from wot I have garnered - there are different levels/types of recasting.
in a way - lots of "cast from original" is in actual fact a recast or the original film prop. Even if its and original fan-made prop; its unlicenced and based on idea/concept of someone elses work. all prop makers on forums such as these thread a fine line; as we are all more or less on the wrong side of copyright law anyways.
already mentioned is "black" recasting - ie taking someone elses work and recasting w/o permission and selling it as if it were ur own work and for your own profit. Generally a big no no
now there recasting with permission, or so called "white recasting" - you have spoken to the original maker and have got permission (or even his molds) to cast his work. Generally accepted as ok
recasting a discontinued item - like the aforementioned DP95 or the MR ROTC lid. This seems to be generally accepted as ok; although legally again on dodgy ground I think. Although that is a personal opinion.
gettin an original fan-made item and re-working - there seems to be an arbitary level set - that if u have taken an original fan-made item and modified it so heavily (number bounded abt is 75%) that it no longer is quite like its original; so much so you can call it ur own, is then not called a recast. a fine example is the work done by SGB on various clone variations based of OSCS (I think) lids.
I agree that even "recasting for personal use" is more than a little bit naughty.
In general - most makers I have spoken to often say that the amount made from sellin their wares is not very much, and is mostly used to re-coup materials, equipment cost and their own blood and sweat.
Recasting as a concept is NOT well accepted in a prop making/costuming community. Enforcement, however, is very difficult. Its a stand that each individual has to make I feel in the end. Wot really is irritating - is that most "professional recasters" take other peoples work, claim it as their own, make poorer quality product and manage to sell it for a higher profit.
I cant speak for makers - but I can imagine the frustration on their part.
As a buyer - I would say; the onus is on urself to show respect to artiste who do put in the time, work and skill to provide us as a community these well made and very often reasonably priced (not to be read as cheap) items.
You will never be able to stop recasting, but the responsibility is upon us as part of the costuming/prop community to make sure we police ourselves and not to accept it. I would say the majority of us may have bought recast stuff before, sites like TDH, FISD, CE, MMCC have helped educate and inform loads of people - that in itself a big way to avoid the probelm with recasters.
I now ensure to avoid black recasts at all costs. Bite me once - shame on you, bite me twice - shame on me!
just my 2 cents.
Nate
