talkmagic.co.uk

So I think i've come up with a new trick, and I'm asking about what to do next. It's based on a known principle but in my opinon it's got a substantial twist to merit itself as a new trick alltogether. It works with the flashy new, Tiger Decks and when i've brought them i will have to make my new trick, to see if it works.

Here are my questions...
1. Is an old principle with a new twist enough to say it's a new trick. It's not so much a modification but a big twist? You would need to buy a new gimmick to perform it, although this gimmick is available already in a differnt form..!!
2. Do I have to get copyrights/patents? I don't know the first thing about these? If i need them? Where to get them? How much they cost?
3. So would copyrights/patents stop people passing my idea off as their own? I don't want my idea stolen. What other ways can i protect it?
4. Then what, should i send my idea to a magic supplier like Murphy's Magic Suppliers or JB Magic?
5. And then what is the next part? I know a few of the magicians on here have got tricks in the (online) shops, and that's my ambition really, to have a trick with my name on, (whether it's this one or a different one). Can you describe the process of how all this happens?

Also, there are lots of tricks i have which are just a re-worked patter and no change of equipment or method. - i have an excellent version of the mirror copunt by Lennart Green. Same moves- completly different words. Should i try and protect this somehow?

I hope you can all offer a few answers,
Thanks.

What's the effect?

Just reworking the patter is probably not enough to warrant a release, and it would probably contravene some copyrights. As far as the other is concerned someone else might be of more help.

Although a reworking of a patter would be perfectly acceptable if you had the permission of the originator/author and were only including it in a collection of effects such as a book or DVD. I've seen that a few times, although most times the variation also include a slight change to the method aswell.

All of those things that you mentioned are only necessary if you are planning on marketing the effect which I presume you are.

But remember you don't have to create effects just to sell them.

Also most classic effects are ones which performers have ironed out and perfected over thousands of performances even before they think about marketing them.

Ok, Thanks for the help so far, I'll try my new effect out on a few of mates, to see what they think, but I'm still wondering about Copyrights, How do I go about getting them? and then when I have an idea copyrighted Who do I tell?? How do I get the tricks made and sold?? Basically all the questions I asked before?!!? I know Siege has a couple of effects retailling and BoyWonder sells his own tricks doesn't he, Maybe they can help???

Send it to yourself in the post and you have just ,made a poor mans copyright.

Basically, it proves that you have created it, and it also will give you a postmark so that if someone trys to sell on your idea as their own, then you can prove that you invented it first. But remember, DONT OPEN IT! as there will be no proof.

All the best

Mark

p.s. a free demo would be much appreciated!

boywonder wrote:Send it to yourself in the post and you have just ,made a poor mans copyright.

Basically, it proves that you have created it, and it also will give you a postmark so that if someone trys to sell on your idea as their own, then you can prove that you invented it first. But remember, DONT OPEN IT! as there will be no proof.

Erm... from what little I remember of the A Level Law I did at college, this doesn't work anymore... too many people sending themselves unsealed envelopes, and stuffing ideas in them, apparently...

Liam.

Far more effective is to get your bank manager, a local solicitor or possibly a minister of religion or other person of some standing in the community to sign and date a copy of the effect and add a few words to 'certify' that they saw it on the date shown. It might cost a few quid but that cost will be repaid over and over if you have to prove that you had the idea at a particular date.