Dos and Don’ts – Today a don’t….
Last night while I was reading the current issue of COVER Magazine on the iPad I commented aloud that “It was actually very nice.” to …
Last night while I was reading the current issue of COVER Magazine on the iPad I commented aloud that “It was actually very nice.” to …
As I have already beaten the Copyright horse to its near death I will not belabour the point too much today, and in fact I only mention it again as I received the lamest of emails imaginable. Whether the author of the email is authentic in her intent, or is merely on a fishing expedition (for The Rug Company or otherwise) to see if I will name names and offer suggestions is not of any consequence to my response. Here is her email followed by my public reply: she did not get a private reply.
I was once disparagingly told by a sales representative (Company A) whom we will presume was feeling some heat from above, that a new to the scene …
A valued reader and nouveau friend recently brought to my attention that my last article on copyright had a certain ‘Groundhog’s Day’- esque nature to it. For those of you not in the know, ‘Groundhog’s Day’ is a wonderful (and nostalgic for me: I’ve been to Punxsutawney!!) movie staring Bill Murray that explores the meaning of life through the ad nauseum repeated reliving of one day. In the end Bill Murray’s character comes to some dramatic life altering realizations, but not of course before having some fun; it is a comedy after all. But I digress. When I first read his email I thought ‘Who the hell is he calling repetitive?’ but before I could type a response in so many words, my brain had already begun to contemplate what he was saying. I quickly came to realize the point my astute reader was attempting to make is that ‘Copyright This!’ and ‘Copyright this! Again?’ are strikingly similar, and though this was not intentional it seems only appropriate that a serialized article on knockoffs and copyright would reduce itself to such a state. After all, the nuances of copyright are nearly without bounds and the subtleties are enough to make you want to smash your head between a door and door jam – repeatedly, ad nauseum, like that movie. In the end we just end up talking (at painful length) about the various permutations of what is the very short version of the issue of copyright (in the rug industry): Talented (or otherwise) people create great carpets which in turn are made by others whom we shall call greedy and lazy, which I’ve said already; again, like that movie. It’s as though I am making this intentionally repetitive at this point. No? It’s as though I am making this intentionally repetitive at this point. Oh wait….
This article originally appeared on The Ruggist on 14 January 2013 C.E. under the same title. On 23 June 2018 C.E. it was re-edited and …
Perhaps it best to begin where the prologue that was my last article left off. As you will recall, I introduced the topic of copyright, and specifically asked: ‘What happens when one manufacturer impersonates the style and aesthetic of another?’ The short answer is found in the article I wrote for the Winter 2013 Issue of COVER magazine (along with Ben Evans and Jessica Franses – Full Disclosure: I was paid for the article.): A knockoff is copying – theft – and it is wrong. My opinion on flagrant and blatant copying is clear, but there are of course an endless myriad of permutations between copying and – to the other extreme – the unattainable ideal of pure original creation, and it is the discussion of this spectrum that is integral to the topic at hand.
This past week I encountered a video produced by Traditional Home entitled: “Sh** Interior Designers Say” and it, dear readers, is simply sublime. Now, for those …
The following is an email “The Ruggist” received from Dennis Dodds, in reference to my last blog post: NYICS and “The Rug Show” Review – …
Well! How about that last review? What was I thinking? Well it seems I was thinking the same thing as the author of this comment …
Welcome to the second of what I had planned to be two (2) posts on NYICS and “The Rug Show”. Due to a plethora of material generated …
Ladies and Gentlemen of the world we call rugs, welcome to part (1) of a two (2) part series in which carpets, trends, and gossipy opinion …
As you all know I am supporter of GoodWeave (nee RugMark) and have over the years strongly encouraged many in the rug industry to join them in …
Good day fellow rug denizens! “The Ruggist” comes to you today to share a little light hearted fare before we get into the thick of the …
While those of us on this side of the pond are enjoying the spoils of New York and the New York International Carpet Show (NYICS), …
In the fall of 2005 CE I was riding high. I had sold my first home for a profit (in what we now revisionistically call …