When Does the Family/Estate Become Involved?
July 28, 2017 4:40 PM Subscribe
It's Buckminster Fuller's 123rd Birthday next year and I would like to produce an event that includes artists submissions, interactive programs, TED like talks and moderated panels. How would I go about contacting the family and foundation to get permission to bring this happening into being?
I appreciate the name rights etc. of the estate. But just to be contrary, I'm not sure why you'd really need permission. Of course it's best to get it. The estate clearly has rights to his name and quotes and works etc., especially in any promotional contexts. You certainly can't republish his papers without permission, and you certainly can't advertise a for-profit venture as The Official Buckminster Fuller Family Funk Party, that would require express permission.
But I don't think they can stop you from having an event called 123BuckyFest. And they certainly can't stop me from citing his works with name attribution in my related publications, or publishing research and giving talks on topics like Fullerenes or Tensegrity structures or the history and impact, or extensions of the Dymaxion map system. Or the Dymaxion car, or anything else he did.
To be clear: I love the guy's work and I think he deserves plenty of credit and awareness. And I do hope they happily give you permission if/when you seek it. But no way in hell I think you have a legal obligation to get permission to talk about him or his work in a scholarly or otherwise non-profit context. (IANAL, TINLA, YMMV, etc.)
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:09 PM on July 28, 2017 [3 favorites]
But I don't think they can stop you from having an event called 123BuckyFest. And they certainly can't stop me from citing his works with name attribution in my related publications, or publishing research and giving talks on topics like Fullerenes or Tensegrity structures or the history and impact, or extensions of the Dymaxion map system. Or the Dymaxion car, or anything else he did.
To be clear: I love the guy's work and I think he deserves plenty of credit and awareness. And I do hope they happily give you permission if/when you seek it. But no way in hell I think you have a legal obligation to get permission to talk about him or his work in a scholarly or otherwise non-profit context. (IANAL, TINLA, YMMV, etc.)
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:09 PM on July 28, 2017 [3 favorites]
Oh, if you meant 'how' in the sense of 'what manner and words should I use?'
I'd play up the following bits assuming they are true 1) non-profit status of event organizer 2) respectful celebration of his life and work 3) commitment to education, outreach and furthering the shared goals of your group and the estate.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:23 PM on July 28, 2017
I'd play up the following bits assuming they are true 1) non-profit status of event organizer 2) respectful celebration of his life and work 3) commitment to education, outreach and furthering the shared goals of your group and the estate.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:23 PM on July 28, 2017
I'm not sure why you'd really need permission.
You don't. They can't stop you from having whatever event you want; just be careful about not treading on their trademarks and copyrights.
posted by Miko at 8:01 PM on July 28, 2017
You don't. They can't stop you from having whatever event you want; just be careful about not treading on their trademarks and copyrights.
posted by Miko at 8:01 PM on July 28, 2017
And you also don't need to license his name just to talk about him as a real historical individual or plan events around his work.
posted by Miko at 8:02 PM on July 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Miko at 8:02 PM on July 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by the return of the thin white sock at 4:50 PM on July 28, 2017 [1 favorite]