"Hirst Arts molds" Topic

I noticed a company that is selling pre-made blocks that used the Hirst Arts molds. Now I'm starting to wonder if that violates Hirst Arts property rights. Hirst sells molds so you may make those blocks for your own use. If you can use them to make blocks you sell on the market, it cuts into the sales of the Hirst Arts molds. After all, who wants to buy the molds and go to all the trouble of making blocks if you can simply buy the blocks.

So can you legally make the blocks and sell them or are you only allowed to make blocks for your own use?

If you are referring to the same ad that I saw a day or two ago, it explicitly states that they ARE Hirst Arts molds, and that they have permission to make and sell them.

Hirst Arts site actually has links to a number of people who sell pre-made blocks so I'm guessing they pay extra for the right to on sell.

Robert

Yep; it's all explained on Hirst Arts' site.

As Dom writes, this is explained on the Hirst Arts site.

From memory, anyone who buys the molds is allowed to sell up to a certain dollar value per year. The amount is fairly generous for the hobbyist and allows for selling off old stuff, making terrain for friends, etc. Several companies have licenses specifically allowing them to sell larger amounts of Hirst Arts casts.

I don't know how he gets away with "licensing" like that. After all, you don't need a "license" to use stencils or cookie cutters to make something for sale. The molds are sold with the inherent expectation that they'll be used to cast stuff, and nobody is copying the mold itself.

I'll start the popcorn. Still plenty of good seats left.

I have often wondered the same thing myself, but I have a hard time finding enough time to cast up what I want for my own purposes so casting for profit is right out.

I would like to hear the pros and cons of the matter.

LLC aka Ron