Does copyright law apply to kung fu forms?

[Mulong]

Copyrighting is much harder, but a trademark seems simpler, because you can trademark the name of style and the curriculum; hence, the form.

[YuanZhideDiZhen]

Originally Posted by Mulong

Copyrighting is much harder, but a trademark seems simpler, because you can trademark the name of style and the curriculum; hence, the form.

that's legal kungfu!

[Ben Gash]

Again, it would be all but impossible to trademark the names of forms, as others are already using them.

[CLFNole]

I can't believe this thread has lasted as long as it has. It is like creating a thread about what you would buy when you win the lottery. None of this is going to happen.

[Mulong]

Actually Ben, you can, even though the name is being used; you just simply get it trademark. For example, when J. Lo introduce her Glow perfume, the name was already own by someone; hence, she simply brought her out. Another example, a lot of artist, i.e., actors, musician, don’t own their own domain name on in the internet, because someone purchased it before this artist became famous, e.g., Howard Stern.

[Ben Gash]

Yes, but J-Lo had to buy out the name, and domain names are owned property.
You cannot trademark a name that is being used commercially by soemone else.

[Mulong]

Ben, Indeed, you are right, but that is why you create a new name, i.e., judo from jujutsu.

[mantid1]

If you can copy right a form then I am going to copyright a form of movement called walking. If you step with your left or right foot first to begin this movement patten then you owe me $100 for each step that you take.

I do not plan on copyrighting walking backwards or to the side. I do not want to seem greedy.

[YuanZhideDiZhen]

Originally Posted by mantid1

If you can copy right a form then I am going to copyright a form of movement called walking. If you step with your left or right foot first to begin this movement patten then you owe me $100 for each step that you take.

I do not plan on copyrighting walking backwards or to the side. I do not want to seem greedy.

nor can you copyright or patent something in common use or from a forum.

it's considered like a letter: the writer of the letter owns the information and can distribute the right to utilize as he or she sees fit.

[GeneChing]

There was this rumor floating around last year about this time that Jet Li was seeking to trademark his Wong Fei Hung 'beggar's hand' move. Clearly, it was his signature move, although derivative of Bruce Lee's invitation stance. I actually had the pleasure of being part of a discussion with Kwan Tak Hing about Jet's take on beggar's hand (of course, KTH being the traditionalist, said Jet's move was too open and not good for fighting). The rumor never got ****her than a rumor and all the people that I talked to at that time seemed to think the notion was not legally possible.

Of course, there's been lots of talk about Shaolin trademarking its name. We've banied it about a bit on the Shaolin forum already. It doesn't look like they're having too much success with that internationally yet.