Tuesday, October 27, 2009

An Attack on One of Us is an Attack on ALL of Us



Ran across this article today on the legal battle of John Unger (an original artisan) vs. Rick Wittrig, manufacturer of mass produced stolen artwork. While Mr Unger is not, as far as I know, Pagan, he is an original artisan who built his company from the ground up, earning his reputation through high quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and blood, sweat, and tears.

You guys know that nothing gets me more pissed than theft and plagiarism, especially theft from small artists. The fact that this guy could overturn Mr. Unger's copyright by default, outspending him, is a travesty against the very heart of intellectual property laws. Whoever has the most money wins?

If you have an extra few bucks laying around, invest in one of his lovely hand forged firebowls to support his legal battle (and get an awesome central piece for your rituals). If you don't have a few bucks laying around, spread the word. Post it on you Facebook, your Myspace, Twitter, throw a fundraiser, write your newspaper. Just get it out there. There is no point to creating brilliant works of art if they can be stolen out from under you. Surely we don't want to live in a world like that.

4 comments:

Magaly Guerrero said...

This hits home more than anyone might think, so I feel his pain and understand your outrage. There is nothing worse than to know that you spent hours--heck years! doing something and then someone comes and take it. Worse, you can't do a thing about it.

I don't have any money laying around, but I will sure pass the word on my blog in the next few days. Thanks for sharing this.

Lodestone and Ladys Mantle said...

I sure do appreciate you putting the word out.
Wish I had an extra $800 burning a hole in my pocket, but alas, no such luck.

toadbile said...

I lack the financial resourses to defend myself though legal counsel in Courts of Law, but such a willful act of thievery would not go unanswered. I may still retain the services of Mssrs. Poysson, Phyre, Gnife and Gunn to represent me in the Courts of Justice. Grrrr. This story really purturbs me!

Dan said...

There really ought to be a law against douche bags. Especially the kind with money.