That does seem to be correct.
A lot of classic props were made in shops and by a team, so no one propmaker clams ownership.
A lot were made by propmakers who never clamed they had done them.
Some had too many “owners” as a bunch clamed being the builder.
As most of us was fighting to stay alive and pay our bills as studio propmaking rarely was steady work, the main rule was not to take food from some ones mouth, not to step on some ones sales with his own work. (Recasting)
Even now a lot of people do not like nor want to make the same model over and over again, many only want to do one short run and get out with a few free copies.
So such a model soon becomes more or less public domain. (Again if you know the owner/builder it is best to ask for their OK.)
I normally work by these rules…
1) I get a model from a studio source. 95% of the time I then make MAJOR changes, like cutting it apart and adding working features and electronic sound and light effects. (the Overthruster is one..from a studio source, at lease one of the two is…)
2) Build a model with as much real found parts and then offer it.(The Blade Runner Blaster is such a model)
3) Make a deal with the model maker to reproduce it. (The Lawgiver I hope to do soon is one of these.)
4) Rarely: Reproduce a model after a search and posting for it’s “owner” to come forth. (the second Overthruster is one of these…)
5) Rarely: Recast a rip off model with the OK of the real owner who was ripped off. (I can not think of a model that falls under this…)
Our old rules was it was OK to rip off a million dollar studio, not a $10.00 dollar props maker. Most of the very few of us that was making props for fans did it for the following reasons:
Our love of the show/film and as we lucked out and found these props and keepsakes, were willing to share.
To stay alive until the next studio job.
To keep our hand in and refine our craft, if I had not been moonlighting by making props for fans I would not be free to take a real prop job.
And by working for fans who are a lot more fussy than the studios, (funny as we would make 3 to 5 times as much selling to a studio…) I for one would have never become the propmaker I am now. Studios can be very forgiving, and just shoot its good side and do not care about parting line, bubbles, and paint flaws.
All things consumers will yell about...
I kind of think this was one of Icon’s down fall, hiring real propmakers used to selling ratty props to the studio and NOT used to selling super clean props to collectors.
The studios send mixed messages as well, Paramount let things go for years, and Gene Roddenberry publicly said he supported fans making costumes, phasers, and writing fan fiction.
Seemly George Lukas also allow fans to do our thing, up until he restarted Star Wars…
For decades studios said we help keep the interest alive and were supporting the shows and films.
And I have done so for over the past 30 years, from 1977 the year Star Wars come out.
That is my understanding of things prop.
My 2 cents worth.
Rich
