In article ,
Mark and Kim Smith wrote:
TrailRat wrote:

A little debate between friends has led me to spill it among the
newsgroup. The debate is over mass produced furniture and the
reproduction of it in a private workshop.

The question goes along these lines. Is approaching a flat-pack
supermarket or furniture store with the intention of copying a piece
illegal.

A few of the answers state that it must be a breach of copyright laws.
Another answer states that if a carpenter copies a piece
unintentionally, then he'd break a copy right law. Other answers state
that various pieces follow the same basic principles, i.e the design of
a wardrobe is the same on many levels but there are many variants.

So whats the opinion of the group. Maybe I'll share it with my friend
next time I'm down the pub. Yes, the debate started over pint.

TR



Depends on what you are going to do with the reproduced piece? If it is
for personal use or you're going to give it away free (or as a gift),
have at it.

BZZZTTT!!!!

*NOT* correct. NOT CORRECT *AT*ALL*.

You are very probably safe, if it is for 'personal use'.

If it goes 'out of your hands', to somebody else, an entirely *different*
set of considerations come into play.

Copy all you want. Just like making personal copies of
CD's, records or tapes, etc. If you are reproducing to make profit,
then you can get into a lot of monetary trouble, at the very least.
Copyright owners frown on you making money off of their work.

Copyright owners frown on _any_ "unauthorized copying" of their work that
is not covered by the 'fair use' exemptions in copyright statute.

"personal use" is, actually, an "iffy" justification under U.S. statutes.
Copyright law in other jurisdictions is more specific in allowing it.