Following our recent story about copyright on Mardis Gras costumes, it seems that now we're hearing more and more about costume copyrights. THREsq points us to the news of a lawsuit involving the maker of those "gorilla holding a cage" Halloween costumes (pdf) claiming that a competing gorilla-holding-cage costume maker was violating its copyrights:
While there may be arguments over the copyrightability of the costume itself, notice that the lawsuit takes this even further, and throws in the claim of copyright inducement in asking retailers to sell the costume, with the argument being that the maker of the costume is now "inducing" the retailers to infringe.
I didn't think US copyright law allowed clothing to be copyrighted, but apparently the US copyright office issued a copyright for this. So what's the deal with clothing and copyright in the US?
Stagecraft evidently doesn't want any competition on their $1,500 costume. They apparently are trying to keep the margins REALLY REALLY high. The competitor is selling the knockoff for $150 -- a full 10 times less. Now, would you pay $1,500 when you could get it for $150? Stagecraft doesn't want you to have that choice. Well, don't think I'll be doing any business with old Stagecraft~!
How the hell do you think we get new costumes every year! Do you think the Costume fairy just magically delivers brilliant new designs? NO these companies spend millions on designing, procurement and manufacturing! Why would they do that if they couldn't re-coupe their investment!
Mike you seem to be against anyone thats creative. If it were up to you these guys would all starve in the streets, forced to make costumes in Time Square with a little latex fedora, begging passers by for spare change. Get this through you thick skull! If they cant earn a living by creating costumes they wont make new costumes. Imagine a world without costumes, imagine Halloween all the little children looking up at you through the awkwardly cut holes in their parents bed sheets. Just think about the children for once!
I wonder if you could count how many times the Superman logo on the chest of Jesus Christ has been used when GODSPELL has been done? Yes-- that could have been copyrighted but I would have spent a lifetime in litigation!
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Copyright?
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Competition
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Re: Competition
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Certainly this cannot be good for the fashion industry.
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Aww, who the hell am I kidding? As if the reviewer is going to check for prior art!
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Re:
What if I use a real Gorilla and stuff the lawyers in the cage? Is that copyright infringement?
Only if the lawyers are still alive and holding the bars.
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My 2 cents.
So all the lawyers will now have to pay me or cut off their 2 inch long wankers.
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Oh My God
Mike you seem to be against anyone thats creative. If it were up to you these guys would all starve in the streets, forced to make costumes in Time Square with a little latex fedora, begging passers by for spare change. Get this through you thick skull! If they cant earn a living by creating costumes they wont make new costumes. Imagine a world without costumes, imagine Halloween all the little children looking up at you through the awkwardly cut holes in their parents bed sheets. Just think about the children for once!
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Re: Oh My God
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Re: Oh My God
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Copyright???
This is ridiculous.
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Re: Copyright???
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Re: Copyright???
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Re: Copyright???
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Costume Copyrights
Any thoughts on what a girl's to do?
Susan Tsu
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Silly
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