Long ago, in the movie props and model kits industry, it is very common for a much sought after item to be copied and reproduced. Even plastic kits were not spared. The moment that item leaves your hands, you’d know that sooner or later, its going to be re-casted. I am not going to touch on Copyright in this post as we all know where this is going to.
What I am surprised at, now, even Photo-etch frets can being copied!
I have observed a lot of Forums about things being recast and also, those who have bought them unknowingly or otherwise. Some makers would leave a tell-tale mark for identification later on to prove their work. And some, would just give up. But now, imagine if you have spent hundreds of hours and $$$ in creating an original item and cast them for sale, only to hear that it was re-casted and sold for a fraction of the cost days/weeks later. And some of your friends who bought it, complained about the horrible quality, thinking it was you, doing a scam or sub-par job. As for the re-caster, they will not lose out because its just so cheap for them to make the moulds and buy cheap resin to copy the object; the rest are just pure profits. But for the Artist, they have loans to pay back and put food on the table.
Re-casting hurts everyone. The Artist would feel cheated and sooner or later, stops creating. In the meantime, the re-caster continues their dirty deed and re-cast other stuff. Every re-cast item you buy, is a support for the Pirates and a nail in the coffin for the Artist. Start with ‘But its only one model’ and its all downhill from there. One day, whatever objects, software, music or Art pieces of your desire, will stop coming out. And you know the answer.
If you know anyone who does this or is unknowingly about to buy a re-cast, please enlighten them and stop them from buying. Please buy Originals.
I am thinking of venturing to another project but with such piracy running around, I think its better not to. Yeah, some people would be very disappointed but them’s the breaks for now.
