Thread: Copyright - Cassina Willow Chair

As far as I know, the copyright can be renewed/extended by his estate.
Also, everything has to be done after steam bending

In Australia, for an 'artistic work' (ie not literary, dramatic or musical works) the copyright period is 70 years from the death of the artist.

1928 plus 70 equals 1998, so it's been out of copyright for 17 years.

Copyright (unlike a Trademark) cannot be renewed; that's why Disney keeps getting the US congress to put forward bills extending the duration of copyright so that Mickey Mouse does not go out of copyright.

https://www.nla.gov.au/how-long-does-copyright-last

Actually, in 2004 when the statutory period was changed from 50 to 70 years it was not made retrospective, so If the author/artist was already dead then the 50 year rule applies. Therefore it went out of copyright in 1978.

Thanks, that takes care of the copyright issue.
However, I would appreciate some thoughts on the cross-lap joints. Also what is the best unit to produce steam to bend the wood?

If you're painting this,or using a very dark stain like the original, then why steam bend?
Surely it's easier just to make a form and laminate up the curves.

My opinion is that home-done steam bending is pretty hit-and-miss and rarely works as well as many posters would have you believe. Especially true in Australia which is not replete with good bending woods.

Exactly what is the question you are asking about the lap joints?

Until recently, I would have said that if the copyright has been sold to a corporation, the copyright remains in effect until the corporation dies.

HOWEVER

There was a case where such had happened on the ditty "Happy Birthday". A corporation, I don't remember which, had been collecting royalties on the use of the tune for decades. I believe that the US Supreme Court ruled that the copyright was invalid. What I don't know is if the HB invalidation was due to a defect in the chain of copyright or it applies to all copyrights. (In the US, obviously)

Warner/Chappell's (who acquired the rights in 1988 and have been collecting around $2 million a year for 'Happy Birthday to You') claim on the song was found to be invalid. Their rights purchase was found to be for the 1893 music 'Good Morning to All', on which the 'Happy Birthday' lyrics were added in 1935.

So Warner's rights purchase was for public domain music, and for the non-existent copyright of the 1935 lyrics (the lyrics were never registered for copyright purposes, as was required by US law at the time).

In US law, copyright owned by a corporation expires 95 years after publication, or 120 years after creation. I always find the US stance on copyright ironic, considering British copyright was one of the things they rejected! Author Charles Dickens complained about not receiving royalties for American printings of his stories.

Originally Posted by Arron

Especially true in Australia which is not replete with good bending woods.

Australia has many suitable woods for steam bending. http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/ass...-of-Timber.pdf

Steam bending kiln dried timbers is not going to work very well though.

We shouldn't loose sight of the fact that the statement on the website is not a pre-emptive defence of copyright. The owner is merely pointing out that because the object he is selling was made within the copyright period then it is worth more then one which was made in the knock-off period immediately after the copyright ends.

The presumption is that while the item is under copyright then the holder/licenser of the copyright has an interest in maintaining high quality. After the copyright period ends, the incentive is lost and even the original maker may let quality slip if market pressures dictate.

Copyright is also only meaningful if the holder is actually going to pursue enforcing it and I hardly think some random guy doing a private project is worth their time. If you were going to sell them to the public that's when you need to worry.

Another take on it is to use the design as "inspiration" for your own design. It has been said that a difference of as little as ten percent negates any copyright, and could, quite possibly. be far more satisfying to make.

Cheers