Rich R. said:
Hi Jimbo,
I have been following this debate a little and I am torn between the two sides. I have a few questions for you.
Could you please explain where the line is, between a cue copy and a cue inspired by a maker's design? Just how different does the design have to be, before it is no longer a copy?
I'm not exactly sure Rich, I think it's a good question. I do believe it's much easier to tell when talking about a one of a kind unique design. I've been vilified on this thread as trying to be some sort of cue design police, the fact is everyone should be outraged and in most cases would be. I don't understand why people don't seem to care. I don't want to be the one to decide how far you can go before it's blatant stealing, I think it can be different for each individual. I've picked up many of my beliefs from some discussions I've had over how hard it is to keep trying to come up with new innovative designs. From all the conversations I've had I can see why some feel it's just easier to steal. But most of the people I really respect in this business all have the same mantra "it's already been done" and they don't want to revisit something. They are artist and want to put their own stamp on the world and stand on their own.
Also, when designing cues, other than the ultra fancy "art" cues, is there really anything new that can be done? I'm talking about the everyday, playing cues, with just a little bit of eye candy, maybe in the $1K to $2K range.
From the beginning I have said there are certain things that have become "the standard" such as points (4,6,and 8) Veneers, rings and certain inlays (diamonds,dots,and boxes) These are all things that have been around for a long time and trying to pin down who did them first is tough. Many of the early guys were limited by the times and equipment available and many worked together. Can Danny Janes claim something was his or can Tim Scruggs and Bill Stroud all use it? But again I was talking about the same inlays in the same exact places. Even in the past 5 years there have been people who have come along and done things that set them apart. From across the room I can tell a Cognoscenti or a Southwest (unless it's a Coker LOL) I can tell a Skip Weston from his points alone, there are people like Jerry McWorter or Samsara who have come up with a "look" and I am talking about basic cues nothing fancy or 1 of a kind. These guys have come up with their own stamp and they stand apart. Paul Fanelli is another who comes to mind. These are people who do what they do different from everyone else, it's not to say that they sell more cues or demand higher prices then anyone else, but go to Jim Stadum of Samsara and show him a picture of a bushka and tell him you want him to make that cue and what do you think the answer you will get will be???
What should a cue maker do, if a customer comes in, with a design for a cue? The customer thinks it is their original idea, but the cue maker happens to know that it is exactly like a design used by some famous maker. Should the cue maker produce the cue, for the customer, as requested, or, should the cue maker refuse to make the cue and risk losing a customer?
Again go ask Southwest to make a Szamboti copy or Joe Gold to do a Bushka design. The point is I can't tell them what they should do, I can tell you that most people who consider themselves artist and who take pride in their own designs would tell the person that they wouldn't make the cue or they would say let me make my own interpretation of that work. Or just flat out sorry I won't do it. Again it's much easier to do with a classic design, but go ask the same person to copy a one of a kind design from a living cuemaker. Then what would be the answer? Would it change because the person is alive to make a stink or sue?? Who knows.
I am not taking sides in this discussion, because I really don't know which side to take. There are positives and negatives on both sides.
