Hippo Clone, while you have a number of very valid points and bring up issues that every member should carefully consider, you appear to be confused in regard to TDH's statement in the CoC in regard to recasting.
In your example above, the DP helmet IS a recast as defined by TDH's CoC. The problem lies in your expectation of a reaction from the administration to the helmet being a recast. Your assumption that nothing is done due to the member selling it having a high post count is erroneous. There is no special treatment because a member posts often and there is no "grandfathering in" on a board level. Whether a senior member or a newbie made this sale, it would be left up to the members to decide if they wish to support this form of recasting.
Again, there is no argument that the helmet in question is a recast. Again your assumption that the sale is allowed because "they have the worst customer satisfaction, extended release dates, and they are no longer going to make star wars helmets" is incorrect. And again, it is left to the members to decide whether they will support this form of recasting.
Incorrect again. The administration is not "looking the other way." At this point I feel like a broken record, but just to make sure there is no cofusion, mystery casting are recasts. It is left to the members to decide whether they will support this form of recasting.
I have never entirely understood this myself in regard to anything other than one sculptor selling the rights to his sculpt to someone else. Why anyone would pay for "rights" to anyone other than the original sculptor is very confusing because the seller doesn't actually have the authority to grant such rights. This seems to be extremely prevalent in the strormtrooper armor and helmet circles but fortunately is not as prevalent here.
From what you have said it seems that you believe that there is some type of punishment for anyone who makes or sells a recast item. This is not the case. Although it has been posted previously, the recasting rule states:
"Copying or duplicating, any item, with or without modification, without consent from the license holder, original creator, original artist, trademark holder, or copyright holder IS recasting. Deliberately recasting another member’s creation without consent is not supported by this community."
NinNak_aka nailed it when he posted:
I am not sure how we can be more clear or concise than that. You may not agree with that stance, and that is ok, but from previous experience, we feel this is the best approach.
D
