From: "Richard Johnson" <djdick-AT-georgiasouthern.edu>
To: <puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] copyright (Wimzie's House)
Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2005 16:58:24 -0700


It will be interesting to see how successful the suit will be.This is 
especially true since Henson published in physical patterns for muppet style 
puppets in Women's Day magazine in the sixties, along with scripts and a 
"welcome to use without royalties "notice.

(I still have my copy.  It was my first puppet experience.)
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mathieu René" <creaturiste-AT-magma.ca>
To: <puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 3:12 PM
Subject: [Puptcrit] copyright (Wimzie's House)


> One heavy misuse of judgement in the puppet world happened here in Canada.
> A show called Wimizi's House features puppet that are VERY Henson-like. 
> Specifically their main chracter, who looks a bit like a baby version of 
> RED in Fraggle Rock.
>
> These characters are unique, and very well done, but the resemblance to 
> the Muppet style is definitely there.
>
> It is probably very hard to do a Muppet-like puppet without copyright 
> infringement.
> The Henson company really touched gold with their efficient streamlined 
> muppet designs, and went in so many directions to create their pictural 
> universe.
> Maybe this is why we now see knock off's or muppet-inspired puppets 
> everywhere.
>
> See pictures of the cast:
> http://www.wimzie.com/kb_1_1.html
>
>
> Article about it, gathered from:
> http://www.playbackmag.com/articles/magazine/19990222/24561.html
> In other business news, The Jim Henson Company has filed a complaint in 
> the u.s. District Court for the Southern District of New York against 
> Cinar, alleging the preschool puppet series Wimzie's House represents 
> "unfair competition and copyright infringement" of The Muppets. [...]
>
> Weinberg says the character traits associated with the Wimzie cast are 
> original. "What we've created here are individual characters that 
> represent, in the case of Wimzie, a five-year-old girl who has a specific 
> personality and behaves a certain way and talks a certain way which is 
> totally unique and original.
>
> "We were surprised, given the show has been on pbs and throughout the 
> country for well over a year and a half now, that the week of the New York 
> Toy Fair we get hit with this complaint," he says.
>
> --------------
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Mathieu René Créaturiste
> Marionnettes, Masques, Etcetera...
> Puppets, Masks, Etcetera...
> creaturiste-AT-magma.ca
> www.creaturiste.com
> (514) 274-8027
> _______________________________________________
> List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
> Admin interface: 
> http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
> Archives: http://www.driftline.org 

_______________________________________________
List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
Archives: http://www.driftline.org