Haven't posted here in a long long time. But I felt the need. Seems we all want to talk about this all the time. Well...
Evo... Your work is awesome. You do great clone stuff and the hero belt parts you cranked out on the FISD are unmatched.
BUT
Even your integrity was questioned. On a stupid found part. (dumb huh)
Here is the thing that gets missed.
All of this... TDH, RPF, 501st... Every part, fan sculpted, cast from real, every part is Gorges. (heard that before right?) His willingness to look the other way lets this exist. To have "prop makers" making the rules on what is and isn't allowed in theory (and less violent) is just like Al Capone deciding who sells the whiskey in Chicago circa 1920.
Bootleg.
Then add in the fact that Gorge him self led a marching, waving, cadence filled parade of copyright infringement for national TV. If its all right with the man, why do the prop guys care?
Money.
I know I know... Time and effort and out of pocket money to make stuff available. I am doing a Vader lid. Not an easy chore. Down right nerve racking. Can I stop some guy from recasting it? Nope. Many see this as a business opportunity. Free money. Little in, bunch out. Those are all over eBay shilling ****. I despise those that recast Legion members. Talk about smiling while the dagger is twisted. There rep goes in the toilet, never to return. Public opinion is far stronger than any policy. Its the person... Not the prop.
I love it when some one says recasting is stealing. From Whom? The prop guy? Prove it. Take the guy that stole your stolen property to court and tell that it a judge. Mythbusters flew the lead balloon, but I have yet to see a snow ball in hell. Thems your chances.
If this stuff is that important to you, get a license and have the LFL legal team run out your competition. No one talks about that angle.
On another note. Its great to bash the 501st, but face it, with out them who would the majority of this stuff be sold too? Almost all the prop guys sell on 501st boards. Umm... What? There scum right? That is what the shirt says.
No market, no need for stuff.
So lists are made. Do not sell to this guy... that guy... So be it. The 501st dosent want that hassle. Even the Propsafe forum gets to be hear say. This all boils back to personal opinion, and opinions are like assholes. Everyone has one and they all stink. I know I have landed on a few do not sell lists because I support people, not stuff.
Here is another one for the fire...
What if a "good prop guy" goes rogue? Takes your money? Who is going to fight for you...
Short list.
No one. Its bootleg.
Could have made this statement in so many other ways.