ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

I can beat that - I worked for a place that developed an interactive
and another science center saw it, copied it and copyrighted it.
Beryl

>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>Hello All,
>
>I'm not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, but there are
>potentially many another sticky issues. In the old days it was pretty
>much 'share and share alike,' and that pretty much is the case still
>when only museums are involved. But things have gotten a lot more
>complicated over the last decade or so with outside consultants,
>designers, exhibit fabricators, and museums themselves making exhibits
>for sale.
>
>Last year I was contacted by a museum who wanted us to copy an exhibit
>it had seen in another museum. They had gotten 'permission' from that
>museum to make a copy. They also spoke to the guy who built the original
>exhibit. He was making too much money doing kitchen cabinets to take the
>job, and besides, why should he deal with 'flaky museum people.' I even
>spoke to people at the original museum to get some pointers about what
>did and did not work in the original exhibit.
>
>We built the thing and it all seemed to come out fine. The only problem
>was that no one had asked permission from the original designers! A
>little extra digging on my part could have avoided some embarrassment
>and hurt feelings. The point is, It's not always easy to know who you
>have to ask permission from.
>
>It seems to me that when the copying is only between 'nonprofits' (an
>exhibit designed and built in house and being copied and built in house
>by another museum's staff) very few problems arise. But as soon as
>someone is making money (as if there is some money to actually make)
>hackles start to come up in all kinds of unexpected places.
>
>I spent years working in museums, 'copying' (though never and exact copy
>to be sure) great exhibits I had seen along the way and having exhibits
>I had built copied by others. It was always great when I'd get a call
>from someone I didn't know who wanted help building an exhibit they had
>seen while visiting my museum. I was just passing along the advice from
>the guy I had called the week before. And I am still happy to help with
>that advice if I can.
>
>With more and more museums getting into the business of selling exhibits
>it's too bad this network of support is starting to close in on itself.
>
>Joe Ruggiero
>TheExhibitGuys.com
>
>
>
>
>
>John Bowditch wrote:
>>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>>institutions.
>>*****************************************************************************
>>
>>Mathew,
>>
>>It seems to me that (with the exception of copyrighted or patented
>>materials) you can copy  (or steal) anything you want. The real
>>question is what would be the polite and ethical thing to do? Here
>>the answer should be clear: asking  permission to use a design is
>>at least the most basic courtesy to be expected. Most museums are
>>usually glad to share their ideas and designs, provided credit is
>>given. A simple credit line in a label is usually much appreciated.
>>In this business we all scratch each other's backs from time to
>>time. it makes life easier and more fun!
>>
>>If a museum doesn't want to share a design you should at least be
>>courteous enough to modify the design in such a way that your copy
>>cannot be construed as "stolen".
>>
>>I guess the most important thing to remember can best be expressed
>>by Red Green (from the TV show) when he says "Remember, we're all
>>in this together and I'm pulling for you". Cooperation and courtesy
>>are the name of the game in our very small pond where all the frogs
>>know each other!
>>
>>John Bowditch
>>
>>>----------
>>>From:         mperkin2
>>>Reply To:     Informal Science Education Network
>>>Sent:         Friday, March 5, 2004 1:13 PM
>>>To:   [log in to unmask]
>>>Subject:      Question about exhibits
>>>
>>>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>>>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>>>institutions.
>>>*****************************************************************************
>>>
>>>Dear Informal Educators,
>>>
>>>I have visited several facilities over the past couple of years
>>>and have seen
>>>many things I would love to duplicate in a facility I may work at in the
>>>future.  What are the rules, unwritten and written, on copying and adapting
>>>exhibit ideas from facility to facility?  I am currently a doctoral student,
>>>formerly the director of a small school planetarium, and hope to
>>>someday again
>>>work at a planetarium with science center.  Feel free to respond off-list to
>>>[log in to unmask]
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>
>>>Matthew Perkins
>>>Ph.D candidate, Science Education
>>>University of Tennessee
>>>
>>>***********************************************************************
>>>More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
>>>Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at
>>>http://www.astc.org.
>>>To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
>>>message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
>>>[log in to unmask]
>>>
>>
>>
>>***********************************************************************
>>More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
>>Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at
>>http://www.astc.org.
>>To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
>>message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
>>[log in to unmask]
>>
>
>***********************************************************************
>More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
>Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
>To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
>message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
>[log in to unmask]


--
Beryl Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs
MIT Museum
265 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA  02139
Tel: 617-452-2111
Fax: 617-253-8994
[log in to unmask]

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