The Origami Forum

I know that it's illegal (and unethical) to fold other peoples' models and sell them for a profit, but what are the laws (and ethics) about folding such models for an auction for a non-profit organization?

Genearally, copyright law does not make this difference: even in this case the author's authorization is needed.

See here:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/treaties/berne/overview.html

This is an international treaty about copyright law that countries follow in general.

Technically, there is no difference. However, you are more likely to get the artist to grant permission and not ask for a cut of the money.

yeah probably the same... if thats what you want to do, you should make your own models, and they should be big, complex, and neat.

you should make your own models, and they should be big, complex, and neat.

Woah.

Did I hear that correctly?
Neat= yes, of course I agree.

Big= Maybe, but small can be beautiful. I find micro-folding very appealing really.

Complex= I'm sorry, but I can't agree with that. Take for example the work of Giang Dinh; I would really call his work beautiful. But does it have a million folds like the Ancient Dragon? Definitely not!

Beauty can be found in complexity, but also simplicity.

Beauty can be found in complexity, but also simplicity.

I agree. sometimes the most beautiful things are the most simple.

dinogami wrote:I know that it's illegal (and unethical) to fold other peoples' models and sell them for a profit, but what are the laws (and ethics) about folding such models for an auction for a non-profit organization?

May be unethical to sell other people's designs, but it is not illegal in any way I know, as least in the US. I outlined my reasoning in another thread about the same subject.