some are perfectly happy to share patterns, but would like a nod as to design. T.and W. Bose are makers who are very helpful to new slipjoint makers.. and share patterns.

I agree with this, I wouldn’t directly copy it without talking to the designer AND given credit about who inspired it and why I choose to attempt to make it as well. There are really crappy people, and I don’t want to be one of them, which is why I came here looking for advice. I’m glad I went to the maker because he responded so positively to it, and offered further advice. I’m not looking to make a dime on his design, I’m looking to make a design that inspired me, and practice making knives while learning all the tools, tricks, etc.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

There are a lot of misconceptions about patents and copyrights.
Patenting a design requires something new and innovative that hasn't been done (or soetimes patented) before. It's expensive. Spyderco was able to patent a hole in the blade. Benchmade patented a certain kind of automatic knife safety. Walker patented the liner lock.
Copyrighting is done for logos, names, and other identifying markings.
When I designed the Leverletto for AKC in Italy, they were able to copyright the design there. I copyrighted the name in the US.
Now AKC and Bill DeShivs are the most famous knifemakers in China! Not much we can do about it, either.
I would vigorously pursue damages if a US maker called his knife a "Leverletto," but if he simply copied the DESIGN there is nothing I could do. There have been styles/patters of knives for hundreds of years. As long as they are not being sold as counterfeits, there is nothing wrong with that.
Calling the maker and letting him know what you are doing and why is a classy touch, though!

 

[DustinY]

There are a lot of misconceptions about patents and copyrights.
Patenting a design requires something new and innovative that hasn't been done (or soetimes patented) before. It's expensive. Spyderco was able to patent a hole in the blade. Benchmade patented a certain kind of automatic knife safety. Walker patented the liner lock.
Copyrighting is done for logos, names, and other identifying markings.
When I designed the Leverletto for AKC in Italy, they were able to copyright the design there. I copyrighted the name in the US.
Now AKC and Bill DeShivs are the most famous knifemakers in China! Not much we can do about it, either.
I would vigorously pursue damages if a US maker called his knife a "Leverletto," but if he simply copied the DESIGN there is nothing I could do. There have been styles/patters of knives for hundreds of years. As long as they are not being sold as counterfeits, there is nothing wrong with that.
Calling the maker and letting him know what you are doing and why is a classy touch, though!

A true legend speaks, I think I can be happy about the way I handled it, and I had a genuine talk with the maker. It made my day, but thanks for all the insight. I won’t be marketing it as one of his knives, and all design credit will be given - and I won’t be selling anything anytime soon.

 

[kbright]

One of the features of Bladeforums, and knifemaking in general, is how open knifemakers are to share advice and tips to new makers. Knifemaking is not near the top of the list for "ways to make money". I personally cannot make the same knife twice, I always see something that I want to do better, or different. And for me a key element is how a knife feels in my hand. Very hard to duplicate. I'm very very far from asking someone to "cut me 100 blanks" of one profile.

 

[DustinY]

One of the features of Bladeforums, and knifemaking in general, is how open knifemakers are to share advice and tips to new makers. Knifemaking is not near the top of the list for "ways to make money". I personally cannot make the same knife twice, I always see something that I want to do better, or different. And for me a key element is how a knife feels in my hand. Very hard to duplicate. I'm very very far from asking someone to "cut me 100 blanks" of one profile.

Two different creatures my man, I want to refine my skills over and over, eliminating variables to best hone the skill at hand. I'd literally do 100 of them. But that's just the kind of person I am, i'm not looking to design hop, I don't have enough time to spread myself that thin while trying to also learn.