After doing some research (thank you, Holly), I've decided not to finish the Pippi pattern for the shop. Bummer. Sorry for the build then the fizzle! I had assumed (wrongly it turns out) that the story/character of Pippi Longstocking had entered the public domain since it was published in 1945, almost seventy years ago!
Interestingly enough, if my internet research is to be relied upon, the story was in the public domain, but via the Uruguay Round Agreements Act of 1996 it has been taken out of the public domain and its copyright and trademark extended for who knows how long. I'm still not sure exactly how all that legally applies to the persona/likeness of Pippi as it relates to a doll pattern, but I am sure that I don't want to proceed if I can't feel confident about it. If you are curious and have some time you can read more about it here, here, here and here.
I might repurpose some of the doll design and possibly the little monkey into another pattern. I was thinking it might be cute to have two best friend dolls, one who is messy and tomboyish and one who is neat and girly-fied. That sounds fun! I'll get it sorted out.
Aww... how sad is that! :( What a bummer. But a good thing you found that out and are avoiding possible trouble down the road.
ReplyDeleteI do like your replacement idea, though! Maybe this will turn out even better!
Thank you, Grandma G! Pippi is such a great character. I was re-reading some of the book and chuckling to myself yesterday. Yes, I'm excited about the new idea. I'm going to mull it over.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about the copyright but there is NOTHING wrong with being inspired by such an amazing tale. I would love to make a set of dolls this size. And surely the monkey could become a little frog or cat or something? Your patterns are so amazing, I really want you to keep going with this!
ReplyDeleteClever of you to even think of that! I've made a Snow White and a Red Ridinghood, but mever thought of things like copyrights.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are so nice. I can only blame my own faulty assumptions.
ReplyDeleteBeth Lemon, thank you! And yes, you are right, I don't personally think there is anything bad about making yourself a doll inspired by a book, but it's a whole other thing to me when it enters the commercial realm. I just want to be worry-free!
Vervlogen Dagen, to that point, yes, old fairy tales like Snow White, and Red Riding Hood are in the public domain because the requisite number of years have passed since the Grimm Bros published their works. No worries there! For example, I can be free to come up with my own version of Grimm's Snow White since it is in the public domain, but I can't legally reproduce Snow White as she is portrayed in the iconic trademarked/copyrighted-to-death-forever Disney movie. LOL
Aww....dang!.....That is a bummer....but I truly enjoyed seeing the dolls...they are really adorable!!!
ReplyDeleteI like the doll. What about copyrights, then I don't think you have to worry about because it's a commonly known character and whoever refers to it just multiplies it's popularity which was initially there. :)
ReplyDeleteWaiting for your next projects :)
hi larissa - this is so sad! the pattern would be so adorable whether it's a pippi doll or not. couldn't you sell the same doll pattern but give her a different face & outfit, and then customers could modify them if they wanted? certainly the shape of the doll only belongs to you, right?
ReplyDeletei hope i hope you'll consider..
xo maggie
You are just so cool, all the way around. Your design is just great, your photo on this post is so "right on," and your attention to detail and copyright is always impeccable. You're just my hero all the way around!
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could just change her name. She is just too cute to stash away! Besides she remindes me more of a Lola from the English show Charlie & Lola.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find away to make her for sharing!
I know that there was a lot of trouble with Elsa Beskow story based dolls in Germany. So you are right to check it out, before the pattern is available and better change it into something else. A shame it is anyway... such a cute idea
ReplyDeleteI'm with Cherie, My first thought was Lola when I saw the doll. So cute.
ReplyDelete