I've Been Recast! Advice?

[sctcarts]

So I figured it was only a matter of time....the X-Files badge that I created/sculpted and use in the wallet sets I produce has been recast by another e-bayer! I know there's not much to do, but how do you guys handle something like this?

Links to the recast auction here:
THE X-FILES WALLET PROP & BADGE ID - FOX MULDER

Looking at his pictures it's a terrible recast of my sculpt, very soft, but a recast all the same.

Advice?

-sctcarts

 

[cerillo]

As I said before Document Everything from begining to end. But If you've already done this, then you can present your evidence to the members that is allowing the sale of your copied item. Enclose the name of the individual who bought the item from you earlier (From your Pay Pay account or another payment method) They may be able to hide thier User name but not thier legal name. C

 

[roboprop]

Isn't sculpting and selling FBI badges illegal anyway? :unsure

 

[Rylo]

Yep, the feds don't care much for it at all.

Others have had serious problems with this sort of thing in the past.

It sucks someone ripped your sculpt off but you could have more trouble if you hit the wrong radar.

Isn't sculpting and selling FBI badges illegal anyway? :unsure

 

[Blad]

They've been very busy selling your design haven't they?

Unfortunately it seems that the only way to deal with these jokers is to undercut them.

If they're a member here then outing them will give temporary satisfaction, but won't stop them doing anything.

You can try a VERO as it's your sculpt, that's worked for some people in the past even though they are not the licensee.

You could report the listings to Fox, but that could draw attention to your own listings if you do.

You could contact the seller and ask why they have to steal your design, why can't they do the work and produce something off their own bat - again though, that's just temporary satisfaction and I suspect that as this guy's entire selling record seems to be x-files props he's not going to care - or listen,


It's very frustrating, I've had 5 badges recast this year so far and apart from spitting teeth for a while, my real satisfaction has been the fact I still have 130 designs that HAVEN'T been recast and that I can always make something new, the recasters can only leech off the more talented.

 

[Blad]

Isn't sculpting and selling FBI badges illegal anyway? :unsure

sctcarts has carefully made sure his design doesn't say FBI. It's not an FBI badge.

 

[Emeldahay]

it looks melted.

Pretty poor.

 

[Rylo]

But, the credentials do...

There was a guy here a few years ago who had the FBI pay him a little visit for making the credentials.

Just sayin' (Anyone else remember hearing about this?)

sctcarts has carefully made sure his design doesn't say FBI. It's not an FBI badge.

 

[VashDstampede]

Man this truly sucks, I'm sorry you have to deal with this.
What worked for me for the past two times my wife's sculpt was recast, was what Blad recommended, contact the seller and make a report to e-bay.
It may or may not work, but mention that you are a member of a few prop forums/community that takes recasting as a serious offense. Mention that you have your sculpt well documented (be sure you can back it up).
Ask them in a professional way to cease and desist from making further casts.
It also doesn't hurt if you can find out how they were able to acquire your item to recast.
When that doesn't work, ask as many people to bombard the scumbag with e-mails and maybe that would show how serious we all are about this subject.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[sctcarts]

Thanks for all the advice.

As to the paper ID's saying FBI, true, but they are replicated exactly like the prop used on the show. And as to the badge, I did make very sure that it didn't use the wording like a real badge. I'll admit, it's a grey area and I know the Feds don't like anything even remotely similar. But that seems quite often to be the case for many things in the world of prop replicas - always a grey area.

I think my best route will be to ask him to stop recasting my sculpt, and then I'm just going to have to undercut him. His previous wallets only had a cardboard printout of the photo of the badge, this is the first one I've seen with him using my sculpt-and I believe he obtained one from me by buying one of my auctions under another handle.

Ah well, I'll do what I can, and after that, there's not much one can do.

But thanks for all the advice!