All
original designs/artworks created by folding
paper are the copyright of their designer. This
copyright extends to include diagrams and
instructions for folding the original
designs/artworks, whether these are in the form
of photos, videos, diagrams or crease patterns
etc. Permission from the copyright holder is
required before you can reproduce either the
original design/artwork or any instructions for
the folding or assembly sequences. Every designer
is entitled to determine how their
designs/artworks may and may not be used. This
page explains the situation in relation to my own
original designs/artworks. I am a professional
origami author, which just means that I write and
illustrate books about origami for money. Many of
my original designs appear in these books. Many
others have appeared in the magazines and design
collections of national origami societies around
the world or in books by other authors. Others
have appeared in photographs in books, on this
website or on my facebook page.
Folding and/or Assembly
Instructions
If I have
published, or allowed to be published, the
folding and/or assembly instuctions for a design
this gives you permission to enjoy folding that
design/artwork for yourself. You may also make
the designs/artworks and give them away as gifts
to your friends and demonstrate/teach other
people how to make the designs/artworks person to
person, individually or in groups, face to face
or via electronic media, provided you are not
being paid, or charging, for doing so.
(If,
however, you are being paid because you are an
education professional who works in a nursery,
school, college or university then you may teach,
display and exhibit the designs/artworks provided
you are doing so as part of your employment. You
may also photocopy the instructions and use them
as teaching aids.)
Photographs
If I have
only published photographs of the
designs/artworks (rather than folding
instructions) the permissions given above do not
apply. You may however like to enjoy the
challenge of 'reverse engineering' them for
yourself. Please note, however, that reverse
engineering a design from a photograph (or from
an exhibited design/artwork) does not make it
yours and does not give you any rights to further
reproduce or otherwise use the designs/artwork in
question.
I also
retain the copyright in any images/photographs
you make/take of my designs/artworks which
feature these designs/artworks prominently
(either those you fold yourself or those folded
by me or other people). You may use these
images/photographs for private enjoyment and
distribute them freely, provided you are not
being paid for doing so, or they are not being
otherwise used for commercial purposes. You may
not, for instance, make them available through
commercial image sites such as Shutterstock. (If,
however, you are being paid because you are an
education professional who works in a nursery,
school, college or university then you may use
such photos as part of your employment.)
Any other situations
In any
situation other than those outlined above you
need to contact me for permission to use the
designs/artworks. You can do this by email at davidmitchell@origamiheaven.com. I have the right
either to refuse or to grant that permission. If
I grant permission I have the right to set
conditions, or to ask you for a fee, though I
would normally only ask for a fee if you are
going to earn money from your use of the
design/artwork. It's good to share.
Acknowledgement
In every
case where you teach or display my
designs/artworks I would appreciate it if you
would mention that I am the designer/artist and
tell people where you found the folding
instructions. I would also appreciate it if you
would mention this website.
Retrospective Fees
If you
breach my copyright by not asking for permission
when you need to I am entitled to collect a fee
from you retrospectively. What I normally do is
ask for twice the fee I would have asked you to
pay in the first place. This seems reasonable to
me, and I hope it will encourage you to ask me up
front. I like seeing my stuff out there and will
be as helpful as I can.
Independent Rediscovery
Sometimes
paperfolding designers rediscover designs that
other paperfolders have already found. In this
case copyright in the design belongs to whoever
discovered / designed it first. This cuts both
ways. If you have rediscovered one of my designs
then the copyright is still mine. If I rediscover
one of yours, then the copyright is still yours.
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