Copyright Shield Designs ?

[Magnus]

It is, at the very least, rude to copy another club's shield device.

Ask.

But technically it's not your shield device. Unless you've seriously re-worked an ancient design...but if you've copied one then you don't have ownership of it. Period.

The real and serious problem arises when the device is broadly recognized as belonging to or representing a specific Club and under that circumstance a third party believes that they are contracting with the original owner when instead they are talking with a copycat. Even if no money is involved there can be other legal issues.

That's a lot of egotistical poppycock. It stems back to original ownership of an ancient design...no modern organization can claim it as their own. Second, there isn't any group in N. America that holds such a level of celebrity. Maybe, maaaybe Legio II AVG or the ESG in England... certainly not here. In anycase anyone copying a shield device usually does so for the visual appeal of it, not because of associating with another reenactment club. That would imply that there is some kind of status in doing so, and let's face it...this is a hobby. Not like you're allying yourself with Microsoft or Ferarri. Anyone who actually is worried about such things probably needs to re-examine their philosophical outlook on what clearly should only be considered a hobby.

I believe that I've made this sugestion before: RAT is the ideal organization to be a sort of "Herald" for Roman re-enactment... in a passive advisory role of course... a place to "register" a shield device to make it easier for new clubs and groups to avoid copycatting. Establish a club shield design database...

That will never happen. It seems you can't seem to grasp the idea that ancient scutum emblems aren't subject to copy right, and therefor impossible to "copy cat". But why would you even propose something like that? It's elitist and monopolizing. As though IX Hisp. is somehow more important than other groups out there. As if. :lol:

Only the Sith deal in absolutes. 8)