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Ethics of stealing ideas

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Bikertrash, Jun 3, 2013.

  1. Bikertrash
    Joined: Aug 29, 2007
    Posts: 150

    Bikertrash
    Member
    from Boise

    So there is a guy in town who has built a car like I'm building. ('30 Model A Coupe). His style is different than mine, but came out beautifuly. I saw his car completed at the car show this weekend and was blown away by one of the unique and individualized things that he has done. I wouldn't ever have thought of it. Haven't seen it before his car. My point is that anyone who knows him would say, "That's (insert name) idea you dirty bastard!"

    Here's my question... I desperatly want to copy his idea and put it in the car I am building. What is the proper way to approach another builder, and ask them about stealing their idea and using it in your build? I don't think I would be able to pull it off as good as he did, but I think it is too cool not to try.

    I'm probably overthinking this stuff. Is it flattery, or just good old fashioned theft?
     
  2. Ahh, there's very few New Ideas, most have been thought of before. hell every time someone posts something "New" on here, 15 minutes later there are 3 pictures of it from "back in the Day"
     
  3. Yeah, what's he done that so different?
     
  4. being inspired is not stealing.
    Artists have been inspired by peers and mentors since the beginning of time.

    be inspired- proudly!
     

  5. PaRatRod
    Joined: Jul 13, 2010
    Posts: 142

    PaRatRod
    Member

    Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! Steal that idea. Like everyone said- it is probably not all that new anyway.
     
  6. There are no ethics in stealing -
    Influenced, inspired, directed, & clones, counterfeit, copy
     
  7. Nothing is new when it comes to traditional thinking,,,I wanna see a photo of what your talking about. HRP
     
  8. KRB52
    Joined: Jul 9, 2011
    Posts: 1,077

    KRB52
    Member
    from Conneticut

    Take a look at the begining of the banger's thread, "By three methods we may learn wisdom";
    "The second is by imitation, which is the easiest."

    You living in the same town may make it look a little tacky, unless you can significantly alter the idea(s) so that there is similarity, but not direct copies. If the other individual is the old type person, they may just whine about you copying them. If they are more modern, they may come after you for stealing their "intellectual property", since it is their own, unique design.
     
  9. GEEZZER
    Joined: Mar 20, 2008
    Posts: 296

    GEEZZER
    Member

    Nothing is new
     
  10. Master of None
    Joined: Dec 18, 2009
    Posts: 2,279

    Master of None
    Member

    As long as you give credit when credits due. I'm never bashful about telling where I ripped off some of "My ideas" from. Everyone puts their own twist on things. I find it to be flattering when someone thinks enough of something I did, to copy it and make it their own. So long as they say where "Their ideas" had their inspiration.
     
  11. rld14
    Joined: Mar 30, 2011
    Posts: 1,609

    rld14
    Member

    Trust me,

    Unless he put a Model T engine converted to diesel and mated to a dynaflow in that car, someone's done it before.

    If it were me, and if I knew the guy, and knew we'd see each other at shows... I might go up to him at the next cruise night and compliment him on whatever he's done that you like. I'd say something like "man that looks awesome, I bet that would look great on my build". And I bet ya a cold beer that he would be flattered.

    Now, if you're passing off his work as your own original idea, yeah, that's being a Richard Cranium.

    Bill
     
  12. jhaas63
    Joined: Jan 15, 2013
    Posts: 136

    jhaas63
    Member

    Who cares what anyone thinks....do as you please.
     
  13. Hackerbilt
    Joined: Aug 13, 2001
    Posts: 6,254

    Hackerbilt
    Member

    Exactly!
    ONE person came up with the dropped axle...look how that ended up! :D
     
  14. I want to see this too.
    Where's the pictures?
     
  15. tommyflathead
    Joined: Apr 18, 2011
    Posts: 460

    tommyflathead
    Member

    Ethics on this matter is about your own moralistic standing. The fact that you are thinking about consequence means that you care.

    Anyway Steal shamlessly!!!
     
  16. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member

    If you build traditional like this website is about, then everything we do is "copy".

    that does not sit well with some people because they want to be different.

    I am a follower, not a leader, when it comes to build style.
     
  17. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    If it's not copyrighted, it's fair game. And even then, when it comes to hot rods, what hasn't been done before? Plus, he probably got it from someone else and may be claiming it as his own.
     
  18. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,737

    The37Kid
    Member

    Its wrong to copy Rolling Bones and Bass chassis ideas?:confused: Bob
     
  19. afaulk
    Joined: Jul 20, 2011
    Posts: 1,194

    afaulk
    Member

    Copy the thing and give credit where it's due.
     
  20. JohnnyP.
    Joined: Aug 3, 2005
    Posts: 1,301

    JohnnyP.
    Member

    Was this something huge on the car? Or is it something subtle? If he painted the car purple with ghost flames, and you want to do it too, then I think it's going to be noticeable that you copied him. If e made a bitchen cover for his license plate light and you want to copy it, I really don't think anyone is going to notice. Talk with the dude and see what he thinks. Better to ask first, then to do it and have someone pissed at you.


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  21. APACHE FS
    Joined: Feb 20, 2007
    Posts: 569

    APACHE FS
    Member

    I have a buddy that might steal that idea! :)
    I would talk to the guy if you have any reservations




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  22. greg r
    Joined: Jun 2, 2013
    Posts: 1

    greg r
    Member

    Stealing is taking without paying. Plagiarism is passing someone else's idea off as your own. If it ain't copyrighted or patented, the best compliment is imitation. Consider Ed Roth, and all the spin-offs from his ideas. It still pays to put "your" application into it.
     
  23. Master of None
    Joined: Dec 18, 2009
    Posts: 2,279

    Master of None
    Member



    Nope, they borrowed it from Doane Spencer.:D
     
  24. n847
    Joined: Apr 22, 2010
    Posts: 2,724

    n847
    Member

    you guys aren't gonna believe this but I just talked to Bikertrash and that dude built that 30 Ford...Get This...On a 32 Ford Frame!
     
  25. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

  26. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,432

    Squablow
    Member

    I've had a few people convert their 4 doors to two door sedans after reading some of my old tech threads and that was some of the most flattering things I've ever heard. Then again, I'm not the first one to do that either, although I was told that's the first time those people had seen it done.

    Tell the guy you love what he did and would like to do the same, I don't think there's anything bad about that.

    And tell us what it was that he did already! What, you afraid we're gonna steal your idea to steal his idea?
     
  27. Fenders
    Joined: Sep 8, 2007
    Posts: 3,921

    Fenders
    Member

    He did something unique?
    Hah !
    Where'd he steal the idea from?
     
  28. busch167
    Joined: Mar 26, 2006
    Posts: 107

    busch167
    Member

    Ever done ANY kind of racing, need I say more?
    As stated talk to the guy.
    (Years ago a designer I worked with told me "if you steal from one it is plagiarism, if you steal from more than one it is research")
     

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