Can you Copy right a form/pattern?

[koreantiger81]

I am in the process of creating my own form/pattern. I was wondering if anyone could actually steal my creation and use it in their system or even modify my form, without facing any legal issues.

 

I discovered that forms originally created by the International Tae Kwon Do Federation are modified and used in other systems of Tae kwon do. Doesn't General Choi Hong hi have copy rights to his forms?

 

 

 

[ This Message was edited by: koreantiger81 on 2002-05-28 18:09 ]

[ckdstudent]

I'd imagine not, that would be like trying to copyright a front kick. Of course, they'd have to be copying it perfectly in order to infringe on your copyrighting anyway, and the most likely way they'd be doing that would be if you taught them. And no, General Choi doesn't hold a coyright, otherwise whenever a student did forms they or their instructor would have to send him royalties.

 

 

[Bretty101]

I really doubt you could copyright it, I guess you could copyright a book you'd written on it though!

 

If you could copyright moves imagine owning the rights to walking..

 

Bretty

[ckdstudent]

But imagine trying to collect your royalties.

 

 

[ZeRo]

"But imagine trying to collect your royalties."

 

haha

 

 

[searcher]

None of the other masters in history have been able to stop others from using their forms, so I think that you are going to have a very hard time keeping someone from using it. You would not be able to let anyone see your form for fear of someone taking it.

 

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

[kchenault]

Just consider the honor you are being paid when someone decides to use the form you created to teach their art. WOW! What an honor!

[Red J]

Even if it could be done, the enforcement would be a joke. Here's a question for you. Are these original moves, or have you learned them from someone else? Do the techniques have universal names or are you developing your own system? Are you using other's concepts to string together a combination that you thought up? I think at this point the question is not really valid . If someone does decide to copy you, take it as flattery.

[koreantiger81]

yes, unfortunately it seems unrealistic to copy-right a form. I'm just displeased that the integrity of a form/pattern is lost when "just anyone" tries to teach the form/pattern. Some movements may be altered because of misinterpretation of the form/pattern, which causes discrepancies betweem do-jos.. I'm sure General Choi had a purpose for each move. By altering even one movement, it changes the meaning of the form/pattern.