[TheForge] Creeping commercialisation

[George Dixon]

'Imagine being sued for using classic ironwork
techniques in your work.'

My former employer had an attorney put me on notice that every motif and every tool that Samuel Yellin's shop made or used (in traditional European style) was now the "patrimony" of Claire Yellin.  As such, she was trying to claim copyright on the entire body of period European motifs as well as on the shapes of period European tools.  They further tried to assert that the period European style tools from Yellin's shop were 'art' and as such, the shapes were copyrighted for eternity.  Thus a traditional scroll wrench, evolved centuries ago in Europe, would now be Ms Yellin's proprietary copyright by virtue of it having been copied in her grandfathers shop. Samuel Yellin's entire body of tools, motifs and whole assemblies in some cases, was a period European metalworking vocabulary brought to America.
  

Such specious claims of 'ownership' as the previous email alluded to are all too common.  The folks who actually made the first of any of these shapes, combinations of shapes or processes are unrecorded.  Their 'inventions' have been used and reused for hundreds of years.  Those who, today, try to assert 'ownership' of our common blacksmithing heritage usually had nothing to do with either its actual use (they are paper-pushing-lawyer-laden opportunists or obstructionists) nor have they done much to further the craft. Instead, they would try to lock it up for a quick buck.


George Dixon