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Just out of curiosity, what is the legality of casting something like a space marine helmet or a shoulderpad for your own personal use. I would assume that selling it would be a big no-no. What about something like a base from one of those fine independent companys?

Also, quite aside from the legality, I would like to hear how you feel about it in regards to your own personal ethics. Is it something that can be likened to buying a CD and then copying it onto a tape so that you can listen to it in your car?

Any legal issue really comes down to where you are.

There's a common assumption that anything is fair game for personal use, but it's not actually always the case. If you want to find out for sure, you would be far better off asking an IP Lawyer in your own country rather than asking anonymous strangers on the internet. In any IP discussion online, you'll have to wade through a lot of conflicting information and try to figure out what is actual law (and whether or not it even applies to you) and what is misconception or myth.

Erm, I think for the price of a lawyer he'd rather just buy more of the part he was wanting to cast.

It is in my whole belief that each person/company should create their own work. It encourages greater products overall.

whatwhat wrote:Erm, I think for the price of a lawyer he'd rather just buy more of the part he was wanting to cast.

There are various websites out there that will give a run-down on the appropriate laws. It's simply a matter of finding something that applies to your own country.

The point was more that information on this topic gleaned from discussions on hobby forums is likely to be unreliable at best.

Well having worked in a profession which deals with issues of copyright on a daily basis, I haven't heard of a country in which personal use overrides copyright law. I've heard of it being given a softer punishment, as apposed to someone distributing. But strictly speaking most places recasting is forbidden by copyright and the right to copy a work is automatically held by the creator until he explicitly publishes otherwise.

So the people you ask are GW, they are the ones who can reserve or grant rights as regard to their copyright.

i am not massively against the whole C.D buisness .I mean some bands I like arnt exactly well know so thier c.ds cost like £12 or higher .I do buy C.Ds normally but only for bigger bands as thier stuffs much cheaper. I dont think it is okay for miniatures though , I mean amybe a shoulder pad here and there , but nothing major .Thats just pretty cheap , theres a great satisfaction in finally saving enough money for that awesome mini you wanted.

This topic has been done to death in exhaustive detail here:- http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/249865.page#865224

Now this thread can be locked before it devolves and dies a painful death.

I agree.