BBC cracks down on fan 'stuff'

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dddddarren

14-05-2008

Originally Posted by Histeria:
“Nobody is arguing that the people flogging them on ebay shouldn't be stopped form doing so. It's the fan who made the knitting pattern (who has done nothing to make money out of anything) getting slapped with a cease and desist order that people have a problem with.”

from what i read, if the fan had not allowed them to be flogged on ebay, then the BBC would have not had a problem. Ebay was the deciding factor.

amos_brearley

14-05-2008

To be fair, it's not the woman making the patterns that's in the wrong here, it's those selling the completed items for profit. Doctor Who Adventures magazine regularly shows children how to make their own DW toys, figures, masks and costumes, and whilst there's still a charge for the magazine, I know plenty of my pupils meet up and make their own stuff just using one copy of the magazine. I feel that I should be handing their details over to the Beeb's legal department if the above case is legally sound.

amos_brearley

14-05-2008

Originally Posted by dddddarren:
“from what i read, if the fan had not allowed them to be flogged on ebay, then the BBC would have not had a problem. Ebay was the deciding factor.”

How do you stop someone from selling something on ebay if you don't even know them from Adam?

dddddarren

14-05-2008

Originally Posted by amos_brearley:
“How do you stop someone from selling something on ebay if you don't even know them from Adam?”

well, if they got hold of your items you prob know who they are. The point above all is , when it all gets into selling on ebay, it must be stopped otherwise nobodys copywrited property can be protected.

Histeria

14-05-2008

Originally Posted by dddddarren:
“from what i read, if the fan had not allowed them to be flogged on ebay, then the BBC would have not had a problem. Ebay was the deciding factor.”

The fan had nothing do with them being flogged on ebay, and could not have done anything about it. The fan just put the pattern of how to make them up on her knitting website. BBC Worldwide are going after the wrong person, and biting the hand the feeds them in doing so.

dddddarren

14-05-2008

Originally Posted by Histeria:
“The fan had nothing do with them being flogged on ebay, and could not have done anything about it. BBC are going after the wrong person.”

well i dont blame them. its there property.

amos_brearley

14-05-2008

How are knitting patterns of how to make your own Adipose trampling on the Beeb's property? There isn't a range of cuddly toys out yet that this is infringing upon.

Histeria

14-05-2008

In this instance (as I said earlier) I think they'd be lucky to win a court case on this. There is no evidence of any possible loss of earnings for BBC worldwide, and the pattern could - quite legitimately - be argued that this is fair use of the material.

amos_brearley

14-05-2008

Did Blue Peter get Gerry Anderson's permission to show kids how to make their own Tracy Island I wonder?

Tehanu

14-05-2008

For those who are now overwhelmed with a desire to join the online craft world, and knit their own Doctor Who Scarf / Daleks in Love / Tardigan / logos, try this site

http://scifikal.blogspot.com/

scroll down the right hand side for all the pattern options. Plenty from your other fave sci-fi shows as well.

Just don't sell them.

NB - I thought there were lots of handcrafted Daleks out there for sale at much higher prices than handknit Adipose? What's with the copyright violations there, then?

Histeria

14-05-2008

Originally Posted by amos_brearley:
“Did Blue Peter get Gerry Anderson's permission to show kids how to make their own Tracy Island I wonder?”

Now THAT is a very good point.

amos_brearley

14-05-2008

Infact, aren't most Blue Peter "makes" depriving some industry somewhere, I'm sure the Easter Bonnet industry must get apoplectic each year! Or Hallmark, what with all the "make your own card" specials! (Yes, I realise they aren't copyrighted, I'm exaggerating for effect!)

WillowFae

14-05-2008

Originally Posted by dddddarren:
“from what i read, if the fan had not allowed them to be flogged on ebay, then the BBC would have not had a problem. Ebay was the deciding factor.”

The fan did NOT allow them to be sold on ebay!

kevinmerchant

14-05-2008

Originally Posted by Yoonix:
“The BBC being heavy-handed and bullying as usual.
Way to go - stifling fan creativity!

So are the BBC planning on selling knitted Adipose then?

She should've told them to f*** off!”

eh? how many times can you list the bbc being heavy handed? they aren't the mafia you know

and wouldn't "fan creativity" be more like, i don't know, producing patterns for NOVEL dr who monsters?

Toby53

14-05-2008

Come on this is for the more mature of our readers. Remember when the model of Tracy Island was released and was in very short supply? Blue Peter showed every one how to make thier own Tracy Island from cardboard etc. I think at the time Thunderbirds was on ITV?

Double standards????

Muttley76

14-05-2008

Originally Posted by stcoop:
“Given that people were selling completed ones on e-bay I don't think they would.”

Yes, that is what the issue is really, you can't blame the BBC for protecting their copyright.

kevinmerchant

14-05-2008

Originally Posted by Muttley76:
“Yes, that is what the issue is really, you can't blame the BBC for protecting their copyright.”

especially if they are planning to market their own adipose--then the fan could have sued the bbc for copying her idea

Rooks

14-05-2008

The "Adipose" aren't an original creation. My nan used to knit things that were almost identical to the adipose over 20 years ago, heck the knitting pattern has been around for ages. Even then, I've seen creations like that many times - it's a pretty generic look. The creatures are practically Jelly Babies anyway so maybe Bassetts should sue the BBC

kevinmerchant

14-05-2008

Originally Posted by Rooks:
“The "Adipose" aren't an original creation. My nan used to knit things that were almost identical to the adipose over 20 years ago, heck the knitting pattern has been around for ages. Even then, I've seen creations like that many times - it's a pretty generic look. The creatures are practically Jelly Babies anyway so maybe Bassetts should sue the BBC ”

did your gran knit ood as well?

kevinmerchant

14-05-2008

apparently the fan has now contacted the bbc who are keen to help licence her knitting patterns--hopefully a happy ending

The Slug

14-05-2008

kevin, I'm not sure if you have more current information than this, but reading the article on the BBC News site it doesn't quite go that far.

Now I'm going to risk the wrath of Auntie and quote you a chunk

Quote:
“A BBC Worldwide spokesman said it was not "heavy-handed" with "genuine fans of the show", but that it had to act in the interest of licence-fee payers by protecting the Doctor Who trademark.

"If you don't protect your trademark, it's taken away from you. And Doctor Who is massive for the BBC. It's up to us to earn money from it so we can re-invest it in the BBC," he said.

He added: "It's not that we don't admire creativity from fans - most of the time, we take the view that if it's small-scale and not for profit, then we turn a blind eye.

"This lady, with the best will in the world, wanted to share with friends, family and fans.

"But there were some unscrupulous people taking these patterns and using them on eBay to make profit for themselves. Unfortunately, we had to get to the source of the patterns - and that was her website."

He said that Mazzmatazz was still welcome to get in touch with BBC Worldwide to discuss the issue.

"We were offering to take her ideas to our licensing team. While we don't have any plans to offer any knitted toys, in the future, who knows?"”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7400268.stm

kevinmerchant

14-05-2008

it was on news 24 about an hour ago. They interviewed someone from bbc licencing

nimicitor

14-05-2008

A local church in Aldershot who likes ripping off brands and adding 'witty' god related things next to it has just put one up with the Doctor Who logo and a picture of the Tardis saying 'WHO saved the Earth'?

I think the BBC should hear about this...

Yoonix

14-05-2008

How does someone online showing how to make your own toy from a TV show differ from "Blue Peter" showing how to make your own toy from a TV show?

"Blue Peter" could very well show us how to make a Tardis, or a "Blake's 7" teleportation bracelet - if anyone then takes that design to make money from it, then by all means, take the matter up with those profiteering. Sending out the heavy artillery to what's basically an online Lesley Judd is just plain heavy-handed f***wittery!

Wouldn't be surprised is this action creates a whole slew of copycat knittery!

How "Blue Peter" got away with Tracy Island, I'll never know!

The Slug

14-05-2008

Originally Posted by nimicitor:
“A local church in Aldershot who likes ripping off brands and adding 'witty' god related things next to it has just put one up with the Doctor Who logo and a picture of the Tardis saying 'WHO saved the Earth'?

I think the BBC should hear about this...

”

Indeed, although they might be on shaky ground considering the amount of religious, dare I say Christian, imagery people have spotted in Doctor Who over the last few years.

Maybe it's time to turn Who into a Church/BBC co-production with shared merchandising rights.

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