In the field of magic, theft is rampant. Close-up magic wholesalers steal from close-up magic wholesalers. Parlor manipulators steal from parlor manipulators. Large-scale illusionists steal from large-scale illusionists.
Why do they do it? Because they can.
David Copperfield spends years developing illusions, perfecting patter, and mastering misdirection. And then lots of large-scale illusionists steal his style, his jokes, his presentations. ”French law protects artists much better than U.S. law,” Copperfield says. “In France, I sued someone who stole my Flying illusion, and I was successful. The lawsuit prevented him from performing it again without compensating me.”
Here in America, intellectual property law offers less help to magicians.
via Wired
Image: Steven Depolo / Flickr
