Liu Qian's magic show last night

[Rogue Trader]

Like I wrote earlier, it might not be binding in court. In any case, copyright laws are infamously difficult to enforce overseas.

 

[Zombie]

This is hardly binding in court, but there is a magician's code:

All members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians agree to:

And only members of IBM need to comply. Right?

 

[Rogue Trader]

Yes of course. You can be a magician and not a "brother".

These kinds of trade societies are quite powerful though. Membership has its privileges I'm sure.

 

[Ramseth]

This is another issue that we see eye to eye.

It's oxymoron to even suggest that a particular magic trick is copyrighted. If the trick is made a secret and not published at all, how can it be copyrighted in the first place ?

Since the organisers have set the rule in advance that contestants must contest with original tricks, then Liu Qian as judge disqualifying contestants with copied tricks is non-issue. There're two issues left then.

1. The bad behaviours of the disqualified contestants. That I've mentioned in my earlier post, I find them a disgrace to their country and the fraternity of magicians. Whether professional or amateur, a magician's first lesson is etiquette. These ruffians aren't fit to be magicians.

2. The ethicity of copying tricks. Note that this isn't the same as breaking the magicians' code by revealing trick secrets and breaking others' ricebowls. There're generally two ways to become able to copy a trick of some degree of difficulty. Learn it from someone, or watch the trick being performed by another and figure out the secret.

Books and gadgets available at common magic shop teach common tricks only, more like party tricks rather than stage or contest tricks. However, these give the amateur magicians the foundation to learn more complicated tricks and even figure out some. Then and only then is the amateur at a level to design own set of tricks.

Magic can be copyrighted but it require filing the details at the copyright office. No professional magician would do that with treasured tricks because these becomes documents available for public inspection and self-defeating the purpose of keeping them secrets. Therefore the need for a code of honour, whether learn it or figure it out, keep it secret. The tricks that professionals don't mind disclosing are in the books, these are copyrighted (to receive royalties from the sales) whereas the tricks by themselves, can't be copyrighted.

 

[Pek Kim Lui]

Such shows are designed to have these loony outbursts and face it the public loves it. The more outlandish it is the better (disgusting if you ask me which is why I never watch such shows). Especially since it was already made known "original tricks" only, question is why are such contestants not vetted out first?

I think the whole copyright thing is blown totally out of proportion. Personally I think Liu Qian is just defending his turf. If amateurs can replicate their tricks just like, it shows them up as being not that great.

 

[Rogue Trader]

I just hate misleading trailers. Last night show was less dramatic.

But I was glad to see traditional Chinese magic tricks being showcased. Bian lian and ... linking rings. I didn't know the linking rings trick actually originated in China and was introduced to the west by a Beijing magician Ching Ling Foo during the 1900s.